“Mikaela can be quite… stubborn. I told her that if she didn’t accept, that I would…”
There was that sideways glance again, and a smile.
“Here you are,” Lady Lenore arrived and greeted him. “Oh, dear, they are still going at it.”
“The first of many, I predict,” Mikaela’s aunt commented. “It will be good for both of them.”
“A moment, Mr. Brodie?” Lenore Forsythe asked.
Brodie followed her into the adjacent sitting room. She poured them both a drink; some of her ladyship’s whisky from Old Lodge in the north of Scotland.
“We haven’t had the chance to speak before… Not about this.” She handed him a glass, and smiled almost shyly. “I’ve acquired a taste for it. It’s quite bracing.”
“Courage?” Brodie suggested.
“Yes, well, what I wanted to say is that I know my sister can be strong-willed at times. But there’s a reason, you see.” She took another swallow.
“Our father was…”
“Mikaela has spoken of it,” he replied when it seemed she was having some difficulty.
“It’s that she has always been the one to take care of me,” she continued. “I do believe that is where the stubbornness and that damnable determination to see a matter set right… Forgive me for cursing. It’s just that she has such strength and courage, and has quite imagined her life as a single woman, you see.”
She took another swallow. “And the truth is that there was never a man that she trusted after everything that happened when we were children.” She made a gesture through the air with the now empty tumbler.
“More please, Mr. Brodie.”
He smiled to himself and did as requested.
“And there was also that other aspect… And I’m certain that she must have spoken of it.”
Brodie continued to listen.
“It’s just that it would be expected, and…”
“Here you are,” Lady Antonia announced. “The dispute has been resolved without injury. Lily and I will proceed to the sword room where she will apply herself as best she can. I fully intend to best her.”
“Then, she has agreed to the tutor?” Lenore Forsythe asked, quite surprised. “I thought they might bring the walls down with their shouting and bickering.”
“She has. You and I will see to the young lady’s education. We are both well read and had the finest tutors,” Lady Antonia went on to explain. “If there is a disagreement it will be settled in the sword room. I do believe she is beyond a spanking.” She smiled. “Do close your mouth, Lenore. You look like a cod.” She turned then.
“We must have appropriate costumes for duels. I must contact Madame for her suggestions. And it will mean cancelling my plans for safari… Although Lily might enjoy that very much.”
Lenore Forsythe downed her second dram of whisky. “I do hope we have an ample supply. I must remember to have Mr. Munro check on that.”
Brodie turned as Mikaela came into the sitting room.
Stubborn, forceful, with courage and a temper to match. And he wanted herverra much.
“Her ladyship seems to believe the matter is settled,” he commented.
She shook her head. “Ridiculous. She is eighty-five years old. Lily is fourteen, as well she can remember.”
“I would place my wager on her ladyship. She seems to have done quite well before.” Brodie replied.
Mikaela frowned. He liked her frowns as well as her smiles. Although the frowns were usually a warning.
“How are you?” she asked.
