Jo Beverley Read Online Free Page B

Sax said. “Come on.”
    The dog shook his massive bulk and walked over to sit nobly by Sax, as if he’d never known a moment’s fear in his life. He and the parrot eyed one another, companionable rivals for the attention of their adored owner. Owain wondered if Sax ever felt strain at satisfying their demands, and the demands of all the other loving charity cases around him.
    Sax stroked the dog’s head. “Most people will be at their country estates for Christmas. Why the devil was Iborn at this time of year? I can’t see how the dragon could have planned it, but it’s typical. Anyway, there must be better than Miss Cathcart. She giggles. All the time. Start listing names, Owain. Would-be-countesses in the Home Counties. If I have to, I’ll ride out into the country to settle it.”
    â€œI know you feel strongly about your given word, but—”
    â€œI will not break it.”
    Owain shook his head. He suspected that this time the Dowager Duchess of Daingerfield had won a round. Sax wouldn’t find a bride in a day, or not one he wanted. He’d have to either marry poorly or admit to the duchess that he could not keep his word.
    He’d never do that.
    So, he was about to make a disastrous marriage.
    Owain began to take the situation seriously. “Lady Mary Derby,” he said, writing the name down. “Lady Caroline Northern. Lady Frances Holmes, Lady Georgina Pitt-Stanley. . . .”
    A few pages later, his scrabbling memory could only come up with, “Miss Witherton?”
    â€œPlague take it, Owain, she’s forty if she’s a day.”
    â€œAge doesn’t matter if you just want to keep your word and thwart your grandmother. You like her company.”
    â€œIf I’m going to do this, I’ll have one who can at least produce a brat or two.” Nims took off the cloth, and Sax rose. “I know my duty. Go over them again.”
    â€œOh, for pity’s sake!” But Owain flipped back the pages and read through his list. At the end, he closed the book. “Well?”
    Sax was leaning against a wall, arms folded, parrot and dog in attendance like some strange heraldic collection. “The dragon should have called my dear uncle Grendel.”
    When Owain looked blank, Sax said, “Because then she’d be Grendel’s mother. The monster from Beowulf. ” He shook his head. “You need to broaden your mind. And I need to marry.”
    He flinched at the same time as Knox shrieked, “Marry not! Wedlock is a padlock!”
    Still he added, “Tomorrow.”
    The servants were all still hovering, pretending they had things to do.
    â€œLet’s test Knox’s tolerance.” Sax seized Babs around the waist, swung her beneath the mistletoe, and kissed her heartily.
    The bird flew to a safer perch on the bed, but didn’t scream one of his warnings. Instead, he said hopefully, “Wanna nut.”
    â€œGood idea, Knox.” Babs reached beneath Sax’s banjan.
    With a laugh, he slapped her hand away. “Now, now. Let’s not push the poor bird too far. Anyway, you’re reformed.”
    Babs winked. “That just means I don’t charge for it anymore, milord.”
    â€œThe deuce! No wonder my menservants seem half asleep most of the time.”
    â€œGo on with you. It also means I can be right particular.” She casually pushed Sax down onto the bed and strolled away, broad hips swaying, to stand close to Nims.
    The place really was a madhouse, but Sax never seemed to care. In fact, he had created it with his careless kindness and indulgence, and his total indifference to privacy. He said servants always knew your business anyway, and that they could be useful because they knew everyone else’s business, too.
    Owain didn’t think even the most well-informed servants could be of much help in this.
    He tucked away his notebook and, with little hope, decided