“And yet no one else agrees,” Zach muttered.
“And yet we digress,” Gabe said.
“It appears the wheel on the duchess’s carriage was cracked. I offered to take her driving in the park. Walter decided to join us.” His voice was loud and obnoxiously haughty.
“The real surprise here is she got in your carriage,” Nathan said.
“I say, as there are quite a few of us—”
“Do not continue that sentence, Plunge!” Gabe thundered.
“I have the latestCaptain Broadbent and Lady Nauticus,” the duchess said, pulling a book from her reticule.
As yet, he was pleased to say, Forrest had escaped the literary salons that the duchess was infamous for. It seemed that was about to change.
“I don’t think so,” Lord Sinclair and Gabe said loudly in unison.
“Wonderful.” Lord Plunge clapped his hands together like a small child.
“Howarth, you shall read first,” the duchess declared.
“What? No, I won’t.” Forrest shook his head in case she didn’t understand his meaning.
“There is no escape. Unfortunately, Howarth, if you are selected you must,” the Duchess of Raven said, looking happy that she had not been chosen to start.
“Where is the paperwork to support that?” Forrest asked. “I’m an adult, therefore I don’t have to do as she says.”
“Respect,” Lord Plunge said loudly, “is important when all else around us tumbles into madness.”
Those closest looked about them for the madness, but other than shrieking children they were hard pressed to spot any.
“I could start?” Plunge suggested hopefully.
“Don’t be so needy, Plunge. You’ll get your chance,” the duchess said ruthlessly, squashing the man’s ego like a bug under her heel. “I also want the child’s tutor to read. I hear she does wonderful voices. Ella told me she has an especially good one for dogs.”
“Woof woof,” Zach said.
“You will not harass her,” Forrest found himself saying. His eyes found Ruby. She was swinging a child about by the hands. Her laugh carried to him and was carefree and light. It made him smile. She was usually so contained when he was near.
“How gentlemanly and protective of you, cousin,” Michael whispered in his ear.
Forrest elbowed him in the ribs hard.
“This, being surrounded by titled people, is not something she will be comfortable with.” Of course, he’d done exactly that bringing her here and introducing her to the Ravens and Sinclairs, but still, reading out loud in front of people, most of those peers, would not be comfortable for her.
“What he said,” Zach added, pointing to Forrest with the biscuit he was consuming with the single-minded determination he usually gave food.
“I didn’t see those biscuits,” Gabe said.
Zach pulled another from his pocket and handed it to his eldest brother.
“She will do as she is told.” The duchess always carried her cane and often used it to make a point. It lost some of its impact as she’d stomped it down on the grass.
“Perhaps someone who is familiar withCaptain Broadbent and Lady Nauticusshould go first, as I know Mr. Howarth does not read the books,” Freya said, coming to his rescue.
The crowd that was forming around them gasped.
“It has never appealed,” Forrest defended himself.
