Page 74 of Lord Hartwell’s Refuge

Charles stopped a step inside the room, smile frozen on his face before he chuckled and came the rest of the way toward her, bending to kiss her cheek. “Good afternoon to you as well, Baroness.”

“Charles.” She pulled back and glared, glancing quickly at Henry. “Tell me at once.”

Her elder brother sighed as he bent to pick up her book. “Nothing happened, Tamsin. Tell her, Henry.”

She looked to her little brother and held her hands out, ready to receive him.

Henry went to her immediately. “I wanted to visit you.”

The words struck directly at the portion of Tamsin which had spent the last two days wondering whether wanting to be needed by him was itself part of the problem. She decided in this moment, rather rebelliously, that she did not care.

He was getting too big for this. Not so large she could not hold him, but all elbows and pointy length where once there had been a comfortably portable little scrap of a boy who could be settled against her hip. Tamsin wrapped both arms around him anyway, and Henry submitted to the embrace with considerably better grace than he would have shown had any of his brothers been watching.

Except, of course, Charles was.

Tamsin caught his expression over Henry’s shoulder. He watched them both with his brow furrowed, and she could not tell if he disapproved or was merely concerned.

“What is that look for, Charles?” She gently released Henry, who remained standing close enough to lean his shoulder against her.

“Was I wearing a look? I beg your pardon, it was hardly my intent.” That innocent look did not fool her in the slightest. “It was nothing.”

“Everyone keeps saying that while plainly thinking something.”

Her brother gave her another look—of wide-eyed innocence. “Marriage has made you suspicious.”

Tamsin huffed and absently ran a hand through Henry’s hair. “Marriage has made me acquainted with people who say nothing while thinking a great deal.”

Charles grinned rather impudently. “Hartwell?”

“Frequently.” She looked down at her little brother. “Thank you for coming to visit. Now you have a certain look, so I will ask what it is that you are thinking?”

Henry pulled away from her enough to glance around the room. “Where are the dogs? I would like to see Apollo again.”

“Ah. Of course. I am certain he will be delighted to see you, too.” She went to the garden doors and pushed one open. “Apollo, Athena, Komm.” The dogs had been playing in the garden, likely let out earlier by Roman before he disappeared for the day. She had seen them go and not worried overmuch while reading her book.

They both swung their great heads toward the door and came trotting quickly up the small walk, onto the steps, and into the room panting and wagging their tails, ready to romp indoors as well as out. She narrowed her eyes at them at the same moment they both looked at Henry, ears perked forward.

The boy froze. He’d only seen them outdoors before; they seemed a great deal bigger when inside a closed room. They regarded one another.

“Do you think they remember me?” Henry whispered.

“Yes, of course they do.” Tamsin settled in her chair.

“They remember they like the taste of children,” Charles said at the same time, most unhelpfully.

Henry’s eyes widened.

“Charles.” Tamsin glowered. “They are the gentlest of creatures, and do not eat children. You know that, Henry. You climbed all over them without injury a few weeks ago.”

“I was only jesting,” Charles said lightly.

She cast him another disapproving frown. “You are nearly thirty years old.”

“And still capable of teasing my baby brother.”

Apollo lowered his great head and sniffed in Henry’s direction. His tail wagged and he whined softly. Athena had entirely dismissed the visitors and laid down in front of her mistress, practically on her feet, her usual position of guardianship.

Tamsin smiled. “Say his name, Henry. He is waiting for permission.”