“Nonsense.” She waved off his comment. “If you are going to be miserly, I’ll merely ask Ethan to request another bottle from Hadley.”
Allie sank into the matching chair opposite his own, expression cherubic.
Kendall glared at her.
She sipped her Scotch, staring at him over the rim of the glass and slurping loudly simply to be obnoxious.
Had all of womankind set out to vex him today? And to drink his library dry, to boot?
“I had lengthy meetings today with Lord John Russell and Lord Palmerston,” he said. “We discussed foreign policy in the Crimea, the ongoing famine in Ireland, and the problem of civil unrest in Paris.”
“Mmmm,”she replied.
“Lord John has even begun hinting that he will recommend me for a Cabinet position next year, assuming he is still in office.”
“That must be very exciting.”
Kendall took in a fortifying breath. “The point is that my days are full of important matters, conversations and decisions that affect the lives of multitudes around the world. It is why we must insist that those who would join in this governance adhere to a strict standard of behavior. There is strong evidence that Lord Hadley has violated these strictures. We in Parliament will hold him accountable. Therefore, you will cease assisting your friend in her naive defense of her father, Lady Allegra.”
“Uffa! Lady Allegra, is it?” She lifted her eyebrows. “And employing yourdukevoice?”
“My what?”
“Yourdukevoice,” she said offhandedly. “It’s grim and autocratic and holds a rasping edge of threatened violence. Like you are one mishap away from ordering a miscreant to be flayed alive.” She pretended to shiver. “I am sure underlings rush to do your bidding when you use it.”
Kendall downed a healthy swallow of his Scotch, the burn of alcohol merging with the glow of anger in his belly.
“I am most serious, Sister,” he snapped. “As a member of my household, I cannot permit—”
“You are merely upset because Lady Isolde bested you today.”
“She did not—” Kendall paused at Allie’s knowing grin. “Or rather, I am not—”
“Furious? Raging?” she smirked. “Regretting I returned to London?”
“Possibly.” He stared her down for another long moment, fingers drumming on the arm of his chair.
It was unnerving what loving a person did to him. How could he be simultaneously so irritated with his sister and yet still eagerly seek her company?
Thank goodness his personality stifled all other friendships. It was all he could do to control the one with his twin.
“Can we please move on to discussing your list of potential brides?”Allie asked. “You really should know better than to leave such things atop your desk.”
Silence for a long moment.
Kendall sent up a prayer to whatever patron saint of patience his Catholic mother might have revered. “Need I ask you, once again, to stop interfering in my affairs?”
Predictably, Allie rolled her eyes and ignored his question. “Lady Alice Churchill-Spencer? Lady Caroline Cavendish? Such ladies are dull as dishwater. You will be bored within half an hour.”
Kendall flicked a loose string off his trouser leg. “That is for me to decide.”
“Do you know who will never bore you?”
“Do not say—”
“Lady Isolde.”
“Hah! Because I would always be waiting for the woman to sink a dagger into my back.”
