For Heaven’s sake.She picked up her fork and resumed eating.
“May I ask what you have planned for today, Sterling?” Caroline asked, eyes twinkling with humor, although Annabelle could not imagine what had amused her.
“I have estate matters to see to, correspondence to attend. My steward must be summoned at once and certain events involving the kilns resolved.”
“The kilns? I thought Grandfather decreed the kilns not be reopened. Something to do with the smog blocking the view of your precious stars.”
“He did.”
The nibble of toast Annabelle tried to swallow seemed to lodge in her throat at the reminder of what had happened a few short days ago.
“What events?” Caroline asked.
He slanted Annabelle a considering look. “Someone thought to amuse himself by trapping Annabelle in one of the kiln pot chambers.”
“Never say so,” Caroline exclaimed. “Annabelle, you’ve had more than your share of excitement since arriving, have you not?”
“I believe a ring of jewel thieves has claimed the kilns,” she told Caroline. “Your brother disagrees.”
He dabbed his mouth with a serviette and sent her a crooked smile that had her stomach doing a full somersault. “What I think is, no matter who is responsible for what happened, orwhat he thought he was about, his days of wreaking havoc on my property have come to an end.”
Irritation pricked her. Hisproperty. As if what happened to her was no more than an aside.
“Your property?” Lady Caroline burst out in admonishment, echoing her thoughts. “Really, Sterling.”
He flicked his sister an amused glance and bit into his toast.Odious man.
Caroline snorted. “Speaking of your wedding, you told me this morning you acquired your wedding certificate yesterday. May I inquire how?”
That got Annabelle’s attention.
Sterling shrugged and sliced a sausage. “A timely donation—in person—and a request for a discreet favor.”
“You are nothing if not efficient, sir,” Caroline said, her voice warm with approval.
“Thank you.”
Another of those annoying bursts of jealousy erupted in Annabelle at the display of sibling affection.
Caroline caught Annabelle’s eye briefly before shifting her attention to Sterling once more. “Might I suggest, however, now that I am here, and the threat of scandal is no longer imminent, a headlong rush into a hasty ceremony might not be the wisest course?”
Sterling set aside his cutlery and sent his sister a long stare. “I beg your pardon?”
Her expression was all that was innocent. And yet, Annabelle could swear she detected a glimmer of mischief in Caroline’s dark eyes. “A few guests could be invited. Banns could be posted—”
“The banns will be scheduled today. As for guests, the island is hardly suited to visitors.”
“No?”
He frowned and swiped his serviette over his mouth. “No. Any celebration will have to take place after we return to London—if, indeed, there is to be one.”
A remarkably unromantic statement, if ever she heard one.
“Finally, I must reject the notion of a delay on the basis that delaying the wedding will lead to postponing our departure for London, which I have concluded should occur with all due haste,” Sterling said calmly.
That was news to her. She frowned at Sterling and his sister in turn, trying to determine if she was the only one who had been left in the dark as far as travel plans were concerned.
She was not.
