He resisted before he let her go, with a nearly inaudible groan as his head thumped against the side of the wardrobe.
“We’re done here. Your control has abandoned you and I still firmly hold the reins of my own.”
His eyes glittered in the near darkness, and she could see that his lips were as plump and swollen as hers felt. As if she'd been stung. Which perhaps she had.
“Well-played, dragonfly. If you consent to visit me tomorrow, I’ll surrender another lens.”
They heard the thunder of feet at the same time and flung themselves into the opposite corners of their hiding places in the nick of time.
Callie and Rissa yanked open the door and shouted, “We found you!”
Cadoc threw her a hooded glance before he stepped out. “You have indeed found us,” he said. “And none too soon,” he muttered under his breath.
“Hullo, girls.” Jess greeted them with a jaunty salute.
Rissa cocked her head. “Auntie Jess, your hair looks like you were wrestling with someone.”
Jess’s hand flew to her hair. It was barely pinned. She glowered at her partner in crime as he smirked. “I didn’t realize I looked so ramshackle.”
Callie looked her up and down with an unapologetic perusal reminiscent of her stepmother. Arie had taken Thad’s girls under her wing and Jess could see her influence. “You might want to straighten your gown and fix your hair before our mother sees you.”
“She insists on making us change or take a bath when we look as rumpled as you,” Rissa said.
“I’ll assist you in your bath,” Cadoc’s offer was too low for the girls to hear.
“What did you say about a bath, Mr. Morgan?”
Of course her nieces were possessed of excellent hearing. And were probably expert eavesdroppers. Jess turned to the man just beyond her shoulder. “Yes, do tell all of us what you said about a bath, Mr. Morgan,” she said as she crossed her arms.
“I said wrath, not bath. I was agreeing that it might not be advisable to incur the wrath of your stepmother.” His recovery was swift and the smirk he leveled in Jess’s direction as he offered an explanation to her nieces was infuriating.
“Well, your room is here, so you should go make yourself presentable, Aunt Jess,” said Callie.
“I’ll do that before I meet you downstairs for our gift exchange.”
Rissa came to a staggering halt and grabbed her sister’s arm to remain upright. “We get presents besides the ones we received in our stockings this morning?”
Jess nodded. “I know there are some packages for you under the tree. And you already know that Mr. Morgan was kind enough to bring oranges for us to enjoy.”
“Don’t forget the chocolate,” he muttered as the girls scampered away.
“I’m not,” she said with a devilish grin. “I’ve decided the chocolate is your present for the adults to enjoy.”
“If you’d like me to give you something to enjoy…”
“You’re incorrigible. Go downstairs and try to win the approval of my family.”
He sketched a bow. “By the time you return, I’ll have them eating from the palm of my hand.”
“It isn’t a bear taming, Mr. Morgan.”
“The size of your two brothers-in-law would suggest otherwise.”
“Though you may not have their formidable height, Mr.Morgan, I’m confident you can hold your own,” Jess said as she swept him a curtsy in return.
She felt his gaze on her as she walked away. Likely on her rump because he was a rogue of the first degree.
Jess’s reflection in the tiny mirror above her washstand filled her with dismay. It was no wonder her nieces had pointed out her dishabille. She looked thoroughly ravaged. Thank goodness they hadn’t the discernment to comment on her beestung lips and flushed collarbones.
