“Uncle Benedict, Maria has stolen my soldier and won’t give it back,” Edward complained
“You weren’t even playing with him,” Maria said, tossing her hair and looking for a moment uncannily like her elder sister.
“It does not matter, he ismine, and youtookhim.”
“How delightful, all the children have now arrived,” Matthews remarked sourly.
Putting Gregory down despite his virulent protests, he said, “Buck up, man, don’t pout.There are only three of them.It could have been the full contingent of nieces and nephews.”
His valet gave him the sourest of looks.
Considering the siblings, he said thoughtfully, “Have you not yet learned how to share?I thought it something one learned before reaching five years of age.”
They both started talking at once, each arguing they had right over the other, while Gregory joined the din, demanding Benedict again pick him up.
Matthews clapped his hands sharply.“Children.”
They stopped as one, wide eyes turned to the valet.
“Children, you must display some decorum,” Matthews continued calmly.“If you can demonstrate such, I will dispense treats.”
Edward’s eyes lit up.“The ones in Uncle Benedict’s sitting room?”
“The same.Will you demonstrate decorum?”
“Yes,” they chorused, and proceeded to undertake their best impression of well-behaved children.
“Very good.You may follow me,” Matthews said, ushering them from the room.
Grinning, Benedict shook his head.His valet acted put upon, but Benedict was not the one who restocked the sweets in the crystal container displayed pride of place in the sitting room, the one Benedict himself was not allowed to touch.
With the children safely occupied, he examined himself in the dressing mirror for any damage Gregory may have wrecked.Matthews had been putting the final touches on Benedict’s attire for the ball he was to attend with Lady C, Amanda, and the Earl when they’d been so dramatically interrupted.There appeared to be no critical damage, not that there ever was.He was well used to his nieces and nephews invading his rooms.
He'd barely completed the thought when his eldest nephew sauntered in insouciantly, his features arranged into a look of ennui so exaggerated, Benedict had trouble keeping a straight face.“I need your jade-handled walking stick.”
The most ostentatious of his walking sticks?Of course his nephew, overly concerned with his appearance, required it.“Please, Uncle Benedict, my most favourite of uncles, would you lend me your walking stick that is yours and therefore you may decide whether or not someone may borrow it?”
Rolling his eyes, George sighed expansively.“Uncle Benedict, may I borrow your walking stick?”
“You may,” he said.
George waited.And waited.“Well?Where is it?”
“I don’t know,” Benedict said airily.
George’s breath exploded.“Who does?”he demanded.
His nephew was so easy to bait.“Matthews knows where it is.”
“And where is Matthews?”
“Dispensing sweets to your brothers and sister.You are, of course, too old to wish for such treats.”
His nephew’s gaze flicked to the sitting room and the disaffected dandy disappeared, the boy Benedict knew well appearing.“Of course.”
George thought himself too mature for childish things, however that did not stop him from longing from them.Hiding the twitch of his lips, Benedict said, “Matthewsisthe best placed to assist you with your request.”
His nephew had disappeared through the door to the sitting room before he had finished his sentence.
