Rothgar bowed. “Cousin, you are most welcome.”
That was clear enough.
Ashart swept a bow of his own. “How could I resist, especially when I bring mysteries and complexities?”
Lord Rothgar smiled. “We thrive on mysteries and dine on complexities.”
Despite the smile, a tingling tension clamped the back of Genova’s neck. She last remembered feeling like this when their limping ship had caught sight of those Barbary corsairs.
Chapter Thirteen
Lord Rothgar turned then to look at Sheena and Charlie. “Speaking of mysteries, a baby, Great-aunt Calliope? At your age?”
A rumble of laughter rolled through Lady Calliope. “Foolish boy! We’ll amuse you with the story later, but make known to you our companion and friend, Miss Smith.”
Genova curtsied, warmed by the “friend,” which raised her status a good deal.
“Welcome to Rothgar Abbey, Miss Smith.” Lord Rothgar extended his hand, which gave her no choice but to surrender hers for a kiss brushed just above her glove. “How courageous of you to venture among Mallorens and Trayces.”
“You make your families sound like Scylla and Charybdis, my lord.”
Another brief smile touched his lips. “An apt construct—if you were a sailor.”
Scylla and Charybdis were two of the challenges Ulysses had faced when sailing home to Ithaca.
“How clever you are!” Thalia declared. “Genova is a naval officer’s daughter and has spent a vast amount of time at sea. She fought Barbary pirates!”
“Not quite,” Genova tried to protest, but the marquess smiled fully.
“Then you are admirably qualified for this voyage. As long, of course, as you can decide which side is Scylla, the monster who desires to eat you, and which is Charybdis, the whirlpool that seeks to suck you into the depths.”
Without thinking, Genova glanced at Lord Ashart and caught him looking at her. Muscles deep within her contracted, and her breath shortened. In public, when separated by, perhaps, four feet!
Someone chuckled.
She looked quickly, her color rising, but the marchioness was chuckling at something Thalia had said. Everyone seemed in merry Christmas spirit, but Genova wanted to hint that Lady Calliope needed a warm bed.
She hesitated to abandon Sheena, but went over to curtsy to Lady Rothgar. “Excuse me, my lady, but Lady Calliope is tired from the journey. I think she would welcome her bed.”
Shrewd eyes took in the old lady. “Of course. We are caught up in excitement.”
In moments a senior servant was taking Lady Calliope and her servants up the grand staircase, its banisters twined with red and green cords, while Lord Rothgar guided Thalia and Ashart toward a room off the hall.
Scylla and Charybdis. Should she be there with Thalia or here with Sheena? She couldn’t abandon the girl now.
“So this is Lady Booth Carew’s baby,” Lady Rothgar said. “I gather some strange story attaches.”
Genova knew she was blushing. “My lady, I’m very sorry—”
Lady Rothgar waved a hand. “I’m sure you could do nothing but bring the child here. Is he healthy?”
“Yes, mylady. And the nurse, too.”
“Then come along. We have extensive nurseries and they are already in use.”
She turned and walked briskly toward the staircase, her heels rapping on the wooden floor like the rat-a-tat-tat of a battle drum. Genova pushed that thought away and urged Sheena after, carrying the maid’s bundle herself. At least one problem had evaporated. Sheena and Charlie were not to be thrown out. In factthey would have a place in the family’s nursery, which was very generous.
As they climbed the stairs Genova found the bells. They hung from the cords wrapped around the banisters, and tinkled as she passed. Charming, but she could imagine the noise fraying the nerves.
