“Fanny?” Wil’s voice echoed along the river. The boy burst into the clearing. “You got here faster than we did! Eli made us stop for the night, and then there was a problem with one of the hub pins, and—Rob?”
Amy laughed and peered up at Clarion.
“Your Lordship, may I introduce my brother, Mr. Wilber Rundle. Wil, make your bows to the Earl of Clarion,” Fanny said.
Wil did as she directed, but his eyes darted from Fanny to the earl and back. He shook his head. “You’re my sister, but you look more like him.”
“I’m not certain whether it is a blessing or a curse,” the earl murmured, offering Fanny his arm. “Shall we go find my tardy steward, Miss Hancock?”
“Eli? You best go swiftly,” Wil told them. “He’s unloading my bags, but he plans to leave. He has work at Clarion Hall and can’t stay. Or so he said.”
Clarion sighed. “Ever diligent is Eli Benson. But he can’t avoid the inevitable.”
“Inevitable?” Fanny asked.
“Family. There will be opinions, Miss Hancock, and Benson can’t avoid hearing them. What are we going to do with you?”
