“Oh, do you think he was watching?” Dahlia whined.
“I wasnotwatching. Either one of you,” the voice of David Fitzwilliam stated. “I do have better things to do.”
The girls gasped and turned to stare at the ghost of their father. “Father! You frightened us,” Dahlia scolded.
“I frighten myself sometimes,” their father replied. “Now, what are you still doing here? Aren’t you supposed to be on a ship to the Continent? For your ten-year anniversary trip to Greece?”
Exchanging confused glances, the twins said in unison, “We’re not yet married.”
David covered his face with a hand. “Oh.” He paused. “Forget what I just said. You’re supposed to be at Weatherstone’s ball.”
“We were just about to leave,” Dahlia said.
“Well, get on with it then,” he urged. “I would have thought by now you would have realized I won’t frighten you if you don’t invoke my name.”
The twins blinked when he disappeared from the bedchamber.
Danielle scoffed. “He might have mentioned that a few days ago,” she whispered. She glanced over at Dahlia, who was displaying an expression of amazement. “What is it?”
Turning to regard her sister with a brilliant smile, Dahlia whispered, “We’re going to Greece for our ten-year anniversary!”
Giggling, Danielle led her sister to the door. “We won’t be going anywhere if we don’t leave now,” she replied. When they were halfway down the corridor, she asked, “Did you like it?”
“Like what?”
Danielle gave her sister a quelling glance.
“Oh! Oh, I—”
“You sound exactly like Mother.”
“—did. Very much. And I’ve given up trying not to say ‘oh,’” she added as her chin went up. When she noticed Danielle’s smirk, she said, “What else can I possibly say when I’m in the throes of passion?”
Danielle giggled. “Ooh. Yes. Please,” she replied, mimicking what she remembered from her experience.
“In a bed?”
Slowing her steps as they descended the stairs, Danielle said, “Yes. In the townhouse. Where else would we make love?”
Dahlia shrugged. “Over a library table?”
“You didn’t.”
Rolling her eyes, Dahlia sighed dramatically. “Not yet, but it might be in my future.”
Scoffing, Danielle accepted Belvedere’s help with her mantel and the two followed their mother and uncle into the Norwick town coach.
