“No bigger fool than the one fooling himself,” Zach said.
“I am not fooling myself.”
“Of course you are, but we are nothing if not persistent,” Dimity said.
The others threw similar comments at him, and then they all walked away, leaving him to follow.
“God’s blood, this family is trying,” he muttered.
“But wonderful,” Gabe added.
“Yes.” Forrest sighed.
He was then nudged into a row of seats and found himself beside Dimity.
“Not one word.”
She raised both hands in surrender. He was not fooled.
“How are you feeling?”
“Well. But it is Gabe’s child, so it’s annoying me constantly.”
“I find that comment harsh,” her husband said from her other side. “You are the annoying one in this marriage.”
“We all know the truth,” Dimity said in a smug tone. She wore deep burgundy shot through with gold thread, and as usual looked stunning.
“Are you staying healthy?”
“Ridiculously so. In fact, my doctor said he wished all pregnancies went as mine is.”
“That’s good then,” Forrest said. Dimity would not need to take laudanum or any other substance after her pregnancy, he was sure, but he would keep an eye on her just the same.
“Move along.”
The gentleman to his right leapt to his feet and then motioned Forrest to lean left. When he did, he climbed over his chair with more haste than grace, and into the row behind. When Forrest saw the woman who had asked him to move, he understood the man’s actions completely.
“Duchess.” Forrest rose and bowed. “Do you wish to sit next to Dimity?”
“Oh, you beast,” Dimity hissed.
“I heard that!” The duchess stomped her cane with each word.
“As you were meant to. I want to listen to this recital, not listen to you moan the entire time.”
A hand tugged him down into the seat. The duchess then settled into the one next to him with a great deal of muttering. Mary Blake sat in front of him.
“Surrounded by beauty and annoyance,” Zach muttered in his ear from the seat behind.
“You are juvenile.” Mary Blake craned her neck to glare at Zach.
“How is it you heard that from there?” Forrest asked her.
“I can detect an idiot from one hundred paces.”
Turning slightly, Forrest was in time to see his youngest cousin poke out his tongue.
“Have you said anything that deserves a morning call yet?”
