His smile was brighter than the weary sag to his face. “Hullo, mouse. Why didn’t you wait for me to walk you down the aisle?”
He actually looked hurt, which made her feel even worse. “That is a long story as well, which I hope we can save until we’re back home.”
“Not your home anymore,” her mother reminded her, pulling her over to take a seat on the cream settee alongside her. “Tea?”
“Yes, thank you. My home temporarily, if you will.”
“Why?” her father demanded. “Where is your husband?”
Pip shrugged and let her mother pour for her, just as when she was a child. “I have no idea. I was rather hoping that, since so many people seem to have congregated here, he would be, too.” She looked around, ignoring the concerned look her parents shared. “May I ask why you two are here?”
“In London?” her mother retorted. “Your father had dispatches to bring.”
No one mentioned the fact that her mother had obviously taken a different ship.
“I hear you are looking better, Papa. The old trouble again?”
His smile was rueful. “An annoyance. A friend of your brother set me to rights. Foxglove, of all things.”
Pip stared. “Foxglove? But that’s a poison!”
Her father lifted a finger. “In big enough doses, yes. But I have learned that a strictly controlled amount actually makes the heart stronger. I feel immeasurably better.” His smile fell into the kind of frown a father sends his daughter who has disappointed him. “Well enough, in fact, to have walked you down the aisle.”
She lifted her own hands in surrender. “If I had known you were on your way here, I would have waited…well, no. I wouldn’t. We had Princess Charlotte breathing down our necks, and she wasn’t about to wait.”
That resulted in raised eyebrows from both of her parents.
“A long story indeed,” her mother mused. “Fortunately, we will soon have time.”
“Speaking of which,” Pip said, motioning to the house. “What are you doinghere?”
“Your brother, of course,” her father said, as if that should explain everything. “And Drake asked us to stay in case he couldn’t track down Drummond in time.”
She blinked, certain she was missing at least half that conversation, which was often how one felt with her parents. “Whatever for? And in time for what?”
She got a pair of shrugs. So, she tried a different tack. “Alex is here?” she asked. “And engaged? That was mighty quick since he was at the duchess’s house party only a few days ago.”
Her mother passed over the tea, two sugars, no cream. “No faster than yours, from what I hear. He is to marry a friend of yours from school.”
Pip paused, the cup halfway to her mouth. “Who?”
“Lady Fiona Hawes.”
The teacup ended up back on her saucer, untasted. “Fiona?! St Paula’s pockets, how did that happen? Where are they? I need to see this for myself.”
“Asked for a moment of privacy,” she heard behind her and turned to see another of her brother’s old friends, Chuffy Wilde, standing in the doorway, his hand in Fiona’s…no, not Fiona’s. Fiona’s twin sister Mairead, who was smiling and for one of the first times Pip had ever seen it, leaning against another person, her exquisite features soft and happy. Pip couldn’t ever remember Mairead looking so comfortable standing this close to another human. And plump, whimsical, bespectacled Chuffy, of all people. It was like a Scottish queen running off with a stuffed toy bear.
Pip was back on her feet. “Chuffy! Mae!” She looked down at the joined hands. “Not you, too.”
Chuffy absolutely beamed as he let go of Mae long enough to give Pip a hug. “Us, too. Congrats! Hear you nabbed Drummond. Won me a monkey at White’s. Where is he?”
She was getting tired of repeating herself. “I have no idea. I was hoping you all would know.”
“A little soon to lose a brand-new husband, what?” Chuffy said with a grin. “Need to find him. Might cost me my monkey if he shabs off.”
“Might cost him more than that,” Pip assured him, dryly.
His grin widening, Chuffy shook his head, which sent his wire rim glasses sliding down his nose. Without hesitation, Mae reached over and pushed them back up, another thing Pip never would have imagined.
