But to have to tolerate her inside his own home . . .
He longed for the day he forgot Lady Isolde Langston walked the earth. For a time when he could go weeks and months without seeing or hearing her.
However, she was like the persistent moss that plagued the north roof slates of Hawthorn—encroaching, omnipresent, and nearly impossible to eliminate.
The giggling laughter continued, propelling Kendall to his feet.
“You are dismissed, Ledger,” he called as he strode out of the room.
Allie and Lady Isolde both jumped when Kendall burst through the door to the small drawing-room.
The two women were curled into a sofa before the fireplace, shoes scandalously abandoned on the floor and feet tucked under their skirts.
Sunlight from the window opposite the hearth illuminated LadyIsolde’s hair, turning it to red flames. Annoyingly, the vibrant color contrasted strikingly with her fair skin and the printed ivory muslin of her day gown. And then he was annoyed even further that he had noticed such a ridiculous detail.
Obsessed, whispered through his brain.
No!
He gritted his teeth.
His sister pressed a palm to her bosom.“Tristan! That was rather . . .” She waved a hand to indicate the door. “. . .vigorousof you. Whatever is the matter?”
“Must you be so loud and indecorous?” Kendall’s words were meant for his twin, but as he was still staring at Lady Isolde, they appeared to be for her.
“Me, Your Grace?” Lady Isolde mirrored Allie with a palm to her bosom, drawing Kendall’s eyes (irritatingly) tonoticesaid bosom and further stoking the furnace of his ire.
Allie swiveled her head between Kendall and Lady Isolde. “Yes. We were both laughing, Brother. Why should you harangue my guest?”
Kendall pinched the bridge of his nose, slowly counting to ten. It was a trick he had learned long ago to manage his temper. To force his pulse to slow and his thoughts to still before saying or doing something impulsive.
“It is rather difficult for a man to think,” he finally said through clenched teeth, “with such an unholy racket echoing through the house.”
“Laughter?” Allie deadpanned. “You mean the sound of laughter?”
“Yes!”
A long beat of silence.
“I see,” Allie said slowly, though her cadence indicated she absolutely didnotsee. “And you would therefore like us to . . . ?” She trailed off to a question mark.
“Cease laughing!” he snapped.
Allie exchanged a look with her guest.
Lady Isolde put her hand over her mouth. To stifle, Kendall was quite sure, yet more laughter.
Damn woman.
His sister rose to her feet and marched toward him.
“Enough.Basta!” she said in Italian with a clap of her hands. Their Venetian mother had ensured they both learned her native tongue alongside English as children. “You do not come in here and embarrass me in front of my friend.”
Allie punctuated each word with a small push on his chest, forcing Kendall to back away. She kept pushing until he found himself standing in the entry hall.
“You may return when you can be civil,” Allie said in sharp Italian, underscoring her command by slamming the drawing-room door shut.
The room beyond erupted in giggles.
