Give All to Love Read Online Free

beefsteak pie we had for dinner upset your tummy?” She reached out to rest her dainty fingers on his brow and smooth away the faint lines there.
    He jerked his head away. “Was I glowering? My apologies. Only—you should not address me so.”
    â€œAddress you? Oh—you mean ‘darling’?” Her eyes round and guileless, she asked, “Why? Is it not a word signifying affection? And what more natural than for a daughter to feel affection for her Papa?”
    â€œHmmmn,” said Devenish, and retreated into his newspaper.
    â€œWell, dearest ancient?” persisted Josie, folding down the top of the page and viewing him over it.
    He sighed and lowered the newspaper to his knees. “In the first place, it is not a term usually employed towards a—”
    â€œA very tottering old gentleman?” she interpolated, twining a strand of his hair into an elf lock.
    â€œNo,” he answered, and watched hopefully for the dimples that usually flickered beside her mouth when he took her to task. She glanced up, met his eyes, and smiled. After a moment, Devenish recollected himself. “Moreover” he said sternly “you were not … Josie, will you stop giggling when I’m trying to talk to you?”
    â€œMy apologies, dearest.” She stood, skipped across the room, and took down the mirror from above the hearth. “Only see how lovely you look.”
    He glanced frowningly at his reflection. Small ringlets hung down all across his forehead. “Good God!” he exclaimed, running a hand through his hair in exasperation.
    Josie laughed. “Now you’ve made it worse. Oh, very well, if we must be grim, I’ll behave.” She set the mirror aside and knelt at his feet, hands folded in front of her. “I know, dear sir,” she sighed, “that I am a great trial to you. ’Tis small wonder that you seek consolation in the arms of—”
    â€œI did not ‘seek consolation’ with Yolande! I told you—”
    â€œThat she was panting with desire—”
    â€œI said no such thing!” he gasped, horrified.
    â€œâ€”to see my pink velvet,” she finished demurely. “That was what you said, was it not?”
    â€œYes— No! That is— Oh, dashitall, child—”
    Wrath flared in her eyes. “Do not call me that! I am a woman! Why must you always—” She flung around to present her back to him.
    He reached up and with one lingering finger touched the lace ruffle that edged her neckline, and after a moment, said gently, “But you are my child. My very loved daughter, and—”
    She sprang up and leaned over him with blazing eyes and teeth that gnashed so that he drew back, blinking. “Wretched! Most odious … youth! Oh, how I would like to—to scratch you!” And her hands came up, the fingers clawed and taut with her rage.
    Standing politely, Devenish sighed for the second time. “Why are we quarrelling so? If it is because you found me—er, holding Yolande, I told you how it came about.”
    She drew a long, hissing breath, then walked to the fireplace and stood staring into the flames. “Yes, I know. And I am not shocked because you were in the bedchamber with a married lady, if—”
    Angered now, he snapped, “You go too far, miss! I have the greatest respect for my cousin’s wife, and—”
    â€œOh, I could tell how much you respected her. Although, I would have thought you proceeded about the business … hind end foremost, as it were.”
    â€œHind end—what?” he stammered.
    â€œForemost, Papa. Indeed, it might have proven less taxing—especially for so aged and infirm a creature—to have lifted the parcel down, instead of lifting her up. N’est-ce pas? ”
    â€œI wasn’t lifting— Well, what I mean is—”
    She turned to him. “What do you mean? Not that it