Yuletide Treasure Read Free

her wriggling bundle. “I’ll offer you a deal. If you promise to return to that pile of leaves you were playing in, I promise to rescue Fuzzy. However, if you venture back into the street before I reachyour side, I can’t be responsible for Fuzzy’s fate. Is it a deal?”
    Noelle stared at her as if she’d lost her mind. “Did you hear what I said? Fuzzy’s not a real cat.”
    â€œI heard you. I repeat, do we have a deal?”
    A slow, astonished nod. “Yes.”
    â€œGood.” The young woman set Noelle on the ground and gave her a gentle push. “Go ahead.”
    Noelle sprinted to the grass.
    Her rescuer smiled her approval. Then, shoving unruly chestnut curls behind her ears, she dropped unceremoniously to her knees. With calculated caution, she crawled alongside the carriage, keeping a healthy distance from the wheels, lest the horses bolt. At last, she stopped and groped beneath the vehicle.
    Scant seconds later, Fuzzy emerged, gripped tightly in her hand. “Success,” she called out, grinning. Her grin faded as Noelle lunged forward. “Stop.” One palm rose to ward off Noelle’s advance. “Our deal was for you to remain on the grass. One more step and Fuzzy will resume his precarious position beneath the carriage.”
    Noelle halted in her tracks.
    The dazzling smile returned. “Wonderful. I appreciate a person who keeps her word.” She glanced back at the driver. “Thank you, sir. You can be on your way.”
    The befuddled man was wiping his brow with a dirty handkerchief. “Thank you,” he croaked.
    â€œThank you, sir.” She waved, then headed toward Noelle.
    The clattering of the departing carriage shattered Eric’s paralyzed state.
    Rage, vast as a storm-tossed wave, erupted inside him. He charged toward the roadside, where, at that moment, Noelle’s rescuer was placing Fuzzy in the child’s arms.
    â€œHere you are,” she said brightly. “Fuzzy survived his adventure and is none the worse for it.”
    Noelle snatched her beloved toy, her eyes still wide with disbelief.
    â€œMy name is Brigitte,” the woman offered, patting Fuzzy’s tattered head. “What’s yours?”
    A heartbeat of silence. Then: “Noelle.”
    â€œWell, Noelle, being that you’re obviously quick on your feet, I’m sure you would have escaped that carriage unharmed. But I’m not nearly as sure about Fuzzy. For his sake, perhaps you could be a bit more cautious in the future.”
    â€œI suppose.” Noelle glanced up to see her uncle bearing down on her. “I’m about to be chest-ized.”
    Brigitte stifled a grin. “And who is going to chastise …” Her mouth snapped shut as Eric loomed over them.
    â€œNoelle, I ordered you to remain on the church grounds,” he thundered. “What the hell were you doing in the middle of the street?”
    Chewing her lip, Noelle regarded him solemnly. “That’s twice in one morning,” she pronounced. “I think you’d best not say hell again, Uncle. Even God has His limits.”
    A choked sound emerged from Noelle’s rescuer—an obviously unsuccessful attempt to smother laughter.
    â€œYou find recklessness and impudence to be amusing traits, young woman?” he roared, unleashing his outrage on her full force.
    To his astonishment, she raised her chin, meeting his ferocity head-on. “Recklessness, no, Lord Farrington. Nor impudence—at least not in its mean-spirited form. However, in this case, I must admit to finding Noelle’s observation—albeit outspoken—to be amusingly valid.”
    Anger was eclipsed by surprise, and Eric’s brows drew together. “You know who I am.”
    â€œI do.”
    â€œHow?”
    â€œI have a remarkable memory, my lord. And five years is not so very long a time. While your appearance has altered somewhat”—she