“Whatever this is, I’d first like an explanation of why Hamish cannot be here,” she demanded.
One could say Tempie had done a total turnabout in the whole arm’s length thing with Hamish.
I loved it.
“Did you read the letters, Vivi?” Prue asked before anyone could answer Tempie.
“I did,” I answered.
“And considering Vivi uncovered irrefutable evidence a member of the Talyn family committed justifiable homicide, this is the reason why Hamish and Christian aren’t here,” Battle put in.
Tempie hissed in shock, Prue and Chassie gasped.
But on that intro, they didn’t mess around and found seats.
When they did, I told the story.
Battle followed me up with, “And it’s been decided we’ll not be going to the authorities so they can put the case of the missing viscount to bed. As family, we’ll do what Harmony’s immediate family did. We’re going to protect her secret.”
“Of course,” Tempie agreed easily.
Prue and Chassie also quickly agreed, though they did it by just nodding.
Battle looked between Tempie and Chassie. “I’ll leave it up to you whether you share this with Hamish and Christian. Hamish won’t breathe a word, I know.” He focused on Chassie, and his voice gentled. “But you and Christian are new. He’s rather a straight arrow, so I’d request you please be cautious.”
Chassie nodded again.
At this point, I asked her, “How’s your ankle?”
“It’s totally fine,” she answered. “And I knew it was. Christian was overreacting.”
So she traded one overprotective man for another.
Good on her.
“Can we get a drink now?” Prue requested. “After that story, I need one.”
I was with her on that.
Apparently, so was everyone else, since we all headed out to join Hamish and Christian in the plum parlor.
And get this, I didn’t have to walk down the stairs because my unofficially, soon-to-be-official fiancé carried me down them.
Wasn’t he the best?
Battle waited until everyone had drinks in their hands and were lounged in the seating area before he announced, “Mum phoned me.”
I stared at him because we agreed Sunday lunch.
And this was not Sunday lunch.
Then again, both Hamish and Christian were there, and I knew it was weighing heavily on his mind, so might as well. Especially if he could take that weight off his mind.
“Excuse me?” Tempie asked ominously.
“She’d heard I was in a serious relationship, and she wanted to know, if I were to marry, if she was still able to refer to herself by her title,” Battle finished.
No one said anything, except Fitzy, who, in a tight voice, announced, “I need to check on something with Cook.”
