Old Acquaintances: Christmas Regency Tale (Regency Tales Book 2) by Gayle Buck Page B

speak immediately, allowing her silence to work on the girl while she ordered her thoughts. Cecily was beginning to cast up quick curious glances when Judith at last addressed her. “Cecily, I perfectly understand the reasons behind your reluctance in meeting with Sir Peregrine. He has undoubtedly treated you with a great deal of unfairness.”
    Cecily looked full at her, surprise mirrored in her extraordinarily fringed, china-blue eyes. “I-I do not know what to say, Miss Grantham.”
    Judith held up her hand. “Pray allow me to finish. I have had occasion to converse with Sir Peregrine and certainly he is not the…easiest personage to deal with. However, I do believe that you must think of your best interests.”
    “My best interests?” faltered Cecily.
    Judith nodded. “Quite so. Sir Peregrine is not likely to change his mind without good reason. I think that you have gained his attention by running away, but now you must capitalize on your position.”
    “Whatever are you talking about, Miss Grantham?” asked Cecily, bewildered. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Oh! Do you mean that I should threaten him?”
    Judith shook her head, allowing a smile to flit over her face. “Not precisely that, no. But certainly you must make it plain that the same determination that led you to run off will also lead you to cause him distress whenever a decision regarding your future is made without first consulting your opinion of the matter. And you must persuade Sir Peregrine of this without showing your fear of him.”
    “I am not precisely frightened of Perry,” said Cecily haltingly.
    “Then you do agree to meet with him while at Elmswood,” said Judith. She watched as first astonishment, then comprehension flooded Cecily’s expression.
    “Oh! Of all the infamous tricks!” exclaimed Cecily.
    “I am sorry to have had to trick you, Cecily, but I really felt that you gave me little choice in the matter,” said Judith gently. “You see, if I allowed you to remain closeted away, then Sir Peregrine would almost certainly decide to come up himself and drag you from the bedroom. I do not think in that instance that he would be open to anything that you might have to say.”
    Cecily stared at her thoughtfully. “You speak as though you know Sir Peregrine very well.”
    Judith stood up. “I shall expect you to come down and join us all for dinner this evening, Cecily. And in the meantime I shall have a cup of broth sent up to you, for you are looking too pale.” She turned to leave the bedroom, but she paused with her hand on the doorknob to glance back with the faintest lifting of her winged brows. “You know, I am so glad that my first impression of you was correct. I had thought you a determined and bright young woman. You have quite restored my faith in you.”
    Once more Cecily was left to stare after her, this time with much more food for thought, not the least of which was her hostess’s declining to reply to her observation pertaining to Sir Peregrine.
    Once downstairs, Judith busied herself in preparation for the traditional observance of Boxing Day. When her household had assembled, she handed out the gift boxes, taking a moment to address a personal word to each servant. It was a ceremony much enjoyed by all, including Judith. As always, she was glad that she had made the effort to return to Elmswood in time to uphold this particular tradition.
                  The boxing took longer than she had anticipated and she had to rush back upstairs to change in time for dinner. In the cheerful atmosphere generated by the boxing, she had forgotten the uncertain prospect before her in the dining room. There would likely be tension between Cecily and Sir Peregrine, as well as the usual reluctance of anyone to share table with Mrs. Nickleby, and she did not particularly look forward to the evening.
     
    Chapter Seven
     
                  Judith had dreaded the half hour before dinner when all of her