Isolde knew Tristan well enough to understand his words were not the true reason for his anger. Or rather, not the whole of it. Given his violent, tyrannical father, her husband deeply valued his privacy. Aubrey, by trespassing on Tristan’s most intimate space, had violated that privacy at a primal level.
“We will see it sorted, my love.” She stroked the gray hair at his temple. “All will be well.”
Bit by bit, he relaxed under her hands. His kisses quieted, and his head lifted. Pressing his lips to her forehead, Tristan held her for a long moment.
“I still intend for us to leave London the day after tomorrow.” His voice was Tristan’s once more, soft and yielding. “I will speak with Ledger at length in the morning and undo whatever havoc Cousin Aubrey has caused. We will attend Penn-Leith’s reading at Buckingham Palace and promptly leave for Hawthorn the next morning.”
“I approve of your plan.” Isolde stepped back. “Now, will ye share some of the excellent Glenturret whisky I see there?” She tilted her chin, indicating the bottles peaking out from their hiding place in the bookcase.
A noise sounded from the entry hall.
Isolde recognized Allie’s voice, and a moment later, Allie and Ethan swept into the library.
“Whatever is going on? First, no carriage waiting at the wharf, and then we arrive to discover the house in uproar. I’m famished, exhausted beyond reason, and ready to topple into bed. The baby, as well.” Allie pressed a hand to her abdomen. Tristan and Isolde were some of the few people who knew that Allie was in a family way. “Instead of finding those comforts waiting, I discover staff scurrying back and forth. I think Fredericks actually stammered just now. For a ducal butler, that is practically apoplectic.”
Allie sank wearily into one of the armchairs before the fire, a hand cradling the soft swell of her stomach. Ethan leaned against the arm of the chair.
“Perhaps Frederick’s reaction was in response to myself.” Ethan ran a hand down his waistcoat. “He has always been something of a fanatic of my works, and I do have that effect on some.”
Allie shot him a bemused look.
Tristan gave a faint snort. “You are flattering yourself again, Penn-Leith. It appears Cousin Aubrey and Lady Lavinia took the reports of my demise to heart. They have commandeered not only my townhouse but my private apartments, as well.” Tristan handed a tumbler of whisky to Isolde. “Hence the uproar, as I demanded my abode be set to rights.”
“The ferret is here?” Allie’s eyes flew wide. “I don’t know if I should laugh at the audacity or shudder in revulsion.”
“Both?” Tristan suggested.
“Ferret?” Isolde asked on a giggle.
“It’s what my twin calls Lady Lavinia,” Tristan murmured.
“How horrid of you, Allie.” Isolde tried to stem a cackling laugh but met with only middling success.
Allie tossed her head, looking every bit as disdainful and Italian as her brother. “If Lady Lavinia does not wish to be compared toun furetto, then she shouldn’t cultivate sneaky, underhanded behavior so studiously. The woman is absolutely horrid.” She pointed a finger at her brother. “Please tell me you cast them both out on their ears, dead of night or no.”
“So blood-thirsty, Wife.” Ethan slid to sitting on the arm of Allie’s chair in order to press a kiss to the top of her head.
Sighing, Tristan crossed to sit opposite his sister. “Unfortunately, no. I had a momentary surge of rationality and gave them until tomorrow morning.”
“Pity.”
Ethan chuckled and, lifting his wife’s chin with two fingers, bent to press a soft kiss to her lips.
“Not particularly,” Tristan said. “I merely remembered at the last moment that Lady Lavinia’s mother, the Duchess of Andover, is a Lady of the Bedchamber to Queen Victoria. It seemed bad form to toss a lady with familial connections to the Queen’s inner circle into the street the day before meeting with Her Majesty.”
The door snicked open and Fredericks entered, followed by three footmen bearing linens, cutlery, dishes, and an assortment of cold meats, bread, and cheese. The welcome sight set Isolde’s stomach to rumbling.
“A repast, Your Grace. I apologize that it is not warm.” Fredericks bowed, motioning for the footmen to set up dinner on a small games table in one corner. “But may I say once more, on behalf of all the staff, how relieved and delighted we are that Your Grace and the duchess have returned to us healthy and hale.”
“Your words are appreciated, Fredericks. Will you please inform Mr. Ledger that I will wish to speak with him first thing in the morning?”
Fredericks paused, eyes darting to the side. He stood in silence.
“Fredericks?” Tristan prompted.
The butler straightened his spine. “I must confess, Your Grace, I am uncertain as to Mr. Ledger’s whereabouts.”
Tristan frowned. “What do you mean?”
