the evening post, urging her to join them by Christmas Day.
He thought of Miss Arbuckle, and the scent of roses became so vivid he almost thought she was here in his bedchamber. His pulse accelerated. He wondered anew what other plans were depriving him of her company tomorrow. By, God, if it's Appleton, I'll wring his lecherous neck .
She was very dear to him, but not in a romantic way. Until Glee mentioned today the possibility of him marrying Miss Arbuckle, such a thought had never once crossed his mind. He had never before realized a sensible woman like she would fancy being wed. Just as he had never before fancied the idea of being wed.
He had always been exceptionally content to be alone. He had his writing. And his books. And friendship with the likes of Miss Arbuckle.
He had never minded being in a cold, lonely bed.
Until tonight.
Chapter 5
The following morning as Jonathan was filling his tea cup from the spigot of the silver urn, the butler came to the door of the morning room and addressed Gregory. “Sir, there’s an exceedingly ill kept woman at your back door begging a word with you or the missus. I tried to give her a bite to eat with the intention of sending her upon her way, but she refused sustenance and insisted you knew her.”
Glee’s rounded eyes met her husband’s. “Do you think it could be Mrs. A?”
Gregory whirled around, brows lowered. “Is she a young woman who’s terribly thin?”
“Indeed, you have just described her,” the butler said.
Gregory and Glee both leapt from their chairs. “Do show her in. Is her lad with her?”
“I saw no boy. Are you sure you want her in your home? She looks as if she sorely needs a bath.”
“Yes, please, Hampton,” Glee answered.
Jonathan cleared his throat. “Should you like me to leave the chamber?”
“We have nothing to hide from you,” Glee said. “You may have heard us discussing the woman at Mr. Willowby’s building. . .”
“Oh, yes. The. . .” Jonathan lowered his voice. “The soaker?”
Gregory nodded grimly.
Jonathan trained his attention upon the buttering of his toast, but when the woman came to the doorway, he was powerless not to take a look at the emaciated young woman dressed in many layers of ragged, dirty clothing.
“Thank ye, Mr. Blankenship, for allowing me to come in yer fine home. I know it’s been a great long while since ye kindly offered to bring me and me lad into yer service, and I know how poorly I must look, but I was wondering if the offer is still available.”
“Of course it is,” Glee said.
Gregory held up a stern hand to his wife. “With conditions.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Me lad ain’t never 'ad a proper Christmas, and I’ve decided I’ve been far too selfish for far too long.”
“Then you’re willing to give up your gin?” Gregory asked.
She nodded, not without a pained expression on her thin face. “If I don’t, me boy will be an orphan by next Christmas.”
“And you’re willing to live under our roof by our rules?”
“I should be honored to live under this fine roof.”
“We will provide everything you need," Gregory said. "New clothing for you. You shouldn’t need to bring anything when you come—other than Archie.”
“And any items of sentimentality you might be attached to,” Glee added.
Even from where Jonathan sat, he caught a whiff of a stale gin.
“I’ve got nothin’ save me precious son.”
“You realize that since Archie’s so good with horses, he will be a groom and will sleep in a room above the stables?” Gregory asked.
She nodded. “He’s been beggin me for a long while. He ain’t never 'ad a proper home. He wanted us to 'ave the security of home that didn’t change on a whim. And ye know how he loves 'orses.”
“He’s very good with them,” Gregory said.
She favored them with a shy smile. “Then I can go tell Archie?”
“First,” Gregory cautioned, “you must agree to our conditions.
He thought of Miss Arbuckle, and the scent of roses became so vivid he almost thought she was here in his bedchamber. His pulse accelerated. He wondered anew what other plans were depriving him of her company tomorrow. By, God, if it's Appleton, I'll wring his lecherous neck .
She was very dear to him, but not in a romantic way. Until Glee mentioned today the possibility of him marrying Miss Arbuckle, such a thought had never once crossed his mind. He had never before realized a sensible woman like she would fancy being wed. Just as he had never before fancied the idea of being wed.
He had always been exceptionally content to be alone. He had his writing. And his books. And friendship with the likes of Miss Arbuckle.
He had never minded being in a cold, lonely bed.
Until tonight.
Chapter 5
The following morning as Jonathan was filling his tea cup from the spigot of the silver urn, the butler came to the door of the morning room and addressed Gregory. “Sir, there’s an exceedingly ill kept woman at your back door begging a word with you or the missus. I tried to give her a bite to eat with the intention of sending her upon her way, but she refused sustenance and insisted you knew her.”
Glee’s rounded eyes met her husband’s. “Do you think it could be Mrs. A?”
Gregory whirled around, brows lowered. “Is she a young woman who’s terribly thin?”
“Indeed, you have just described her,” the butler said.
Gregory and Glee both leapt from their chairs. “Do show her in. Is her lad with her?”
“I saw no boy. Are you sure you want her in your home? She looks as if she sorely needs a bath.”
“Yes, please, Hampton,” Glee answered.
Jonathan cleared his throat. “Should you like me to leave the chamber?”
“We have nothing to hide from you,” Glee said. “You may have heard us discussing the woman at Mr. Willowby’s building. . .”
“Oh, yes. The. . .” Jonathan lowered his voice. “The soaker?”
Gregory nodded grimly.
Jonathan trained his attention upon the buttering of his toast, but when the woman came to the doorway, he was powerless not to take a look at the emaciated young woman dressed in many layers of ragged, dirty clothing.
“Thank ye, Mr. Blankenship, for allowing me to come in yer fine home. I know it’s been a great long while since ye kindly offered to bring me and me lad into yer service, and I know how poorly I must look, but I was wondering if the offer is still available.”
“Of course it is,” Glee said.
Gregory held up a stern hand to his wife. “With conditions.”
“I’m willing to do whatever it takes. Me lad ain’t never 'ad a proper Christmas, and I’ve decided I’ve been far too selfish for far too long.”
“Then you’re willing to give up your gin?” Gregory asked.
She nodded, not without a pained expression on her thin face. “If I don’t, me boy will be an orphan by next Christmas.”
“And you’re willing to live under our roof by our rules?”
“I should be honored to live under this fine roof.”
“We will provide everything you need," Gregory said. "New clothing for you. You shouldn’t need to bring anything when you come—other than Archie.”
“And any items of sentimentality you might be attached to,” Glee added.
Even from where Jonathan sat, he caught a whiff of a stale gin.
“I’ve got nothin’ save me precious son.”
“You realize that since Archie’s so good with horses, he will be a groom and will sleep in a room above the stables?” Gregory asked.
She nodded. “He’s been beggin me for a long while. He ain’t never 'ad a proper home. He wanted us to 'ave the security of home that didn’t change on a whim. And ye know how he loves 'orses.”
“He’s very good with them,” Gregory said.
She favored them with a shy smile. “Then I can go tell Archie?”
“First,” Gregory cautioned, “you must agree to our conditions.
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