“I can see that,” Katherine said with exasperating slowness. “You must be Lord Devlin.”
Devlin smiled with a sickening amount of charm and executed a gracious bow. “At your service, Miss…”
Cassandra rolled her eyes. “LadyKatherine Donahugh.”
“Enchanted,” he murmured, his attention solely on Katherine, whose cheeks immediately turned a bright shade of pink. And then she giggled –giggled!– like a young girl who’d just received a posy from the boy she fancied. It was enough to make Cassandra gag.
“You should have told me how handsome he is,” Katherine said without any attempt at lowering her voice.
Cassandra coughed and instantly went back to tending the eggs and bacon which were close to being done. “I didn’t think it was worth mentioning,” she grumbled.
“What was that?” Devlin asked.
“She says she mentioned it,” Katharine chirped.
Cassandra spun around and came face to face with her friend, whose raised eyebrows and cheeky smile informed Cassandra that getting rid of Devlin would be no simple matter.
“Did she indeed?” he asked with a grin so bright it made Cassandra’s mind go blank for a second.
“No,” she exclaimed. “I would never think to do so.” She waved her hand toward him as if he were some sort of mess in need of tidying. “Not when I’ve always considered your brothers to be better looking.”
He pressed his lips together. A curious light danced in his eyes, causing them to sparkle. Cassandra couldn’t look away. She knew what she’d said was a lie about his looks, but she wasn’t feeling very charitable at the moment and certainly didn’t want him to realize she found him attractive. Lord knew that would only make him think she might be swayed in her decision.
“You do realize we’re triplets,” he said. “Identical triplets,” he added for increased clarity.
Cassandra ground her teeth and nodded. “Yes.”
And then, for some ridiculous reason most likely born from a stubborn need to be right – to win this silly argument – she said, “Though there are differences. Slight ones perhaps, but noticeable enough to anyone who knows the three of you well enough.”
“I suppose Griffin’s scar does set him apart, doesn’t it?” Devlin murmured. “And Caleb has that dimple at the left side of his mouth.
“While you,” she began, then quickly stopped herself. Smiling tightly, she sniffed and went to collect some plates.
“I can do that,” Katherine said, beating her to the cupboard. “Why don’t you pour Lord Devlin a cup of tea instead?”
“While I what?” he asked. He raised one eyebrow and pinned her with a look of interest that did something funny to her stomach.
“Nothing,” she said. Averting her gaze, she tried to focus on the kettle, the teapot, and the cups the tea was meant to go into.
“Even so, I’d still like to hear it.”
“Hear what?” Penelope asked, making her entrance with Rosemary and three younger children named William, Clyde, and Henry. Cassandra groaned.
“Your mother’s opinion on what distinguishes me from my brothers,” Devlin said as he went to give Penelope a hug.
For a moment, Cassandra forgot all about her annoyance with him. The affection he showed toward Penelope and the other children was both heartwarming and…enticing? She shook her head in bemusement, though not without noting the knowing look Katherine gave her.
“Oh, I can give you the answer you need.” Penelope smiled up at Devlin as if he were some Greek god about to fulfill her every wish. “It’s your nose and your hair.”
Cassandra gulped. “Breakfast is ready,” she announced and then hastily went about making sure all the children washed their hands. “Sofia and Jamie are missing. Perhaps—”
“I’ll fetch them,” Penelope said.
“And I’ll take this tray to the dining room if you bring the eggs and bacon, Cass, and Lord Devlin agrees to carry the teapot.”
“I’d be happy to,” he said.
Deciding their battle would have to be put on hold while they ate, Cassandra did as Katherine suggested and picked up the dish filled with eggs and bacon. Although she avoided looking directly at Devlin, the heat of his gaze scorched the back of her neck as he followed her out of the kitchen.
