“You’re right, that does sound selfish and shallow,” Nathan added. “But understandable.”
“Just as well you added that last part or I would be forced to bloody your nose,” Zach said.
“You could of course try, but you would fail, considering your pathetic skills in the boxing ring.”
“I’ll come about after a bit of wallowing,” Zach said, ignoring Nathan’s deliberate provocation.
“It’s called growing up,” Michael said. “It happens to all of us at some stage.”
“Extremely amusing,” Zach said. “And I am aware of how pathetic I sound.”
“We did, and of course are always there for you and can, upon occasion, still go out for a night of loose, immoral behavior,” Gabe said.
“No one said anything about loose or immoral behavior,” Zach said.
“Perhaps those were not accurate representations of your nightly activities, but the point is, Zach, we are here for you,” Gabe said.
“I know.”
A knock on his door had both Gabe and Zach calling “enter.”
“Sorry, old habits,” Gabe said.
Stubbins, his new butler and Gabe’s old one, appeared.
“A missive has arrived for you, sir,” the butler said to Zach.
“Is he an absolute nightmare to work for?” Nathan asked. “My youngest brother does not have the best habits after all, Stubbins.”
“I am, of course, honored to be of service to any of you.” Stubbins bowed.
He was not overly tall with broad shoulders and a head full of brown hair that had an orange hue. Zach had come to appreciate Stubbins in the short time he’d been in his employ because he seemed to be able to preempt what Zach needed before he even knew what he needed.
“Stubbins is a wizard at whist. He and Mrs. Postlehume, the cook, are cunning as snakes when we play. Last night they won all my cheese sticks off me.”
“Very gracious of you to say so, sir.” Stubbins bowed after delivering the note and left.
“How long have you been playing whist with your staff?” Forrest asked.
“Cheese sticks?” Nathan asked.
“We play for them or whatever else we can find. Sometimes Hogan brings wood splinters,” Zach said.
“My footman plays whist with you here?” Gabe asked.
“He does and is very good. Dimity joined us two nights ago,” Zach said.
“She said she was visiting the duchess!” Gabe roared.
“She was and called in to see if I was all right, as apparently you told her I was exhibiting maudlin tendencies. She joined in for a few hands,” Zach said.
“That woman,” Gabe sighed.
Dimity, Lady Raine, had been their sister Abby’s piano teacher and then found out she was actually the daughter of a French aristocrat. Zach’s sister-in-law was intelligent, funny, and had fallen in love with Gabe, as he had her. She now kept him on his toes, a fact the rest of the family were more than happy with.
“Do you have a gambling problem, Zachariel?” Michael asked.
“What? No. Why would you ask that?”
