“Of course they are,” their father stated. “Can’t have you girls underfoot when they’ll be wanting to tup in every room of the house. Including your bedchambers.”
“Eww!” The sound of protest came from Dahlia, whose eyes immediately rounded. “Are you implying a library table might be involved?”
David pulled his chin into his neck while he deliberately ignored Clarinda’s look of shock. “I didn’t say anything about a library table,” he replied. “So... if that’s it, then I suppose I’ll see you again sometime in the future. Mayhap when the babes are born?”
Dahlia and Danielle exchanged quick glances. “Babes?” they repeated in unison.
“Don’t. Ask,” their uncle Daniel warned in a low voice.
“Yes, the babes,” David replied, ignoring his twin. “The six cousins will be the best of friends and vex you both to no end,” the ghost went on in delight. “Just you wait until you have to marrythemoff,” he added with glee. When his comment was met with horrified stares, he said, “Well, I’m off.”
And with that, the ghost of David Fitzwilliam disappeared.
One after the other, those left in the parlor fell into their chairs and exchanged uncertain glances.
“Well, if there really are to besixcousins and I intend to have only three children, that means you’ll have the other three,” Dahlia said to Danielle.
Danielle grinned, remembering that she and Andrew had already discussed the matter of children over dinner. “Three sounds perfect,” she said on a sigh.
