“You people are quite odd,” Iris said, watching Cambridge as the Deville brothers released him.
They did not move far. Gabe, Zach, and Forrest joined them, surrounding Cambridge.
“Those bloody Devilles and their protectiveness,” the Duke of Raven muttered. “We won’t see Cam make a cake of himself now.”
“Did someone say cake?” Cam asked. His words caused laughter.
The man’s appetite was legendary. Monty watched as he rolled back and forth a few times, getting his balance, and then he stopped, seemingly steady.
“Throw something at him.” Monty thought the words may have come from the wife of Lord Sinclair.
That family was an odd one, and coming from him, that said a great deal. There was just something about them he’d never been able to put his finger on.
“Lady Nauticus wandered along the covered parapet deep in thought,” Cam read. “The cool morning breeze sent a chill through her thin gown.”
“When did they reach a castle?” Nathan asked. “Better yet, where is it?”
“It was chilly in Scotland, and she shivered in her thin muslin dress,” Cam continued.
“Why would you walk in the morning in Scotland without a shawl at the very least?” Ruby demanded.
“They had come here to find a place to settle. Their adventures had been many, but Dorothea—”
“One word, Plunge,” Gabe thundered.
“I but cleared my throat,” he said, sounding wounded. “We all know Lady Levermarch gave the names to our dear Lady Nauticus and Captain Broadbent.”
The crowd gasped at his words.
“But you never know and always ask why we are calling them Dorothea and Horatio,” someone said.
“I read somewhere once that a person needs to hear something seven times to actually understand it,” Mary said.
“There you go then,” Cambridge said. “Well done on finally remembering, Plunge.”
“I’m sure it’s more than seven times,” someone called.
“Scotland was to be the place she and her dear Captain Broadbent would wed, Dorothea thought. Finally, they would commit to each other.”
“I have a problem with this,” the Duchess of Raven interrupted. “Clearly he is a useless individual, and surely she should be questioning his commitment to her by now.”
“Perhaps it is she who is the simpleton?” Zach said, which earned him another round of boos from the crowd.
“Is this really happening?” Iris asked Monty.
“Oh, without a doubt, and soon it will be your turn to read.”
She looked at him, horror in every line of her pretty face, and in that moment, Monty had a terrible feeling that what he felt for Iris was a great deal deeper than even he realized.
CHAPTERTWENTY-ONE
“Next!” the Duchess of Yardly demanded.
“I’ve only read a few lines!” Cambridge Sinclair looked indignant.
“That man walking behind the barrel while Cambridge Sinclair debates with the duchess is his brother, Lord Devonshire Sinclair,” Monty said. “My guess is he’s about to do something to toss him off.”
Iris turned back to watch the man, Lord Sinclair, nudge the barrel with his booted foot. His brother pitched forward and only just saved himself by leaping clear and running for several steps.
