Well, that’s interesting, isn’t it?
“Doesn’t she?” Rosalie agrees. She steps back from Christopher and ushers both of them into the sitting area at the center of the library.
With tall bookshelves lining the walls, the space can sometimes feel a bit narrow, but in the center of the room, Mother smartly arranged two settees and two deep, comfortable armchairs, all in a pale blue that catches the light from the thin but enormously tall windows on the far wall.
The whole effect is cozy, and private, and inviting. A perfect place to sit her brother and best friend down and make sure they end the day with at least two outings planned. Rosalie doesn’t know why she hasn’t thought of them together before now.
“What’s brought you back so early?” Amalie asks, beating Rosalie to it.
“Father called me back,” Christopher says. Rosalie stares; that’s certainly news to her.
“Is something the matter?” Amalie asks, looking between them.
“No, no, just another attempt to sway me to accompany him to London for part of the season so I maylearn the ropes.”
“Oh, so you’ll be leaving soon, then,” Amalie says, sounding absolutely dejected, which makes Christopher perk up a little in his seat.
How long have they been secretly interested in each other? And why has neither of them ever said?
“He’s asked that I attend. I haven’t yet said yes,” Christopher says quickly. “I’m not sure I want to miss the end of the season here, when my sister might getengaged.”
Rosalie narrows her eyes. “What has Mother been telling you?”
“You don’t think he’ll propose?” Amalie asks at the same time.
Mother certainly thinks Mr.Dean will. But with MissPine, and her mother, and Rosalie’s generally waning enthusiasm for all things subterfuge...
“Mother’s dead set on it, apparently,” Christopher says. “Says she and my sister have all kinds of plans to thwart a new threat?”
“Ah, MissPine,” Amalie says. “She really is very pretty.”
Christopher’s eyes cut to Rosalie and Rosalie intentionally doesn’t meet them. If anyone in the world could look at her and know, it would be Christopher.
“Well, I never want to miss my sister putting someone in their place. She gets ever so bossy, don’t you think?”
Rosalie gasps while Amalie giggles. “I do not!”
“Oh, but you do,” Amalie says, grinning at Christopher. “But it’s always for the best. You’re the smartest of us by far, and you see everything. We need your bossiness. You’realwaysright, after all.”
“You protest too much,” Rosalie tells her, shaking her head as the doors to the library open and MissWrigsby comes in with one of the porters, carrying a ridiculous number of pastries along with their tea set.
Rosalie would be more insulted by Christopher and Amalie’s teasing, but she’s just so glad to have him home and, hopefully, staying for the rest of the season. Everything else aside, they’ll get all his favorite meals every night, and more treats with tea. Mother’s always focused on keeping Rosalie trim and healthy, but Christopher gets the goodies.
She loves him for it, and hates him for it.
“Thank you, MissWrigsby, Mr.Stone,” Christopher says around a mouthful of biscuit.
MissWrigsby shakes her head and smiles at him. She meets Rosalie’s eyes as she leaves, grinning, and Rosalie can’t help but smile too.
“Do you have any plans while you’re in town?” Amalie asks.
“Not many,” Christopher says, pouring all of them tea. Such a little gentleman he’s become.
Amalie’s smile is wide when he hands her a cup. He’s not so little anymore. He looks like a man now. A man who could make her friend happy.
“You’ll come with us on Thursday, then,” Rosalie says, ignoring the way both of them snicker. Fine, she’s bossy. It’s for their own good. “Aunt Genevieve has organized a group walk.”
“I’d be delighted,” Christopher says at once. “I hope you’ll be there too, MissLinet?”
