His For Christmas Read Free Page A

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    “ No! ” said Ivy and then instantly regretted it as another wave of sudden pain flashed across the inside of her head. She took a deep breath and tried again, this time slower and quieter. “ No, don ’ t worry. It ’ s just a very bad headache, I ’ m afraid. ” She bit her lip, thinking of the paralyzing cold outside. “ I won ’ t be here long. I am so sorry to intrude. ”
    Mrs. Chang leveled a glance at the man. “ Elliot? ”
    He shook his head. “ Don ’ t say such a thing. It ’ s my fault you ’ ve been injured. At the very least, won ’ t you stay until you ’ ve recovered? ” he said and then paused, a strange expression on his face, almost as if he was ashamed. But for what? “ After which, I feel as though I must offer you some sort of succor. ”
    She blinked at him, again lost for words.
    Was he … blushing? “ That is to say … I couldn ’ t help but notice …” his voice trailed away and yes, he truly was blushing.
    The boy, Timothy, looked at her intently, so intently, it fair made her squirm in discomfort. “ Mr. Whitley means he ’ ll help you. ”
    Again the sense of complete incomprehension. Had her brain gotten addled as well? “ I beg your pardon? ”
    He leaned his elbow against the bed, an expression on his face that seemed far too old and mature for someone of his age. Surely, this small individual had seen far more than anyone in her social circle. They knew nothing of hunger, cold, fear, poverty … but then again, up until a month ago, neither did she. And that very knowledge humbled her.
    “I was like you. ”
    Elliot put a hand on the boy ’ s shoulder. “ Timothy. ”
    Timothy shook his hand off, not angry, but merely as if he were dislodging a leaf from his shoulder. “ Mr. Whitley, do you know what it ’ s like to be hungry and cold? I know. She knows what it ’ s like. Don ’ t you? ”
    This little boy knew hunger, pain, fear, cold? The very idea was enough to bring warmth to her eyes. “ Oh God, ” she said, for the lack of anything else to say. “ I ’ m sorry. ”
    The boy smiled again. “ It ’ s in the past now. But if you need help, Mr. Whitley will help you. ” And then he bent near to her ear, whispering loudly, “ I think he ’ s an angel in disguise. ”
    He certainly looked like one, with a look of peace about his fine features. “ I would find it hard to disagree with you there, Timothy. ”
    He tilted his head to one side. “ What is your name? ”
    For a few brief moments, Ivy wrestled with her conscience and realized there was no one looking for her. Bertrand certainly wouldn’t. After all, all he wanted was Redmayne Hall. He was probably taking a bath in fine champagne in celebration.
    “ Ivy, ” she said, voice gone quiet. There was little harm in giving her name to a stranger. He couldn ’ t possibly connect her to the spoiled heiress who once had the world on a golden platter. “ Ivy Stevens. ”
    Elliot ’ s eyes narrowed. “ Stevens? ”
    Her heart jumped up to her throat. “ Ye … yes … ? ”
    Once again, that strange feeling of being observed by a creature that could, conceivably, swallow her alive. “ Of the Stevens in Geneva? ”
    How could he have known? “ N..no. No, of course not. ”
    “ No? ”
    She sank lower under the sheets as she tried to dispel the memories threatening to pull her under. “ No. The Stevens in … Fisher County, ” she replied, thinking back on a town she passed on her way here.
    The man was silent for a moment. “ I beg your pardon. I mistook you for someone else. ”
    She smiled weakly. “ Not at all. Stevens is a fairly common surname. ”
    Oh, if he could stop looking at her in such a manner! “ That is certainly true. ”
    Mrs. Chang straightened up to her full height. “ You ought to rest. Just you call if you feel unwell. While you ’ re here, you are a guest, you understand? ”
    A guest.
    She was a guest.
    Ivy blinked rapidly as tears threatened to seep from