“That is unfair,” he complained. “Do you have a favorite sibling?” he countered.
“I asked first.”
“I suppose if I had to pick one, it would be Marilla, the youngest. As she is only eleven, she’s not nearly as irritating as the others.”
“Have any of them married?”
“Only Ethan, the son born after me,” Caleb answered. “Now, your turn.”
Just as she was about to respond the maid entered with the tea cart.
“May I ask,” Caleb began. “How did the gentlemen react to Lady Lucinda’s selection?” He wished he could have been there to witness it himself.
The maid’s cheeks brightened. “Warren said that a few were shocked, insulted, and another sniffed in disgust, but it was Lord I who laughed.”
“It’s what I expected.” Lady Lucinda chuckled. “Thank you, Ruth. That will be all.” Lady Lucinda turned to Caleb as she set about pouring tea. “Now, where were we? You were telling me of your family.”
“No.” He answered, eyebrow raised. “You were about to tell me of yours.”
“Mine are so boring,” she answered as she poured tea.
“Lady Lucinda, is that a pout?” Caleb teased.
“Did it work?” she asked with a tilt of her chin.
“No.” he laughed. “I have four sisters, remember.”
“You should tell her about Rogue,” Aunt Esther offered brightly and Caleb nearly groaned.
Twelve
Certainly Rogue was not a brother,was he? “Who is Rogue?”
“My brother’s obnoxious parrot.”
How delightful. “To which brother does he belong?”
“Ethan, the third born.”
“What makes him obnoxious?”
“Sticking his beak in where it doesn’t belong,” Mr. Copeland grumbled.
“He gossips,” Lady Joanna giggled. “It’s because of Rogue that Ethan and Fanella are now married. He squawked about mistletoe, whisky and kissing.”
All three aunts dissolved into giggles.
“It serves Ethan right for taking Rogue and Lady with him wherever he travels.”
“Is Lady another parrot?” Lucinda asked.
“They are mates and the most darling chicks were born once they nested among the trees in the conservatory,” Lady Priscilla exclaimed. “They’d been caged before, but Her Grace, the Duchess of Copeland, allowed them to fly free during their visit to England.”
“Dear Ethan allowed two chicks to remain at Chatwell Castle where they happily fly among the fruit trees,” Lady Esther added. “They are quite delightful.”
Lucinda turned to Mr. Copeland. “Did Rogue gossip about you as well?” she teased.
If she wasn’t mistaken, Mr. Copeland’s cheeks began to flush.
