Hawk elbowed his brother. “Don’t talk wiv your mouth full,” he whispered as he reached across the table to spear a slice of roast capon from the serving platter.
Out of the mouths of babes.They were, of course, not babes any longer, thought Charlotte, observing the boys through lowered lashes. How quickly they were growing. It seemed like just yesterday that she and her late husband had found them curled in the unlocked entryway of their tiny residence, two scrawny little weasels—
“Would you have preferred fish instead of fowl?” inquired McClellan.
“My apologies.” She set her fork down. “I fear my earlier visit to Newgate has robbed me of my appetite.”
“You still think the cove is innocent?” asked Raven.
“Yes,” replied Charlotte. “But, as of yet, neither Wrexford nor I have found any proof of it.”
“You’ll catch the culprit,” announced Hawk. “No villain is a match for you and His Lordship.”
She wished she felt as sanguine. “I owe you an apology, sweeting. I haven’t forgotten my promise to take you to Kew Gardens, but the investigation has raised some unexpected matters that must be dealt with. We shall go soon.”
“Ha—I know there must be something afoot,” interjected Raven. “Otherwise you wouldn’t be calling for a council of war tonight.”
The boy was too clever by half. “Yes,” conceded Charlotte. “There are important matters to discuss. So be quick about finishing your supper and getting to work on your lessons for Mr. Linsley. If they aren’t done by the time the others arrive, you’ll have to miss the meeting.”
Eyes widening, Hawk crammed another bite of capon into his mouth before hastily rising and scurrying for the stairs.
Raven wasn’t in quite such a rush. He buttered a piece of bread before getting to his feet and raising his eyes to meet hers.
It was unnerving how well he had learned to mimic the earl’s scowling stare. She forced herself not to blink.
“Are you finally going to tell us what’s been gnawing at your gut?”
“If you wish for the answer, I suggest you fly up to your aerie and finish your mathematics assignment.”
An angry flush rose to Raven’s cheeks.
McClellan cleared her throat in warning. He ignored it.
“Be damned with mathematics!”
Charlotte bit her lip. “I was under the impression you enjoyed helping Mr. Tyler and Lord Wrexford with their laboratory calculations.”
The boy’s scowl wavered, but only for an instant. “Yeah, I do. But it ain’t—it isn’t—worth letting you face whatever trouble you’re in without us there to help.”
Tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. “I’m not in trouble, sweeting. I’ve simply been . . .” Raven and Hawk had been very wary about moving from her old residence. Things had workedout very well. However, their lives would undergo yet another transformation, along with hers. She wasn’t at all sure of how they would react.
“I’ve simply been contemplating another change.”
Raven stiffened. “Are Hawk and I going to have to leave?”
His voice was flat, but the ripple of uncertainty in his gaze had Charlotte out of her chair in a flash.
“Never.” She gathered him in a fierce hug and held on for dear life, no matter that he was far more reserved than his brother and shied away from physical endearments. “We are a family.”
The boy was still mostly bones and sharp angles, and yet she felt his muscles uncoil.
“Blood may not tie us together, but love does. And that’s an even stronger bond.”
He made a dismissive sound, but didn’t try to pull away. “Naw, it’s the jam tarts we would miss,” he drawled—again in perfect imitation of Wrexford.
“I shall see you have your fill tomorrow.” She ruffled his hair. “That is, assuming you finish your lessons.”
Rolling his eyes, Raven wriggled free. “What change—”
