Wolfe clenched his teeth, taking umbrage at her tone. “In the carriage. They and I have a few remaining errands to complete before we return to the lodge.”
“Mother and I would be most happy to join you.”
A barely audible groan came from the carriage, making Wolfe clench his jaws even harder, this time to keep from laughing. Connor had obviously forgotten their discussion on how easily sound traveled.
“Good heavens.” Lady Margaret recoiled, her disgust unmistakable. “Has one of them taken ill?”
“Quite possibly,” Wolfe hurried to say, leaping on the opportunity to escape the women at least for a few more hours.
Lady Longmorten pressed a lacy handkerchief to her mouth. “We should carry on, Margaret. His Grace appears in fine fettle today. I am sure we will enjoy his company at teaanddinner. Will we not, Your Grace?”
“Of course, ladies.” Wolfe forced a smile. There would be no escaping the duo now, no matter how much his knee or his need for peace might pain him. He touched the brim of his hat. “Until tea, then.”
Both women curtsied and continued on their way.
As he climbed into the carriage, he released a low groan.
“Careful, brother,” Sissy said in a loud whisper. “The ladies will hear.”
“They heard you,” he informed Connor.
“Sorry. It came out before I could stop it.” The boy peeked out the window, then sagged back into the seat opposite Wolfe. “You are not going to make us come to tea with you, are you? Can we have it in the nursery like usual? We could eat dinner in the nursery too, if you wanted.”
Wolfe resettled himself more comfortably before rapping on the ceiling for the driver to continue on to the treat shop. “You must come to dinner in the dining room as usual, but you may escape and have tea in the nursery as long as you both promise to better monitor what you say in the future. Just because you think it, does not mean it should be said. Try to sort out how it will be perceived and affect others before you speak.”
“We made you look poorly back in the shop, didn’t we?” Sissy scooted closer and rested her head against his shoulder. “I am sorry, brother. Please don’t listen to Lady Longmorten and send us away.”
Wolfe’s heart twisted and dropped to the pit of his stomach. “I have no intention of sending either of you away, but I do need you both to do a better job of cooperating. Work with me rather than against me.” Perhaps if he recruited them rather than continue to bend them to Society’s mold, they would all be happier. The manner with which young Connor kept eyeing him gave him pause. “What are you plotting?”
The boy drew himself up as if insulted. “Just ’cause I was studying you, does not mean I am plotting. I was wondering something.”
Even though Wolfe knew he shouldn’t ask, he couldn’t resist. “And what were you wondering?”
“Why don’t you send those women away and tell them not to come around anymore? It’s plain to everyone that you don’t like them. Prolly even plain to them.”
“Plain to everyone?”
Sissy gave him a solemn nod. “Mrs. Havarerry. Feebson. Miss Hannah and all the rest of the maids. All of them said as much.”
“And you know this how?” Wolfe resigned himself to the fact that perhaps he needed to pay more attention to what went on in his own household.
“You know servants gossip,” Sissy said, then shook a finger at him. “But don’t scold them. They feel bad for you. None of them like those two, either. At least, none of them other than Mrs. Havarerry. They think Lady Longmorten is the worstest of the pair. We heard them say they might could survive Lady Margaret as long as she don’t turn as sour and mean as her mother.”
Deflating with a resigned sigh, Wolfe bowed his head and pinched the bridge of his nose.
“Like I said,” Connor continued, “why don’t you send them off?”
“I explained to you about the betrothal,” Wolfe said, hoping that would be the end of it.
“That’s like a promise, right?” Connor patted his knees. “Sometimes promises get broke. I know it is bad when they do, but sometimes they still do.”
“Yes, but if I were to break this promise, it would not only stain our name but very well likely cost us a great deal of money.”
“Is that what abreach of promise suitmeans?” Sissy asked. “You have to pay them to get out of the promise Father made when you was little?”
“Where did you hear that?” Wolfe asked, staring at the two in amazement. They should be spies for the Crown, the way they ferreted out information.
“Never you mind,” Connor hurried to say while shooting his sister a hard look. “How much would it cost to pay them to go away? It might be worth it.”
