Ethan snorted. “Not yet.”
“Accusing innocent orphans of thievery, Lord Devon? Martha’s right. You are a wicked, wicked man.”
And an arse.
He only laughed, then drained his whiskey and poured another measure into the glass.
Thea frowned up at him. She’d go, and he’d sit in the study alone and drink whiskey, and then he’d sleep all day and wake up with a sore head, and as bad-tempered as a bear.
“Won’t you come with me to the kitchens? I’ll get you some tea, and then we can get our evergreens ready for hanging tomorrow, just as we used to the night before your mother’s Christmas Eve parties. Don’t you remember how much your mother loved Christmas?” Thea smiled at the memory of Lady Isabel, and instinctively reached for the tiny crucifix hidden under the high neck of her dress. “I’ll even make another punch, with brandy this time, if you like—”
“No.”
His tone wasn’t encouraging, but still Thea hesitated. He’d come out of his bedchamber today, and wandered all over the grounds searching for them. Surely that was a good sign? “My lord—”
“I said no. I don’t need anything more festive than a flask of whiskey.”
“But it’s the holiday! You can’t sit in here and drink alone. I won’t hear of it.”
“Youwon’t hear of it? Do you suppose it’s up to you? I told you I won’t be dragged into your damned Christmas frolics, Miss Sheridan, and I meant it.”
Thea looked into his hard face, and a shiver of apprehension darted down her spine. Hewouldbe dragged into her Christmas frolics, and much sooner than he thought. His lordship was going to be furious when he found out what she’d done.
But it was too late to change her mind. She’d sent Peter around the village to invite the guests today, and nearly everyone had said they’d come. It was all was arranged, right down to the pine-scented piles of evergreens.
Even if she could change her mind, she wouldn’t.
Whether his lordship liked it or not, he was hosting a party tomorrow night to celebrate his return to Cleves Court. Now all she had to do was manage to pry the flask from his hands, and force him from his bedchamber into the drawing-room by tomorrow evening.
And she knew just the way to do it.
Chapter Five
December 27, 7:00 p.m.
“Five golden rings! Four calling birds, three French hens, two turtle doves, and a—”
No. Not the bloody partridge in the pear tree. Not again.
Hadn’t he forbidden anyone to play that song in this house?
Ethan slammed his book closed and banged his forehead into the hard leather binding, but it was too late. It was as if someone had smeared the song into his brain with sticky, jam-covered fingers, and once it was there, even an entire flask of whiskey couldn’t drown it into oblivion. It continued to play in a nauseating loop in his head until he was ready to tear his hair out with frustration.
Damn it, what kind of fool gifted his true love with geese at Christmas?
He tossed the book onto the side table, and it hit the tray sitting at his elbow, sending his teacup crashing to the floor. Ethan frowned at the smashed porcelain. At least he hadn’t spilled the tea this time. His cup was empty.
It had been empty for hours now, and the plate at his elbow barren of tarts. Thea had been to his bedchamber again and again this morning to cater to his many demands, always with a sweet smile on her face, but by late afternoon she’d stopped answering the bell.
And now here he was again, tartless and bereft of tea.
It could only mean one thing. Thea had decided it was time for him to leave his bedchamber, and all food, drink and creature comforts of any kind would be denied him until he made an appearance.
Ethan didn’t bother fighting it this time, but dragged himself from his chair, washed with the cold water in the basin, wandered around his bedchamber until he’d collected enough clean clothes to cover himself, then checked his reflection in the glass.
Ah, well done. He was the very picture of sophisticated English earl-hood.
That is, if one didn’t look too closely. He hadn’t any idea where his cravat was, his hair needed cutting, and three days of dark blonde stubble covered his chin. Fenton would be appalled at such savagery, but the valet wasn’t here to fall into hysterics, and anyway, Fenton couldn’t properly appreciate the urgency of the situation.
