To anyone who didn’t know them, they probably looked like the parents of the two girls. That thought made his insides feel odd.
“And who are these delightful little girls?” Miss Blake cooed, bending slightly to greet Merry and Kat.
“Our nieces. Lady Katherine, and Miss Meredith Sinclair.” Warwick nudged them, and they curtsied.
“How lovely to see you out walking today. Such great friends you are, and of course your families are so close you are almost like siblings,” Miss Patterson said with a smile that did not reach her eyes as she looked Samantha up and down.
“Oh indeed. One large happy family we all are,” Samantha said in that voice she used when she stepped into society. Cool and haughty.
Warwick stayed silent, happy to let her talk. Zach, however, had finished insulting the men and made his way to where they stood. One thing his friend liked more than food was young ladies. However, he was frowning now, and his bloodshot eyes were narrowed, and he knew why. Mary Blake could annoy Zach with just a look.
“I thought you had a chill?” Zach said, his eyes on Mary. “In fact, when I called to see you and offer my sincere apology for my actions the other night, your butler said he doubted you’d be leaving your bed for at least a week as you were weak and very unwell.”
“It’s amazing what we do to avoid seeing people we don’t like,” Mary said without an iota of remorse in her voice.
Warwick smiled as Zach’s teeth snapped together loudly.
“We are all so looking forward to the Duke of Raven’s ball. Aren’t we, Phillipa, dear,” Lady Blake said quickly before Zach and Mary started yelling at each other. “Such a wonderful occasion, and all the money will go to those poor people,” she added, as if poor people were not actually people but another breed entirely.
“Yes, my brother is a good man,” Samantha said.
“And will you and your family be performing this year?” Miss Patterson asked, her eyes on Warwick.
“As yet, we are unsure who will perform,” Samantha added.
“Oh, but I am sure anything you put your mind to will be expertly conducted,” Phillipa said, looking at Warwick with a longing that had his necktie choking him.
“Oh yes, my uncle is wonderful at everything. He tells us stories and gives the best horse rides,” Merry said with a sweet smile that was fooling everyone but Samantha and him.
“Thank you, darling.” He patted her cheek.
The women sighed. Zach still looked like a thundercloud, and the other men were hovering, waiting for a moment to step into the conversation. He needed to get out of here, and he was taking his girls with him. Samantha and his girls, he amended. She was not his girl or his Raven.
“Why are you looking at my aunt like that?” Merry said. Her eyes were on Phillipa.
“Why, whatever do you mean, sweet child?” Phillipa cooed.
“You look angry.”
“Out of the mouths of babes,” Zach whispered, which of course Warwick heard.
“She is staring at Aunty Sam that way too.” Kat was pointing to Lady Blake. “Her mouth is forming a tight circle, a bit like Simon called a—”
“That will do, girls,” Samantha said.
Zach was now laughing, and Warwick noted Mary was also holding back a smile.
“I most certainly am not looking at your aunt in any way. Why, that is an outrageous thing to say! Clearly it is time for you to go back to your nanny as you have atrocious manners to speak to me in such a manner,” Phillipa cried.
“I will thank you to never address my nieces in that tone again. Usually they have excellent manners,” Samantha snapped before Warwick could. “Unlike us, they are not yet hampered by society’s restrictions so speak their mind freely.”
“Well!” Lady Blake gasped.
“I think this conversation is over,” Warwick said before Samantha could say anything else. The woman was a tigress when she was protecting hers, and he loved that about her. All traces of polite and gentle Lady Samantha were lost.
“Excellent idea, and I will walk with you ladies, as I think your direction is the same as mine,” Zach said to the outraged Blake women. “Except you,” he muttered to Mary.
Warwick watched Mary poke out her tongue.
