UnexpectedChristmas Read Online Free

this
fashion plate of a lord. One whose exploits fascinated the ton . The
London society columns relished any tidbit of news about him and the latest
beautiful lady seen on his arm. Even she had occasionally seen a paper and knew
of his amorous activities, although she knew little else about him. She’d never
expected him to seem so intrigued with tasks usually done by a servant.
    Sitting back and looking perfectly happy, he idly asked her
how she’d managed to cook the eggs.
    “There’s a long-handled pan hanging by the stove. I rinsed
it out with snow and used that.”
    With a small sigh, she began to clear the table. She’d
better get more snow to melt. At least she knew one thing—even though she’d
worried about their survival, she now knew this beautiful man would see to
keeping them both alive.
    If his lordship seemed admiring of her cooking feat, it
meant nothing. He was undoubtedly used to females producing miracles for him.
     
    Sebastian smiled with satisfaction, his hunger replete. Not
the fanciest food he’d ever tasted but definitely the best. He’d attack the
coffee beans next. His body tingled from head to toe from exercise, including a
few muscles he’d not used for a while. He’d thought boxing at Gentleman Jim’s
and working out at the fencing academy were keeping him in excellent shape but
swinging an axe called on a few muscles he hadn’t even known he had.
    He felt more at peace than he had for some months. This
situation might seem regrettable but by god he’d hadn’t been bored since he set
foot in this miserable excuse for an inn.
    His companion was more enterprising than he’d expected.
Certainly a governess, as he’d mentally classified her, wasn’t expected to cook
eggs over a fire. She was much younger than he’d thought her to be. But not too
young, thank the lord. Now, with a smudge from the cooking marring her perfect
skin and her hair tied back with a simple ribbon, she looked about the age of
the debutantes at their first dance. Her eyes, which she’d kept downcast before
this morning, were as gorgeous as he’d first thought. A beautiful shade between
blue and purple. She was as beddable as any woman he’d ever seen.
    His trousers felt uncomfortably tight. By god, he’d better
get his licentious thoughts under control. He’d always been careful his
liaisons were with women who understood the rules of the game. Widows with
unmet sexual urges, eager to experience his expertise in the arts of
love—actresses or painter’s models—never an innocent.
    He’d wager his last pence this girl had not been touched.
    This was no time to break his lifelong code. She had no idea
how she could inflame a man. Hell, he doubted if even a ninety-year-old could
keep his cock in his pants if he saw her now.
    And you, Sebastian, had better not show her any
differently.
    He turned to her with a smile.
    “Let’s see if we can’t we make the task of cooking a little
easier for you. Let’s go look at the kitchen. Maybe the stove would be better
than holding food over a fireplace.” She shrugged.
    “I’ve already looked, Sebastian. It’s an impossible
monster.”
    “Maybe I can do something,”
    He grinned in delight and strode toward the kitchen.
    “Let’s go see.”
    Striding ahead of her so she had little choice except to
follow, he soon found himself in a kitchen that was obviously used only for the
necessary food a bar might be expected to produce. Certainly no decent cook
would do anything but stalk out in disgust. The stove was an old-fashioned
monster. He knew little about stoves, but surely this one was from another age.
    He stared at it, almost nonplussed.
    “I’ve never seen a stove like that. But I’ll bet it works
and that I can figure it out.”
    His companion let out a squeak of delight.
    “Oh look. Here’s flour and sugar. Maybe I can make biscuits
when the bread is gone.”
    Amused, Sebastian turned to her. “Are you good at making
biscuits?”
    “I don’t