The Girl is Not For Christmas - Emma V Leech Page 0,71

appreciated his height and breadth. He could be intimidating when he put his mind to it, she realised, and yet he had never once made her feel anything but secure, even when he was angry with her. She had never once doubted her safety or feared his temper, despite his reputation. “Do go and rest now, Miss Penrose. I shall send Lady Boscawen to you directly after I have shown Mr Skewes out.”

He gestured to the front door, leaving Skewes no other option but to leave.

Livvy saw the way Mr Skewes’ jaw set, saw the furious glint in his eyes as he addressed her. “We shall speak again, when you are feeling more composed and able to listen to reason,” Mr Skewes promised, sketched a half-hearted bow, and stalked away.

She couldn’t speak for a long moment after the door had closed, just stood there, staring at it, wondering what she might have said or done if King had not been there to give her a moment's respite.

“Come along,” he said, his voice gentle, and he took her arm and guided her to the parlour. He sat her down in a chair by the hearth before ringing the bell and then stooped to stir up the embers and get the fire blazing again.

Spargo appeared a moment later.

“Mr Skewes just called on Miss Penrose,” King said with no preamble. “I do not believe she wishes for a repeat of the experience. In the future, you alone will answer the door and under no circumstances is the lady at home unless she expressly tells you otherwise.”

“Zackly,” Spargo said at once with a determined nod, before turning to Livvy. “Miss… I were in the kitchens….”

Livvy shook her head and returned a wan smile. “It was my own fault. I ought not have answered the door. After this morning I should have known what I was in for, and you cannot be in two places at once. Goodness knows you do too much for us as it is.”

Spargo rubbed the back of his neck, looking miserable and awkward.

“Might we have some tea, and perhaps some of Gelly’s excellent cake, if there is any?” King suggested.

Spargo nodded at once, looking relieved to have something he could do. “Right on, my lord.”

Once he was gone, King turned back to Livvy, and she looked up at him. “What a feeble creature you must think me, though I do thank you for playing knight in shining armour. I confess I have never been more grateful to see anyone in all my life….”

Her voice quavered and, to her horror, a fat tear rolled down her cheek.

“Oh, Christ, Livvy, no. Oh, damnation, don’t cry. Why don’t you scold me for my appalling behaviour or… or list all my failings one by one? You know being horrid to me always makes you feel better. You can hit me if you want to,” he offered, his voice so earnestly sincere that Livvy laughed and sobbed at the same time.

“Oh, K-King, you are the most r-ridiculous creature,” she hiccoughed.

“There, see. You feel better already, don’t you?” he said, a note of triumph in his voice.

“Yes,” she said, staring at him through a haze of tears. “You always make me feel better. Since you got here, whenever the world is bleak and unfriendly and I feel all alone, I turn around and there you are and… and you make it all better, King. How? How do you do that?”

He swallowed, his eyes dark and sombre and anxious. “I don’t know, Livvy, but I don’t make it better. I only make you forget it for a bit. I would though… if I could, I would make it better, but…”

She reached out and pressed a finger to his lips, silencing him. “I know.”

King took her hand, holding it for a long moment before he pressed a kiss to her palm that made her stomach do a peculiar flip flop, and then he let it go. Livvy longed for him to take it back, but he drew in an uneven breath and got to his feet. She watched as he straightened his waistcoat and looked down at her.

“Well, then, that was Mr Skewes. I’m afraid you had the right of it, Livvy, my girl. He’s appalling.”

Livvy nodded. “Yes, though you have no idea how you relieve my mind by saying that. Charlies and Ceci think I’m all about in my head to refuse the man. They see only a handsome fellow with pretty manners, a lovely home, and