“Where is she from?” Lady Charlotte asked.
“I was exploring the woods in the New World, and I happened across a set of beaver traps. Cyrene was ensnared, her front paw crushed beyond my abilities to repair it. Her mother was nowhere to be seen, and I doubted Cyrene would live long in the wild. I knew she would be perfect for Tavish’s menagerie, so I took her with me on my adventures. I’ll miss the little mite, but she’ll be much happier in the large outdoor enclosure that Tavish can provide.”
“You have a menagerie, Mr. Stewart?” Lady Charlotte asked.
“An ever expanding one thanks to the efforts of Dr. Talbot.” Tavish patted Matthew’s shoulder, and Matthew couldn’t help a shy grin. Although they were not even twenty years apart, Tavish had become something of a father figure to Matthew.
“He’s collected even more kinds of animals than can be found at the Tower of London.” Hannah joined the conversation, a tray filled with steaming mugs of coffee in her hands. “It is a true marvel.”
“You’ve been there?” Lady Charlotte asked her cousin, her voice once again as light as a silkworm’s gossamer.
Over the back of Lady Charlotte’s head, Matthew widened his eyes in warning, while Tavish gave a quick jerk of his head. Hannah, who was perhaps the best secret keeper of them all, showed no external reaction. She shrugged nonchalantly. “Mr. Stewart is very generous in allowing the hardworking people of London entrance to the grounds of his home. He does not charge a single shilling. Alot of us Covent Garden folks have managed to make a trip to his property once or twice.”
Lady Charlotte shot a sweet, seemingly artless smile in Tavish’s direction. “Is your menagerie open to the nobility as well? I have always loved seeing the exotic animals at the Tower.”
“I am afraid you will find smaller, more pedestrian fare at mine,” Tavish responded with his standard casual charm as he dramatically undersold his collection. “Scottish wildcats, a few badgers, a family of hedgehogs—that sort of thing.”
“It sounds absolutely wonderful,” Lady Charlotte said. “I would love to see Banshee arrive at her new home. You are taking her there today, aren’t you? And Cyrene too?”
Matthew exchanged a look with Tavish. A visit from someone as astute as Lady Charlotte might be managed… if allowed ample time to prepare and warn the lads. An unexpected one, however, could result in unmitigated disaster.
“Wouldn’t it be a risk to your reputation, Lady Charlotte?” Matthew asked. When she spun toward him, her eyes sparking green fire, he rather wished he hadn’t spoken. Despite the intensity of her gaze, the rest of her countenance remained relaxed and jovial.
“That’s why I possess this.” Lady Charlotte lifted the gauze in her hand, sending the flimsy fabric fluttering like a raven’s wings.
Before Matthew could respond, Alexander joined them. He peered quickly at Hannah’s tray of coffees and plucked the center one. “I do believe this one is mine. I can see flecks of nutmeg floating on top.”
Hannah rolled her eyes. “I was on my way over to you.”
Alexander took a large sip of the drink despite the steam rising off it. He sighed contentedly. “What can I say? I am an impatient sort. I also have questions as to why a monkey is wooing Pan.”
“It is Pan who is romancing the capuchin,” Hannah contradicted, pride at her pet coloring her voice.
“I believe the budding courtship is mutual.” Lady Charlotte tilted her chin toward the ceiling.
Matthew looked in the direction she indicated, and sure enough, the two animals were huddled against each other on the same beam. Banshee was using her slender fingers to search through Pan’s feathers, while Pan had craned his neck in order to run his beak through Banshee’s fur.
“Aw, they’re petting each other.” Lady Charlotte clasped her hands against the upper bow of her stomacher.
“Not precisely,” Matthew explained. “They are finding and eating insects.”
“Ew, Dr. Talbot.” Hannah wrinkled her freckled nose. “Must we speak of bugs?”
“It is still a sign of affection, to be sure,” Matthew added quickly as he felt heat scorch his cheeks. Sometimes, he wished he’d think before he allowed scientific facts to pour from his mouth.
“A very odd one.” Hannah squinched half her face as she regarded the unconventional sweethearts preening each other.
Matthew almost opened his mouth to explain the value of ridding a partner of lice and other pests, but this time he had the forethought to stop. He, however, still itched to speak.
“But practical,” Lady Charlotte observed, and Matthew once again found himself battling down the ill-advised urge to kiss her at her remarkably sensible insight. “It is a form of caring for each other—is it not? I find it endearing.”
Hannah squinted at her cousin as if encountering her for the first time. “You possess an odd streak that I did not expect.”
“Lottie has always been a peculiar sort. She just does a better job of hiding it than the rest of us,” Alexander said between sips of his coffee.
Lady Charlotte pretended to shove her elbow into her twin’s ribs. Of course, with Alexander holding the hot brew, she did notactually make contact. Alexander, however, still emitted an exaggeratedoof. It was a tableau that Matthew had seen acted out a thousand times during the childhood summers that the three of them had spent together. Yet he still could not stop himself from finding their behavior as fascinating as a newly discovered species. It was so different to the suspicion, tension, and outright animosity in his own family.
“I prefer the termOriginal,” Lady Charlotte said, her tone just as teasing as her brother’s.
