“S’all right,” said Hawk softly. “We . . . we like being part of a family.”
Raven’s grin stretched a touch wider. “Oiy, it’s better than a kick in the arse.”
McClellan gave a warning rap with a cooking spoon to the top of Raven’s head. “Bad language from you Weasels won’t be tolerated within the earl’s residence.”
A snicker. “Wrexford says alotworse words thanarse.”
Hawk brushed the crumbs from his chin and slipped down from his stool. “We had better go, or we’ll be late to our lessons with Mr. Linsley.”
“You’ll need to return here and dress in your best clothes before going to meet Aunt Alison.”
Raven rolled his eyes, but didn’t utter a protest. “I was thinking . . .” He, too, rose from his seat. “After we finish doing our duty with Aunt Alison, we could pay a visit to the docklands this evening and ask around for any gossip about the American ships and their passengers.”
Charlotte drew in a troubled breath. The last thing she wanted was to draw the boys further into an investigation involving DeVere. “Why would you think I need any information about the Americans?”
He angled his brows in a frightfully accurate imitation of the earl’s skeptical scowl. “I’m rather good at mathematics, m’lady. I can put two and two together.”
His brother tried to stifle a chortle.
“It was an American who was murdered,” explained Raven, “and his colleague, Dr. Hosack, is friends with Mr. Tyler.Ergoit seems likely that you and Lord Wrexford are going to help solve the crime.”
“You’re being impertinent,” said McClellan.
“No, I ain’t,” he retorted. “I’m being truthful.”
Charlotte put down her mug and crouched down to bring herself eye level with the boy. She knew it was pointless to forbid them. Like her, they were impossibly stubborn when it came to loyalty. But she could demand a compromise. “You must take extreme care to dress as ragged urchins. DeVere has met Hawk, and I don’t doubt he’ll find a way to meet you. He’s clever and observant, and if he connects street urchins poking around in places they shouldn’t be with this household, he may look a lot closer at all of us.”
Understanding flickered in Raven’s eyes.
“As I said, being part of a family has responsibilities and ramifications,” she said softly.
“What doesramificationsmean?” asked Hawk.
“It’s like when you throw a stone into the water,” answered Raven, though his eyes remained on Charlotte. “The ripples fan out and may do damage in places you weren’t aiming to hit.”
She nodded.
“We’ll be very careful,” he added. “I promise.”
Alas, promises, however solemn, weren’t always enough to ward off harm. But Charlotte put aside such dark thoughts for now, not wishing to appear too grim.Iuventuti nil arduum. To the young, nothing is difficult.The boys had proved their mettle in other dangerous situations. She would have to trust their innate gift for staying a half step ahead of the Devil’s pitchfork.
“You had better be off,” she replied. “It would be rude to keep Mr. Linsley waiting.”
As the front door slammed shut behind them, McClellan began to tidy up the kitchen. “So, what’s your next move?”
Charlotte had been asking herself that since waking. “I’m not sure. But I’ve arranged to meet Wrexford at Hatchards bookstore later this morning to discuss what steps we intend to take.”
“Which, don’t forget, include walking down a church aisle in the near future.”
Charlotte blinked, feeling a tiny clench of guilt on realizing that thoughts of murder and DeVere’s unwelcome reappearance had nudged marriage from her mind. “As if I could possibly forget that,” she murmured.
The clang of pot against pot muffled the maid’s snort.
Indeed, the thought of Wrexford becoming elementally entwined in her life was a source of joy that defied words.Which is just as well,she mused wryly. While they were extremely eloquent on any number of subjects, expressions of love still didn’t come easily to their tongues.We are both careful. Guarded. Wary of allowing anyone to touch our hearts.
Perhaps the intimacy of marriage would change that.
A sudden flush of heat stirred an odd, prickling sensation, as if tiny dagger points were dancing down her spine. Charlotte pressed her palms to her cheeks, sure they were aflame.
