Forty minutes later, Fitz stood back and assessed his handiwork, giving a nod. “You cut a most dashing figure, my lord. I’m sure the young lady will be impressed.”
Unwilling to give Fitz more ammunition, Colin refused to dignify the man’s comment with an answer. “That will be all, Fitz.”
Pausing at the door, Fitz turned back. “And may I say, sir. It’s about time.”
Colin grunted again, causing Fitz to laugh.
When Colin entered the breakfast room, the tension in his shoulders eased upon seeing only Mr. Grey, Mr. and Mrs. Weatherby, Burwood, and Honoria. The red-headed menace wasn’t present. Unfortunately, he’d see her soon enough when she and Mr. Grey joined them on their ride.
Determined to prove his valet wrong, he forced a smile as he walked to the sideboard. “Good morning.” He piled his plate with his favorite sausages along with some bacon and a boiled egg.
Honoria smiled over her teacup. “I remembered.”
He couldn’t contain the genuine smile. “How could you forget when I would steal the sausage from your plate and Nanny would slap my hand? I think you took great pleasure in seeing me punished.”
Honoria laughed. “I would never delight in your punishment. And if I recall, it only made you more intent on not being caught. You became quite adept at sleight of hand.”
Colin sat next to his sister, and she poured him some tea. His heart swelled to see her so happy. If anyone deserved love, it was Honoria.
“Mr. Ford is scheduled to arrive today,” Burwood said. “Miles, you might be interested in speaking with him. Since he was close to our Uncle Gyles, he would have more information about your father.”
Colin had met the man at Honoria and Drake’s son, Henry’s, christening the year before. In his sixties, Mr. Reginald Ford—orReggie as he insisted—had an exceptional sense of humor and an unassuming personality, the combination of which never failed to take everyone off guard when he cracked a joke. Colin liked the soft-spoken man, but something bittersweet—as if he were missing his other half—shone in his eyes as he watched Honoria and Burwood.
Colin understood that feeling well, and at times it became nearly unbearable to be around happy couples. Bereft as Margery’s death had left him, shame rose that it wasn’t because losing her had left him half the man he was. No. It was because he’d never experienced such a soul-deep connection. He’d always hoped that, given time, they would develop such a bond, but her illness and death had stolen that hope away until he’d given up on the notion entirely.
The scent of sweet pea drifted in from behind him, and Colin turned to find the Nymph of Nuisance.
She shot a glare his way, then made her way to the sideboard. Dressed in a riding habit of muted blue, she looked...lovely.
“Are there more sausages?” Miss Weatherby held up the one rather small sausage he had left on the serving tray.
Colin choked on his tea. He dabbed his lips with his serviette, then lifted his plate toward her. “You may have two of mine.”
The minx approached and gazed down at his plate piled high with eight sausages. “Did you poison them?”
Andrew Weatherby’s cup dropped to his saucer with aclink. “Anne! What a rude question. Apologize to Lord Manning.”
“Forgive me.” The words were flat and without a speck of sincere regret.
Colin shrugged. “Suit yourself.”
But as he began to place the plate back on the table before him, she snatched two of the plumpest sausages and deposited them on her own plate. “Should have known you couldn’t take a joke,” she muttered.
Appetite vanished, Colin rose. “If you would all excuse me.”
Barely out of the breakfast room and away from Miss Weatherby, Colin turned atHonoria’s voice.
“Colin, a moment, please.” She pulled him aside. “About Miss Weatherby.”
He should have known. His sister hated conflict of any type. He rolled a hand for her to continue.
“Be on your guard during your ride today.”
“Any reason in particular?” He paused, remembering their dinner conversation the night before. “You were going to tell me more about this fall of Miss Weatherby’s.”
“Yes. Four years ago, during Drake’s house party, Anne tried to jump some fallen trees and was thrown when Buttercup balked.”
“That horse of yours has a stubborn streak.”
