“Who looked after you then?”
“The maids mostly, though Papa always made time for me.” Her eyes sparkled. “Reading fairy stories and later there wasRobinson Crusoe. Papa used to draw pictures of the island for me so I could better imagine his adventures. I have some of them still.”
Alex let out a crack of laughter. “No longer wonder at your plunging into adventure yourself.Robinson Crusoe!”
She looked indignant, but before she could give voice to whatever protest had leapt into her head, his sister Georgy tripped into the room.
“Alex! Good gracious, what in the world are you doing here?”
He received her in a brotherly embrace, the golden curls, worn loose about her face, tickling his chin. As usual, she was off again before he could open his mouth.
“I could scarcely believe it when Berryman said you’d arrived. Not that I’m not delighted to see you, but I cannot imagine —” She broke off, catching sight of Apple. “Good heavens! Berryman didn’t say you’d brought someone with you.”
“Expect he thought it’d come better from me,” Alex cut in swiftly.
He took his sister’s hand and pressed it meaningfully as he led her towards his charge. “Solicit your kindness for Miss Greenaway, Georgy. She’s in need of a refuge.”
Georgiana’s blue orbs had been riveted on Apple, but at this she turned them back on her brother in lively question. “Refuge? Good heavens! Alex, what have you been about? Does Mama know?”
Alex sighed with exasperation. “Do be quiet, there’s a good girl. Tell you it all presently, but for the moment, all Apple needs is to know you won’t repudiate her.”
He received an astonished look. “Apple?”
Seeing how the chit blushed, once more sitting up very straight, Alex hastened to make the introductions. “Miss Appoline Greenaway. Apple, this is my sister, Lady Georgiana Edginton.”
Apple sprang up, the ready rebellion once more in her face. “I beg your pardon! You don’t wish me to be here. I told Lord Dymond you might not, but he wouldn’t listen.”
Georgy broke into laughter. “Oh, he never does!” She put out both her hands. “And it is nonsense to say I don’t wish you to be here. To be sure I don’t know who you are or why Alex has brought you, but I am very happy to welcome you.”
Looking taken aback, rather to Alex’s amusement, Apple took the hands. “Th-thank you, my lady.”
Georgy’s tinkling laugh assailed Alex’s ears and he winced. “Oh, not ‘my lady’! Georgy will do.” She released the girl’s hands. “Are you really called Apple?”
“My father began it when I was a little girl.”
“Do you mind?”
Apple’s smile appeared and Georgy blinked at the startling change.
“I’ve grown too used to it to mind.”
But Georgy, predictably, was already off on another tack, looking the girl up and down. “Forgive me, but where in the world did you get that gown? It is quite gothic!”
Alex cast up his eyes as Apple flushed again. “Never were the soul of tact, were you, Georgy? Apple’s got nothing else with her.”
“Nothing else? What, you mean she has no luggage?”
Alex held up a finger as Apple opened her mouth to respond. “Not so much as a toothbrush. It’s a long story, Georgy. Sure Apple will give you all the details, but the long and short of it is, I’ve to carry out a mission for her and I need her to stay with you while I’m doing it.”
“Mission? Good heavens!” Consternation succeeded the astonishment. “But Alex, you know I would do anything to oblige you, but I can’t have her to stay.”
An unexpected flare of fury swept into Alex’s chest. “Why the deuce can’t you? You’re not getting like Mama, are you? Nose too high in the air?”
Georgy’s eyes flashed and her cheeks grew pink. “How dare you, Alex! You know I never set any store by such nonsense.”
“Well, that’s what I thought,” he returned, mollified, “but if you won’t have Apple —”
“I didn’t say I won’t. I saidI can’t. You see, Rob has been ordered off to the coast. He may even have to sail to the continent, and he insists upon taking me home to Dymond Garth before he goes.”
