Page 69 of A Winter Scandal

“I didn’t have time this week, Daniel, but I am sure you were quite able to write the Christmas sermon without my help.”

“Yes, of course, that is exactly what I have been doing today. But then there were all those people who kept coming by for food.”

“We always give food to the poor on Christmas Eve.”

“Yes, I know, but you take care of that. I am sure they all wondered where you were.”

“What did you tell them?”

“I told them you were feeling under the weather, but that is not the point. I had to lie to them.”

“I know you dislike lying, and I am very grateful, believe me.” She paused, hoping that her brother would ask about Matthew, but when he did not, she said somewhat tartly, “We found the baby and brought him back. He seems to have not suffered from his ordeal.”

“I see. Well, that is good.” Daniel’s voice showed a lack of conviction in his words. He started to say more, but at that moment Lolly came back into the kitchen, carrying Matthew.

“Here, I’ll hold him while you get his supper ready,” Thea offered, taking the baby and settling him on her hip with an ease of practice that had her brother frowning.

A knock sounded at the back door, and Daniel said crossly, “Now who in the world can that be? I thought the poor were all gone.”

“Ah, but ‘the poor are with us always,’ are they not?” Thea reminded him with a grin, and went to open the door, preparing herself to look ill. Given the state of her hair, she suspected that a visitor could easily believe that she had just arisen from her sickbed.

But when she pulled open the door and saw the tall, blond man on the doorstep, she knew she would not have to pretend anything. “Lord Rawdon, come in.”

“Miss Bainbridge.” He stepped inside, politely sweeping off his hat. His gaze went to the baby. “I came to tell you that I was unable to track down anyone—apart from some poor peddler who got caught in the snowstorm, that is. But I see that you have found the child.”

“Yes, we did. We caught up with the kidnapper at the cottage where he had taken refuge. Ga—that is, Lord Morecombe struggled with him, but he got away.”

“Did he get any information from the fellow?”

“No, I’m afraid not. The man knocked Morecombe in the head with a log before he could ask him anything.”

“Ah.” The ghost of a smile touched Rawdon’s face. “Then at least he didn’t damage Morecombe much.”

A giggle escaped Thea at his words. Behind her, Daniel cleared his throat ostentatiously.

“Oh! I’m sorry,” Thea told Rawdon. “I have neglected to introduce you to my brother. Lord Rawdon, this is my brother, the Reverend Daniel Bainbridge. Daniel, the Earl of Rawdon.”

Rawdon nodded politely to her brother, his gaze flickering over Daniel with a decided lack of interest before he turned back to Thea. “Well, I shall leave you to get on with your holiday, then. I am glad you recovered the boy. He, ah, seems unharmed.”

Rawdon reached out awkwardly to touch Matthew’s shining curls. Matthew regarded him solemnly for a long moment, then, as Rawdon pulled his hand back, the baby broke into one of his sunny smiles, startling a chuckle from the man.

“A pretty child. I can see Jocelyn in him.”

The instant of bleakness in Rawdon’s angular face touched something in Thea. She thought of the man spending Christmas by himself at the inn, and she blurted out, “We are having a few guests over for the Christmas feast tomorrow. Perhaps you would join us … if you are not otherwise occupied, I mean.”

He glanced at her with faint surprise. “Indeed. Well … yes, I mean, that is most kind of you. I should be honored to join you. Till tomorrow, then.” He nodded toward Daniel. “Reverend.”

Thea closed the door behind Rawdon and turned to see her brother staring at her in astonishment.

“Who in the name of all that’s holy was that?” Daniel asked, his voice shooting up almost to a squeak. “Are we to have any more lords tromping in and out of the house at all hours?”

“No, I believe I know only the two.” Thea gave the baby back to Lolly and went over to take her brother’s arm and nudge him from the room with her. “Really, Daniel, just think, an earl will be gracing our Christmas dinner. The Squire’s wife will be green with envy.”

“I don’t give a fig about the Squire’s wife and her envy. Dash it, Thea, you can’t go about consorting with all these noblemen. You don’t know what they’re like. I do; I went to school with chaps like that. No doubt you think that they are gentlemen just because they’re titled, but I can tell you that a greater group of frivolous-minded, hedonistic men you will never meet. They have no concern for a woman’s reputation unless you are as highborn as they—and not always even then.”

Thea smiled at her brother and reached over impulsively to give him a hug. “Why, Daniel, I do believe you are truly concerned that I will get hurt.”

“Of course I am. What do you think I have been talking about for the past age?”