“It might go better than anticipated if you granted Lady Margaret the courtesy of telling her yourself.” While Grace had noticed the woman was an unpleasant sort, that in no way meant Wolfe should be unpleasant as well. “Be as curt as you wish to her mother. I imagine she is the one behind the plot to rid you of your siblings.”
“I’m not so certain about that,” Joy said. “From our brief visit with Lady Margaret the other evening, I drew a few conclusionsabout her. Do not underestimate her, sister. She learned much at her mother’s knee. They possess identical streaks of cruelty.”
“Joy is an excellent judge of character,” Felicity said as she offered Wolfe a cup of tea and a shy smile. She leaned in with a confidential tip of her head. “Never play Commerce with her. She rarely loses.”
Grace gave in to a heavy sigh and looked up at him. “What happened to keeping our intentions a secret?”
“Honor and respect for you demanded that I speak with your brother.” He kissed her hand, then turned to her sisters. “But we should keep this as quiet as possible. I do not wish the Broadmere name sullied because I did not see fit to handle the unpleasantness of my situation before now.”
A conversation from a few days ago came back to Grace with surprising clarity. “Seri?”
“Yes?”
“Did you not say you heard Lady Margaret favored another?”
The way Serendipity’s smile started out faint, then slowly grew, lifted Grace’s heart.
“Why, yes, I did hear that.” Serendipity delicately balanced her saucer in her palm while lifting her teacup for a sip. She aimed the slightest nod at Wolfe. “Were you aware of that rumor, Your Grace?”
Wolfe’s interest immediately perked. “I was not. Whom does she favor? That could simplify things immensely.”
“I have yet to discover the identity of her secret admirer, but I’ve also heard her mother expressly forbids it. She wishes her daughter to become a duchess.” Serendipity narrowed her eyes, her smile turning wicked as she shifted her attention to Joy. “Lady Margaret seemed most interested in your techniques for winning at games of chance. If she grew to trust you…”
Joy proudly tossed her head, making her blonde locks bounce as she preened like the proudest of peahens. “You wouldowe me so very much for this favor,” she told Grace, her grin as impertinent as usual.
Grace gave her sister an impertinent grin of her own. “I will proudly dance at your wedding, since you will be next on the chopping block. You do realize Chance will now aim the Earl of Middlebie and Viscount Blytheston at you?”
Joy’s saucy smile disappeared.
“Chopping block?” Wolfe asked, looking from sister to sister to brother.
“Family jest,” Chance said, with a pointed glare at Grace. “And a poor one at that.”
“Are we in agreement, then?” Grace asked Wolfe. “Connor and Sissy will stay here until after the picnic, and perhaps longer, if the situation warrants it?”
“Connor and Sissy may stay here until I have interrogated my household and adjusted it where necessary. I expected more loyalty from well-treated servants. If I can’t trust them to come to me when those I care about are endangered, I do not want them anywhere around me or mine.”
“The children will be safe here,” Grace promised.
“And we shall try our best not to teach them too many bad habits,” Joy said.
“Do they enjoy cooking?” Felicity asked.
“Lawn games will be just the thing,” Serendipity said. “And I’m certain we have several horses docile enough for Connor and Sissy to enjoy a few riding lessons.”
Wolfe edged a step away from the sisters, taking refuge beside Grace. “Your hospitality is overwhelming, ladies.” He bowed. “And much appreciated.”
“Wait until you meet my other two sisters,” Chance warned. “You have no idea the comfort I find in another male joining the ranks.”
“We are not so bad,” Grace told her brother. “We’ve allowed you to live this long.”
Chance motioned for Wolfe to join him. “Come. To the library for something stronger than tea. Trust me. You will need it.” He cast a sweeping glance around the room at his sisters. “That will give these four time to plan their attack of Lady Margaret at the picnic.”
Wolfe turned back to Grace. “Attack?”
“Subtle attack.” She offered a reassuring smile to her poor, reserved husband-to-be.
Husband-to-be. Really and truly? Yes. This gorgeous, grumpy, aloof man was perfectly hers. At least, once he was free he would be.
