A Regency Christmas Pact Collection Read Online Free Page A

holidays? Berks frowned. “So you don’t intend to match me with the chit?”
    Harry’s glare softened to a look of astonishment. “That’s what you thought? I hardly think you’re her sort.”
    “She apparently prefers rakish ne’er-do-wells,” St. Austell chimed in.
    Harry’s head snapped once again towards their brother-in-law.
    St. Austell shrugged. “Stalbridge has already sold off or lost everything that isn’t entailed.”
    Harry’s glare returned full-force on the earl. “You will forget you ever heard such a thing, or I’ll pound you into dust, Pippa or no Pippa. Do you hear me?”
    “No needs for threats. I said I was trustworthy.” St. Austell held up both hands as though surrendering. “I just feel sorry for the chit, is all.”
    Berks scoffed. “If you want to feel sorry for someone, feel sorry for Arrington.”
    “Aye.” St. Austell nodded. “Very sad situation, indeed.”
    Berks dropped his head in his hands. “Be glad you didn’t see him. I cannot understand why his casket was open.”
    Harry winced. “That’s rather morbid.”
    To say the very least. Berks looked up at his brother’s hulking form. “What do you think Miranda would do if she discovered you’d been unfaithful?”
    Harry took a slight step backwards. “I would never be unfaithful.”
    “For the sake of argument, let’s say you were.”
    “I’d rather not.”
    “For God’s sake, Harry! Do you think she’d take a fire iron to you? Do you think she’s capable of such a thing?”
    Harry shook his head. “She might cut off my bullocks, but…”
    “Agh!” Both of St. Austell’s hand flew to his crotch as though he could prevent such a thing from ever happening to him. “Good God! Pippa would never do something like that.”
    “She wouldn’t have to.” Harry cast their brother-in-law a sidelong glance. “If you were ever unfaithful to her—”
    “On the off chance you haven’t heard a word I’ve said since I met your sister, I love Pippa. I would never be unfaithful to her.”
    Berks sighed. That really wasn’t the point. “I hardly think one’s fidelity, or lack thereof, should subject him to murder at the hands of his wife.”
    “I couldn’t agree more,” his brother-in-law agreed. “Did Lady Arrington fancy herself in love with the earl?”
    “I hardly see that it matters,” Berks replied.
    St. Austell rounded the chair in front of him and then dropped into it. “Must be a bitter pill to swallow, finding out your spouse was unfaithful if you fancied yourself in love with them, not that it justifies murder, mind you.”
    Nothing justified what had happened to Richard. Philanderer, gambler, drinker… Whatever he may have been, he didn’t deserve the treatment Lady Arrington had given him.
    “She always seemed slightly off to me,” Harry put in. “Lady Arrington, that is.”
    “Off?” Berks asked. He’d been around Lady Arrington on more occasions than Harry had.
    “Obsessive, perhaps,” his brother continued. “Arrington should have been more careful.”
    Careful. That’s what Berks was going to be. Careful the rest of his days. Still… “I hardly think we should blame the victim.”
    Harry shook his head. “Of course not. But that doesn’t mean one should behave recklessly either. If one sets a flame to tinder, one should expect a fire.”
    Berks shuddered at the thought. “Please don’t mention fires, if you don’t mind.”
    “I’m just surprised the woman could lift a fire iron.” St. Austell frowned. “I doubt she weighs eight stones.”
    Berks glared at his brother-in-law. “And. Don’t. Mention. Fire irons,” he ground out.
     

“Have you thought of names?” Tessie asked, linking her arm with Miranda’s as they started towards the drawing room to meet the others for dinner.
    “Simeon if it’s a boy,” her friend began, though it sounded as though there was a lump in her throat. Miranda clearly still missed her oldest brother.
    “And if it’s a