The other two hummed their agreement to that.
“Do you have brothers or sisters, Detective?” Fred asked him the question.
“I do, yes. Two brothers, both older.”
“Do you argue with them?” The innocent brown eyes looked up at him, and Leo and Ellen took that moment to stop arguing.
“I don’t, no. We don’t see each other.” Gray had to force the words out of his tight throat.
Matilda nudged him with her elbow, so he turned her way.
“Why don’t you see them?”
“We are busy.”
“We’re busy, but we see our siblings all the time now,” Teddy added.
Gray knew everyone at the table was listening to the conversation because there was now absolute silence, not even the clink of a glass.
“That’s nice.”
“When did you last see your brothers?” Fred persisted.
And this, Gray thought, was why you didn’t take tea with company under the age of eighteen.
“A year ago.”
“What’s your name?” Matilda asked. “Your first name.”
“Grayson.”
“I like that. Can we call you Grayson? Because Detective Fletcher is too long.”
“Matilda,” Bramstone cautioned her. “Don’t push, sweetheart. Not everyone is as comfortable using their first names as we are.”
“It’s all right,” Gray managed to get out. “You could call me Gray if you like.”
She smiled, and it was like her big sister’s and lit her entire face.
“I’m Fred,” she said.
“I’m Teddy,” the young boy said, reaching around his sister to hold out his hand.
Gray shook it.
“Bram,” her uncle said with a smile.
“Lottie!” the little girl shrieked.
“Ivy.”
“Alex,” he said.
“Ellen,” she said softly.
All eyes then turned to Leopold.
“Leo,” he snapped, which had them laughing, and the tension was broken.
