CHAOS IN THE CLASSROOM
Meanwhile, at Aimsley House
Hat in hand and a look of dismay aging him several years, Andrew made his way into Aimsley House. He handed his hat to Hummel. “Is Mother back in residence?”
The butler nodded. “She has returned. I believe she is in the classroom, although her students haven’t yet arrived.”
Andrew gave a start. “Students?”
“Your cousins, sir. The Baroness Streater has arranged for Lady Aimsley’s help in their education.”
The younger Comber twin acknowledged this information with a nod. He wasn’t surprised—his mother had tutored him in arithmetic before he left for school—and hurried up the three flights of stairs to the classroom.
Andrew found his mother sitting in a rocking chair, her attention on an open book.
“Good morning, Mother,” he said, and then wondered if it was the afternoon. He’d been awake for so long that day, it felt as if it was time for dinner.
Diana Albright Comber lifted her gaze from the book and gave him a brilliant smile. “Andrew!” she said as she stood and rushed to him. Despite the fact that he had several inches on her, she pulled him into an embrace. When she stepped back, she sobered and sighed.
“I received your letter,” she said.
Andrew dipped his head. “All those years, and Anthony and I never once switched places in class,” he murmured. “And then the one time we do it...” He sighed. “I suppose you received my letter. Did Father speak with you?”
Diana gave him a quelling glance. “He did, but what’s done is done, and you’ll simply make the best of it by attending all the Season’s entertainments,” she replied, arching a dark brow in an attempt to tease him.
“Did he also tell you about... about the marriage requirement?”
Diana pretended ignorance and blinked. “What?” She stepped back, as if she’d been slapped.
“The marriage requirement,” a slightly different voice said from behind Andrew.
The younger twin stepped aside to reveal Anthony, breathless from having climbed the stairs in a hurry. “Hello, Mother.”
“Anthony!” Diana repeated what she had done with Andrew, but she locked gazes with the younger twin a moment to indicate he needed to remain right where he was.
When she stepped back, she pointed to the chairs her students used during their time in the classroom. “Take a seat, you two. I want to know all about this marriage requirement. Right now,” she ordered, wondering if what their father had told them matched what he had told her that morning.
The twins exchanged quick glances before they folded themselves into the small chairs, their knees ending up at the level of their chests while their mother continued to stand. She started with her fists on her hips, but soon crossed her arms. “Out with it.”
As was usual for Anthony, he took the lead and explained what had happened and then what their father had directed they do if they wanted their allowances resumed.
“Well, I can’t say I’m in agreement with his edict,” she murmured, wincing when she remembered she had agreed with her husband’s decision earlier that morning. Back then, she had felt excitement at the thought that their sons would take wives and sire grandchildren. “I hardly think it’s right that marriage should be some sort of punishment.”
“It’s hardly a reward,” Anthony countered on a sigh.
“I don’t mind,” Andrew stated. “I mean, I won’t if Lady Danielle agrees to wed me.”
Before his mother could react to this revelation, Anthony said, “Lord Norwick mentioned Father was a scoundrel. Said I should ask you how you came to be married to him.”
Their mother blinked, her face coloring with a blush. She couldn’t imagine Daniel, Earl of Norwick, mentioning such a thing to her son. Daniel was fifteen years older than Adam, and the two hadn’t been much more than acquaintances back when Adam was forced to marry in order to win a wager.
She would have to have a word with Norwick the next time she saw him.
“Your father was... well, yes, he was a bit of a scoundrel. Before we wed,” she acknowledged. She had heard Adam Comber referred to by a number of monikers, including flirt, rake, and libertine. She sighed and then pulled a chair—a chair sized for an adult—to the table and settled onto it. She had to suppress a grin at how she was still an inch or two higher than her boys.
“How did you two meet?” the boys asked in unison. They glanced at each other, scoffed, and rolled their eyes.
Diana furrowed a brow. “At White’s.” When the two who were staring at her boggled, she huffed and added, “More formally at the corner of St. James and Jermyn Streets.”
