Rather amused at hearing this bit of news about one of the grandsons of the Marquess of Reading, Adam chuckled. “Sounds as if he’ll be the new Rake of Reading,” he commented at the same time several footmen appeared with the first course.
Dahlia glanced at Anthony and realized he’d been staring at her when he quickly turned to regard his cousin with a grin. “He’s your age, is he not?”
Her eyes rounding in horror, Daphne stared at Anthony. “He is,” she acknowledged. “Oh, dear. Do you suppose he intends to propose marriage soon?” she asked in a whisper. She turned her attention on Dahlia. “Cousin Andrew proposed to Lady Danielle when he was only eight years old,” she said.
Anthony sobered. “Little pitchers have big ears,” he whispered.
“I’m well aware,” Dahlia replied, suppressing a giggle at the young girl’s comment. “She’s my sister.”
Emboldened to continue—the adults were including her in their conversation—Daphne said, “Well, if she does marry Cousin Andrew, I do hope the ghost doesn’t haunt her, too.”
Dahlia swallowed, her gaze immediately going to Anthony. “A ghost?” she repeated in as light a voice as she could manage.
“He and the ghost were talking last night and woke me up. Twice. And Andrew looked quite frightful this morning, what with his hair going off in all directions, so I know he was quite vexed by the haunting.” Daphne’s hands waved about around her head as if to illustrate what she meant.
“Daphne,” Diana said in a quiet rebuke. “They will be no more talk of ghosts this evening.” To the rest of those at the table she added, “I’ve assigned Daphne to another bedchamber since Andrew apparently talks in his sleep.”
“Hmph,” Anthony said after he’d swallowed a spoonful of soup. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard Andrew talking in his sleep,” he murmured.
Realizing he made the comment to further torment his cousin, Dahlia tried to hide a smirk even when she said, “Anthony!” in a hoarse whisper. When she turned her attention back to Daphne, she found the girl beaming in delight at her, as if Daphne had decided Dahlia was her new best friend. “You’ll have to tell me what you know about your cousin Anthony,” she said in a conspiratorial voice.
Daphne’s shoulders lifted as her head dipped before she glanced over at her much older cousin.
“Oh, no you don’t,” Anthony said to Daphne, his grin belying his words. When his gaze turned on Dahlia, he found her staring at him in awe. For a moment, he was sure he saw adoration in her eyes. When she didn’t immediately look away but instead gave him a grin followed by a daring wink, he was sure she was reassessing her opinion of him. “My betrothed might come to realize I’m not the overly serious man she’s known over the years.”
Daphne grinned. “He’s not a stick in the mud,” she said to Dahlia.
Diana and Dahlia both tittered. “I can’t say I ever thoughtthatabout him,” Dahlia agreed. “But I do appreciate his sense of responsibility.”
“As do I,” Adam stated. “In fact, I’m going to put him in charge of seeing to it all the tenant cottages of the earldom are completely replaced with new ones,” he stated.
Everyone at the table turned to stare at the earl. “You are?” Anthony asked. He dared a quick glance first at Dahlia and then at his mother.
“It was Andrew’s idea to replace them. He has a good point. The maintenance issues would be ongoing, especially given the poor condition of the roofs. Makes more sense to build new, modern versions. No more thatched roofs,” Adam explained.
“When would this rebuilding campaign start?” Anthony asked.
Adam shrugged. “I’ve already sent a note to the foreman. I’m thinking they should all be done before next winter, if that’s possible.”
Anthony’s expression took on a look of concern. “So soon?”
Dahlia immediately understood his dilemma. “We can wait and take our wedding trip in the winter. The weather in Greece will be far more hospitable then,” she reasoned.
His expression changed to one of awe. “Are you quite sure? I shouldn’t want you to be disappointed.”
Giving him a shrug, Dahlia said, “I won’t be. Besides, it sounds as if we’ll have to do some traveling if you’re to oversee the construction,” she reasoned.
“You can stay at the country house in Wiltshire,” Diana said brightly. “I would dearly love it if you could run the Aimsley Park household while you’re there,” she added, turning her attention to Dahlia. “Seeing as how I’ll be in confinement.”
Well aware of Anthony’s gaze on her, Dahlia inhaled softly. “Of course, my lady. I would be delighted to do it,” she replied.
“Then it’s all set,” Adam announced happily. The footmen reappeared with the next course.
“Will you still tutor James and me?” Daphne asked of her aunt.
“I expect so, darling,” Diana replied with a grin. “How else are you going to learn equations?”
Beaming, Daphne tucked into her meal and kept quiet while the adults carried on their conversations.
When it was time for her and Diana to retreat to the parlor for tea, Daphne waited to ask as to why Dahlia didn’t join them until after her aunt was settled onto the settee in front of the fireplace.
“Your cousin is giving her a tour of the apartments they’ll be living in after they’re married,” Diana replied. “And then he has to see her home.” She sighed contentedly. “I expect Lady Dahlia will be moving into Aimsley House this next month.”
After Diana had dropped a lump of sugar into it, Daphne accepted her cup of tea and sipped it. “Is he going to make love to her?” she asked in a whisper.
Diana nearly choked on her tea, her eyes wide at hearing the query from the nine-year-old. “Daphne,” she scolded. She stared into her teacup and allowed a wan grin. “I hope so,” she whispered. “I dearly hope so.”
