“I will leave you now, Your Grace.”
“No, you won’t, Dimity. Escape is impossible. Sit,” Gabe said.
“Oh, I—”
“Do as he says, gal!”
Abby scurried round the sofa and into a chair as if she’d been told off. The Duchess of Raven, who Gabe doubted had ever scurried a day in her life, walked gracefully to the sofa and sat. Lady Levermarch chose a chair, which she glided into elegantly.
“Sit, Gabe,” Abby hissed as he followed the reluctant Dimity. He took the seat to his sister’s right once more, and Dimity was to his left. Beside her was Mr. Diard, who took her hand and kissed it. Gabe swallowed his growl.
“Have you participated in these before, Duchess?” Gabe dragged his eyes from Dimity to speak to the Duchess of Raven.
“I haven’t, Raine.” She turned to look at him. “I have heard about them, and my brother Cambridge was lucky enough to be in the park one day when the duchess called one from her carriage. He said it was a great deal of fun.”
“I hardly dare to ask.”
“Apparently the other carriages and horses formed a circle, and the book was passed between. I heard that the Duke of Stratton was present and read a passable Antonio, as it wasTheMerchant of Venicebeing read, from his carriage doorway. I can’t believe you’ve never heard about the duchess’s impromptu salons, Lord Raine.”
“I’ve been extremely lucky until now.”
Her smile was charming and added another level of beauty.
“We shall begin!” the Duchess of Yardly thumped her cane down hard.
Gabe watched Alexander Hetherington leap up on a chair that had been placed before the audience. He then looked at each of them silently for several seconds.
“Welcome to another of the Duchess of Awkward‘s infamous literary salons.”
“Pompous twit,” his brother heckled.
“Where your mind will be broadened, if that’s possible”—he shot his twin a look—”and delighted with the wonders of Captain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus as they navigate the treacherous waters of love while staying in good health,” he added, turning the book to the spine so he could read the title. Walter wandered over to sniff his boots, then sat beside him, leaning on the chair so it moved slightly. Alexander kept his balance.
“He’s a lovely dog,” Lady Levermarch said. “My daughter must never see him, or she will search every corner of London until she finds an exact replica.”
“Children.” The Duchess of Raven sighed. “They are the light and dark of our lives.”
“Stop!” The door was thrown open hard enough to thud into the wall, and in ran Cambridge Sinclair. “You,” he pointed at his sister, “lied to me.”
“Which time?” the duchess said, unperturbed, examining her nails.
“Sit, Mr. Sinclair, or we shall be still here at midnight.” The duchess waved a hand at him. She was excited, Gabe could see it in her eyes, even though she still scowled.
“Is there to be food?” He looked at the empty table before the sofa.
“I have ordered more,” Benjamin said. “Sit, Cam, and let us watch Alex make a fool of himself.”
“But there are no more chairs,” he said, looking about the room. “And I refuse to sit in one of those spindly upright things.” He sat on the floor, resting against his sister’s chair.
“Well, it’s not like this could be termed in any way normal,” Michael said in answer to the look Gabe threw him. “I must admit I’m looking forward to what happens next.”
All of the Sinclairs looked alike, with subtle variances. Cam was tall, with a slighter build than his eldest brother. But he had the dark hair and green eyes.
“You may continue, Alex,” Cam said, long legs out before him, looking a great deal like Gabe’s brothers. Walter wandered over and sniffed him, then lowered himself to the floor, placing his head in Cambridge Sinclair’s lap.
“Exhausted from the loss of blood, Captain Broadbent struggled to hold his beloved.”
“What?” Lady Levermarch said. “I thought he was unhurt?”
