"Has he, indeed?" Mrs. Fairleigh glanced briefly at her youngest brother, who had started moving toward Cait at the other end of the drawing room, seemingly satisfied that he’d managed the introductions and did not want to be too far away from his bride-to-be.
"He said you were responsible for making the two of them the men they are," Cori told her.
“Now, do not blame Laura for that,” Linthorpe said, coming to stand beside his sister. “She did her best with what she had to work with.”
From across the room, Daniel glanced over his shoulder. “I can hear you, you know?”
“Good.” Linthorpe smiled and he looked so devastatingly handsome when he did so. “I meant for you to hear me.”
With a dismissive wave of his hand, Daniel turned his attention back to Cait.
Mrs. Fairleigh leaned closer to Cori and confided, “Do not listen to either of them. I was blessed with the most wonderful brothers.”
“They do seem to adore you.”
Mrs. Fairleigh’s gaze seemed to see straight into Cori’s soul, which was a bit unnerving.
Goodness! Where had she landed in the woman’s assessment?
Before Cori could think too long on the subject, a little orange kitten raced into the drawing room like he was being chased by the devil himself. Then the kitten stopped in the middle of the Aubusson rug and plopped down as though he owned the place.
"Marmalade." Hannah leapt from her spot on the settee and started toward her kitten.
"He shouldn’t be in here, Hannah," Miss Roseberry said, from a chair near the door
"He knows that," Hannah said, nearing the little creature. "He doesn’t care."
Marmalade yawned. Hannah crouched to collect the kitten, but he let out a horrible sound that made clear he had other ideas.
"That kitten is not supposed to be in the drawing room," Daniel announced from across the room. "I believe that has been well established."
"I don’t believe Marmalade was asked his opinion on the matter,” Reese said, not helping matters in the least.
"The boy has a point," Hythe remarked, without looking up from his gazette.
Mrs. Fairleigh laughed, warm and unguarded, and it changed her face completely.
At the moment, however, Hannah was losing the negotiation with Marmalade. The kitten squirmed against her and he expressed opinions loudly.
"Here." Cori crossed the room and held out her hands toward Hannah.
The little girl frowned as though she was trying to decide whether or not to accept expert assistance. "He likes you," she said finally, and passed the kitten to Cori.
Marmalade submitted to the transfer with reservations. Cori got her hand under the little ball of fluff and settled him against her. He made one last sound of protest before subsiding into a grudging purr.
"How did you do that?" Hannah asked, her blue eyes rounded in awe.
"Practice," Cori told her. "And he knows I mean it."
"You mean what?"
"That I won't drop him. That I'm not frightened of him. That I'll put him down if he wants it."
Hannah seemed to consider this with the seriousness she brought to everything. "I will try that.”
"You have to actually mean it,” Cori said. "He knows the difference."
"Animals always know," Hannah agreed solemnly.
