“Oh, hush, Demon. She is here, she is safe?—”
“We dinnaekenwhat that bastard did to her!” Demon thrust a finger at Bull. “Acase? She’s working acase!”
Bull had stood and crossed to Rosie holding the two cups, offering one to her and one to Georgia. “Aye, and she’s quite good at it,” he explained mildly. “Wears a mustache beautifully.”
He sounded so blasé, so unaffected by Demon’s anger…but could anyone else see the tightness at the corners of his eyes when he met Rosie’s glance?
He was hurt.
She tightened her hold on the teacup and saucer and turned back to her mother. “How did you know we were on our way?”
“Your cousin?—”
“Merida sent ye a telegram!” Demon thrust himself to his feet and stomped toward the tea cart, where Bull was pouring him a cup. “Two days ago! She sent ye a telegramhere, andye were no’ here to receive it!”
Mother winced at Da’s anger and took over the explanation with a far calmer tone. “We became worried and telegraphed her back, only to learn you had left London days ago with young Bull on your way here.”
Ah.
Rosie exchanged an apologetic glance with Bull. Perhaps theyshouldhave told her parents they’d planned on traveling to Endymion. But if they had, their snowy interlude in Alnwick would have alarmed them more…
She took a deep breath. “We stopped in Alnwick to meet with the Marquess of Tittle-Tattle, the art collector. He wrote that book I am fond of, remember?” When Mother nodded, Rosie continued, preparing herself for the next onslaught. “But he was unable to help us, and on the way back to the train—back to you, on time may I hasten to add—well, it was all very awkward. We were ambushed.”
“Ambushed?” Demon bellowed. “Ye allowed my daughter to be attacked, ye felonious cockwobbler?”
Pretending as if she hadn’t heard the interruption, Rosie held Mother’s gaze. “I was not attacked. Bull saved me, but he went into the river, under the ice. I thought…” She swallowed and dropped her gaze to the tea, remembering the terror of those moments. What could have been. “When he finally emerged, he was half-dead.”
“Oh dear,” Mother murmured. “He fell through the ice?”
Rosie nodded, sipping the welcoming tea to fortify herself. “I had to save him,” she whispered. “He was almost frozen.”
“Ye should have let him die!” her father roared. “Insidious bunglecunt!”
And Mother huffed as she whirled to face him. “Demon, we are trying to have aconversationlike rationaladults. If you cannot participate politely, do take yourself off to bed and think about your behavior. I will update you later.”
“Fatuous, irascible clackdish!” Demon glared at Bull, who was sitting on the leather chair in front of the fire, one booted foot resting on the opposite knee, looking at ease as he sipped his tea. “Ye think I’d leave the two women I love most in the world alone with this pugnacious spunk-stocking?”
“Yer mother would be devastated to be left off that short list,” Bull murmured to him, lifting his tea to his lips.
Rosie also hid her smile.
But her mother sighed. “Bull is not the young reprobate you remember, darling. He has not stolen my silver in at least two decades.”
“I’m a changed man, Georgia,” Bull offered mildly. “Mostly.”
Was he thinking of that bill he’d managed to pick out of their mystery attacker’s pocket as they’d fallen through the ice?
“I know, dear.” She sent him a soft smile. “I, at least, can recognize that you have grown into a fine young man with a successful future, the kind of young man any family would be lucky to welcome.” She turned back to Rosie. “So congratulations, my dear. I am so very happy for you. For you both.”
Rosie blinked and set her tea down as she exchanged a confused glance with Bull. His expression was blank, but on purpose; she could see his mind frantically whirling behind his eyes.
“What do you mean, Mother?” she asked cautiously.
Georgia leaned over to pat her hand—herlefthand. The one with the ring. “We received a letter from the Marquess of Tittle-Tattle this morning. He was accepting your father’s patronage for his new book, but as part of the introduction, mentioned he had recently been introduced to you…and your fiancé, a Mr. James Lindsay.”
Ah.
The Significant Look Mother sent toward Da was a silent explanation for why the man was so upset.
