Page 97 of Lord Hartwell’s Refuge

Leopold’s mouth flattened.

Oh dear. “You did ask him?”

“Yes, of course!” It was the closest to snapping her brother had reached in their conversation.

“And?” Honestly. Must every word be dragged from the mire of his thoughts?

“He said if Miss Despencer wished to see me, he supposed she would.”

Tamsin was silent. That sounded precisely like her father.

“And then,” Leopold added bitterly, “he asked whether I had heard rumor of a flock of waxwings near the river.”

Also entirely like their father. Waxwings wintered near their home, he counted them a happy treat. But to disregard Leopold’s question so quickly must have hurt her brother, for all that they had learned to expect such things.

Tamsin sighed heavily.

“I know,” Leopold said, interpreting the sigh exactly as she had meant it. “Which is why I thought perhaps you might speak with him.”

At last. The heart of the matter, and his true reason for visiting. Of course, he wanted her to intervene. She had the most success getting through to their ever-distracted father, if only because she had a small interest in birds herself.

She could speak to Father. She knew precisely how to do it. She could visit early, catch him at breakfast before he disappeared with his field glasses, explain why the matter was important, tell him exactly what Leopold needed him to say. Remind him of his fatherly duties⁠—

A second thought came quite strongly to the forefront of her mind, a question she had learned to ask herself of late: did she want to take responsibility for this matter?

No. Not in the least.

Leopold continued, encouraged by her silence. “Perhaps you might call also upon Augusta. Having a baron in the family ought to be of use, and you are his wife. She would be impressed, and her mother⁠—”

“No.”

He stopped talking at once, clearly perplexed. “No?”

The word had come out before Tamsin had entirely decided to say it. But she rather liked the sound of it. “No.”

“But you have not heard what I was going to ask.”

Patience, that would be key. “You asked me to speak to Father, and call upon Miss Despencer.”

“Yes, but there was more to it than that⁠—”

“And discover what she thinks of you, and do my best to increase her regard for you, using my position,” finished Tamsin with a raised brow.

At this her brother shrugged, not at all chagrined. “Not in those exact words.”

That made her smile with the slightest touch of amusement. “Then in prettier ones. You have the knack for words.”

His forehead creased, his mouth going slack for an instant before tightening. “You are Lady Hartwell now. Her mother could hardly object to your calling. If you invited Augusta to visit⁠—”

“Why, Leopold?” She was not going to lose her temper. “What am I meant to do once Miss Despencer and I are seated here, together?”

“Nothing. Only⁠—”

“Invite you to attend on us?”

He looked down at his coat and smoothed the lapels. “I did not suggest that.”

“You did not have to.” Tamsin inhaled slowly. “You want me to smooth your way by speaking to her mother, her family, then invite her into my home. You want me to impress her and then give you access to her once she is suitably primed for your attention to be flattering.”