“For whom?” She stepped back and swung the door open wider while pointing to the large, claw-footed mahogany table at the center of the room.
“A parcel for Miss Aurora, one for Master Quill, a bundle labeledbanners and ribbon for the picnic, and a package taggeda gift.” Walters waved the pair of footmen into the room,directing them to place the items on the table Serendipity had pointed out.
“Thank you, Walters,” Serendipity said as she turned and narrowed her eyes at Grace and Joy. “That will be all.” After the servants left the room, she tipped a curt nod at the parcels on the table. “Care to explain? What lie have you to tell about those, Gracie?”
Apparently, it was time to take a stand about Serendipity’s picnic-planning madness, and since no one else was brave enough to do it, Grace took the mantle upon herself. “Enough of your bullying, Seri.” She rose from her chair and squared off in front of her eldest sister. “We do our best to tolerate your impossible behavior when you are planning the family picnic each year, but you overstep every modicum of civil boundaries this time. We are not your enemies, nor are we your servants who must account for our every waking hour to ensure our actions meet with your approval until your infernal picnic is deemed a bloody success. Now, stop this foolishness at once!”
Serendipity went stock-still as if turned into a pillar of salt, her fists clenched to her middle.
Grace couldn’t decide if her sister was about to burst into tears or fly into a rage and start throwing everything within reach. Serendipity was normally the voice of reason and often the peacemaker. At least, she always had been before Mama died. But, sadly, a new pecking order among the sisters had evolved after the death of their parents and Chance’s ascension to the title. Not only had Serendipity promised Mama to watch over them until they all married, she had apparently vowed to be their taskmaster, their consciences, and their judge and jury. And Serendipity kept her vows with the tenacity of a Templar Knight.
“We love you, Seri,” Grace said, gentling her tone, “but sometimes, you make loving you quite the chore.”
Serendipity jutted her chin higher, but her fists slowly relaxed, and her hands gracefully dropped to her sides. “I see.”
While Grace didn’t usually worry about bruising anyone’s feelings, she felt bad about hurting her eldest sister. After all, Serendipity was only doing her best to keep the promises she had made to their dear mama. “I should not have spoken so harshly, Seri. I know the picnic means a lot to you and is quite the ordeal. Please forgive me.”
The rest of the sisters remained silent. Not a single one of them moved to add their opinion. It was an unwritten rule among them when two openly battled. There would be nopack behavior, as Papa had called it—or at least they should attempt to observe that rule. The two at odds should work out their differences without the threat of the rest taking sides and collectively attacking the one. Mama and Papa had usually done the same, allowing the pair at odds to sort out their differences on their own unless one picked up a weapon that might do the other bodily harm. Their parents had once laughingly admitted they had adopted the rule of stepping in when a weapon was drawn to save poor Chance’s life. As the only brother trying to survive a herd of seven sisters, he was terribly outnumbered.
Grace went to the parlor door, peeked out into the hall, then closed it once again and locked it. “Gather round, and I shallconfess.However”—she swept a threatening look around the room—“one word about this to Chance, and I shall declare war upon each of you. Frogs in your beds. Knotted stockings in your drawers. Crickets in your chamber pots, and Gastric with a case of the winds in your wardrobes toperfumeall your gowns. And that is just a hint of my arsenal. Understood?”
The four sisters nodded, easing in closer. Anticipation tingled through the room like an excited shiver.
“The reason Joy and I returned from Mettlestone’s empty-handed is because the Duke of Wolfebourne and his youngbrother and sister interrupted our shopping.” Grace waited for the obvious question. She didn’t have to wait long.
“How did they interrupt your shopping?” Serendipity asked. “And is he as beastly as the rumors?”
“He is meek as a lamb around Gracie,” Joy said with a wicked grin. “She attacked the poor man when he’d barely come through the door.”
Serendipity turned to Grace with an open-mouthed stare, apparently struck mute by Joy’s colorful description.
“I did not attack him.” Grace gave Joy a somewhat gentle shove, then shook a finger at her. “This is my confession, if you please.”
Still grinning, Joy threw up her hands and backed up a step. “By all means, proceed.”
“As I said,” Grace began, “I did not attack him. I merely corrected his opinion that children should be seen and not heard. His brother and sister are but seven years old and quite delightful, but the man appears unable to appreciate them.”
“Unable to appreciate themhow?” Serendipity folded her arms across her bosoms, adopting the same look of suspicion Mama had always assumed when listening to any of their confessions.
“They are more than a handful for him. Sharp and cunning as young foxes, but sweet as can be when treated as they should be. The duke has had issues with inadequate nannies and loathsome governesses, and his future mother-in-law is already attempting to ship off the children to the farthest destination she can find.”
“And you discovered all this during your brief encounter in Mettlestone’s?” Serendipity’s silvery-blonde brow, the left one that always betrayed her emotions, angled higher. She knew there was a great deal more to the story without having to be told. “What have you done, Gracie?” she asked quietly.
“The other day, during my ride, I rescued the children’s poor little dog and helped get them and their pets home.”
Serendipity slowly closed her eyes and rubbed her forehead as though stricken with a terrible ache. “Oh, Gracie. Not the clothes.”
“Little Hector was hopelessly snarled in the woodbine ravine. I couldn’t very well leave them to their fates just so they wouldn’t see me in my buckskins.”
“And Hector is?” Merry asked.
“Connor’s dog. Galileo is Sissy’s cat. A huge feline who is quite protective of the children and the dog. It took some coaxing for Galileo to trust me. Sissy said one of the governesses had been mean to him, and that was why he has difficulties with new people.”
“Oh, Gracie.” Serendipity lowered herself into the chair beside the table bearing the gifts. “Did the children tell the duke about your clothing?”
“Well…that’s somewhat of the point. They didn’t have to.” Grace took a deep breath, bracing herself for her sister’s reaction. “He and I had a few words when he talked down to me because he thought me a servant and also accused me of trespassing.”
“Oh, Gracie.” Serendipity dropped her head into her hands. “Did you…”
