“Hurtful.”
Figaro’s sharp gaze said he wasn’t sorry. “You once claimed you’d never marry. Something about a woman lost, if I recall.”
Jackson cringed. “You’ve a long memory.”
“And a nose for gossip.” Figaro stared at his face, his brows suddenly shooting to his hairline. “Is it her? The woman you are to marry? You found her?”
“Pretty sure she found me.”
“That sounds promising.”
“We’ll be married by the end of the week.”
“Even better.”
Jackson shot his brother a look. “We wish to keep the nuptials quiet, at least for the time being.”
“More intrigue?” Figaro mimed locking his lips at Jackson’s scowl. “Mum’s the word then.”
“You?”Unlikely.
Figaro crossed his heart. “Your news shall safely remain under my hat.”
“As should your use of idiom.”
Figaro grinned, clearly not done. “So, shall I be the ever-noble brother and take your intended to see the elephant, or is that too high for her nut? Of course, there’s always the option to crash one of the neighboring lords’ soirees and trip the light fantastic.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. He could only imagine how Anna would take his younger brother’s brand of humor. Jackson mayvery well be an only child by the end of the day. “If you can brave an afternoon showing Miss Greene around the estate while I tend to some business? I would be most appreciative.”
“Me? Play housekeeper?” Figaro looked positively delighted. “Think Mrs. Edem would let me borrow her duds?”
“The gray would wash you out,” Jackson said without emotion, imagining the lengths his brother would go to scandalize Anna, until his brother realized it was he who should err on the side of caution where Jackson’s betrothed was concerned. “And if you reference Mrs. Edem’s uniform as ‘duds,’ you may find yourself without fire or warming pan for the foreseeable future.” A housekeeper’s pride was not a thing to take lightly. Nor was the pinch-faced woman’s ire.
“Your brotherly concern is noted,” Figaro said, the glint of mischief in his eye still not extinguished. “You’ve yet to tell me when your indomitableMiss Greenewill arrive?”
“Soon.” Not soon enough, in his opinion. He’d wished for privacy to break the news to his family—mother—but the knot in his stomach had grown steadily tighter with each mile he’d put between his horse and London.
Who knew what antics Anna would get into while he was at the estate. He should have saidhell to the modiste. Anna could roam about the grand house in nothing but a nightrail and bare feet.
Naked toes, near transparent cotton, no pockets in which for her to hide a weapon she could turn on him. His body clenched at the image.
He might prefer her that way.
Figaro was bouncing on his feet. “At last, a sibling a man can be proud to callfamily.”
Jackson rolled his eyes. “And Mother wonders why I visit the country so rarely. The welcome I receive is positively glacial.”
His brother’s joy petrified on his face. “DoesMother know yet?”
Jackson blew out a breath, the last full one he’d take for the foreseeable future. “No. Hence, the other business.” He readily expected a grueling transaction.
“Your Grace!”
Both boys winced at the shrill tone.Speak of the high-handed lady, and she shall appear.
Figaro clapped Jackson on the shoulder, his expression serious. “I’ll fend off the beast if you wish to make your escape.”
Jackson chuckled. “The beast must be informed eventually.” Putting off the confrontation wouldn’t change anything—
