Temperance talked over her. “Sorted. You three girls head to the mystical mecca and peruse crystals and buy flower crowns and be sure to bring back some of those Viennese biscuits dipped in chocolate from Burns the Bread.”
Chastity cast rattled eyes at her big brother.
He ignored her while he calmly sipped soup.
I read the room (I hoped) and announced, “Agreed. We have a plan. Girls trip. And I’ll drive.”
It was then His Grace, Battle Talyn aimed an indulgent smile at me.
I had no idea what was happening or what I was getting into.
But whatever it was, I knew one thing from that smile.
It was worth it.
CHAPTER 6
THE TOUR
I swam out of sleep the next morning to what appeared to be another dreary day in England and the understanding my slumbering self was the entertainment of a green-eyed Persian.
Snowball was sitting beside me, regarding me condescendingly.
“You’re a bed hog,” I accused.
And she was.
No matter where I turned last night, there she was, sprawled out and purring so that eventually I had the edge of the king-size bed, and she had the rest of it.
As response to my accusation, she licked her paw and cleaned her ear with it.
“Ugh,” I groaned, falling to my back then turning my head to see the smart screen told me it was seven fifteen.
Last night, Prudence showed me where breakfast was served (another dining room in the north wing, this one smaller, less formal, with a gleaming round table and a sideboard set up with fancy silver chafing dishes).
She’d also told me I could order a tray to be brought up to my room or come down whenever I wanted. The staff kept the chafing dishes full from seven to nine thirty, but I could order anytime.
I had plenty of time to make breakfast downstairs, but I wasn’t going to take it.
I was getting the tour, including discovering what the aristocracy considered junk, and I was finally going to be able to lay my eyes on all the documents Prudence had been able to unearth for me.
And no, this wasn’t about maybe catching Battle at breakfast.
It definitely was not.
(Okay, it was, but I didn’t want it to be.)
Last night I’d learned he might be arrogant, and a player, with broad hints of dick, but he was also a devoted older brother.
He didn’t say much, but outside of curtailing Temperance’s character assassination of Ravenna, he not only gave them all the space to be who they were, the way he did it encouraged that same thing.
So…yeah.
I had no idea what he was playing at with me.
But he was a super cool brother, as much as I didn’t want to admit it.
On this thought, I turned back to Snowball.
