My dearest brother,
I am overjoyed that you and the girls decided to join us. We miss you, Colin.
Of course you may arrive early. Now that the session has ended, Drake is anxious to get out of London for the fresh country air, and we expect to leave for Dorset in two days. We should arrive on Saturday next.
I am sending a post ahead and alerting the servants should you arrive ahead of us.
Your devoted sister,
Honoria Burwood
Colin smiled that his sister included her title. As unassuming as she was, Honoria did delight in her role as duchess. As well she should. She was born to be a grand lady. Thank goodness fate had stepped in and secured her both a lofty titleandthe man she’d loved for so many years.
Once the girls learned they’d been given permission to arrivebefore the other guests, they badgered Colin nonstop to leave for Hartridge House.
Two days after receiving Honoria’s response, on a dreary Sunday morning, Colin sat across from his daughters, jostled from yet another bump in the road. Confined in the carriage, he had little to do other than stare at the girls, their chestnut curls and warm brown eyes so like their mother’s. As they journeyed toward Hartridge House, he wished he’d been on horseback, leaving the carriage to his daughters.
“Are we there yet, Papa?” Ellie asked for the fifty-third time.
Pulling out his pocket watch, he bit back a smile and summoned up his waning patience. “We are about a mile closer than when you asked me fifteen minutes ago.”
And Colin was loath to admit he hoped the carriage would travel just a wee bit faster. Anything to stop Ellie’s incessant questions.
Thankfully, Burwood’s estate in Dorset was less than a full day’s travel from Blackthorne Manor, Colin’s home and estate east of Chard. With luck, they would arrive at Hartridge House by late afternoon.
“I know,” Cassie said. “Let’s play a game.”
“Excellent idea.” Colin gave an approving nod to his eldest. Perhaps a game would keep Ellie’s mind occupied longer than fifteen minutes.
Her brow furrowing, Ellie asked, “What type of game? We don’t have a hoop, and we can’t hide anywhere in this carriage.”
“A guessing game. We can take turns thinking of something we want to do at Uncle Drake and Aunt Honoria’s party, and the others have to guess what it is.”
The pluralotherscaught Colin’s attention. Hair on the back of his neck stood at attention. “I believe I shall leave the game to you girls. It would be an unfair advantage as I know everything you both like to do.”
Not one to take no for an answer, Ellie slid from beside her sister to sit next to Colin, then shook his arm. “Youhaveto play, Papa!”
Cassie joined the attack. “You can be the first to think of something, and Ellie and I will guess.”
“Very well. Now, let me see. Something I want to do. Hmm.” Colin closed his eyes, enjoying the brief moment of silence as he pretended to ponder his choice. “Ah, I think I have it.”
“Is it to go fishing with Uncle Drake?” Ellie asked.
Cassie frowned at her sister. “That’s not how you play. You can’t just blurt out what you think it is before you ask for clues.”
Ellie sank back against the carriage squabs. “Well, how was I supposed to know? You didn’t give any rules in this made-up game.”
“Girls. Girls. If this game results in bickering, no one shall play. Ellie, you may ask another question for a clue.” He sent Cassie an appropriately fatherly glare before catching the pink flash of Ellie’s tongue directed at her sister.
“Do you use a fishing pole?”
Hmm.Fair point. “I could, but not necessarily.”
Cassie straightened in her seat. “Will you be inside or outside when you do it?”
“It could be either.”
After a moan from both girls, Cassie said, “You are no help!”
