Page 28 of The Tantalizing of a Scandalous Rake

“Almost?” Leo’s brow raised.

“We miss you so,” Mary-Anne muttered. “Though I would not miss you as much if I was allowed to come here more often.”

Leo shook his head. “This is not the sort of place for a young girl.”

“Well I am here now, am I not?”

Adam eyed his brother. “Does Lucy even know you two are here?”

Leo glanced at the floor. “She is attending some talk in Kendal with Alex.”

“Lucy will have both of our heads for this.”

“Call yourselves men,” Mary-Anne muttered and peered at Adam’s midsection. “Can I see it?”

“See what?”

She lifted both hands. “The stab wound of course!”

“There’s not much to see.”

“How dull,” she muttered.

“Any idea how the knife came to be...on the floor?” Leo asked, his lips tilted. “Do we need to worry that it might reoccur?”

“I was...” He glanced at his sister-in-law. “Doing nothing out of the ordinary. I believe someone took exception to that.”

“So you bested them at cards?” Mary-Anne asked.

He shook his head with a smile. There was no keeping secrets from the inquisitive girl, especially not when it looked as though she might end up better at cards than himself one day.

“Perhaps you should return home.” Leo’s smile faded. “If there’s a chance this person could return...”

“They stabbed a nobleman. Why would they risk returning? Besides, I do not think I can travel yet.”

“But you can sweep.” Leo shook his head.

“That’s entirely different. The doctor said I should not travel until fully healed.”

“See? I told you.” Mary-Anne nudged Leo with her boot.

“You did,” Leo agreed.

“Told him what?” Adam demanded.

Mary-Anne offered a sweet smile. “That you were not yet healed, and you would need to stay under the care of The Beauty for some time.”

Adam narrowed his gaze at the girl. So much astuteness in such a small person shouldn’t be allowed.

“Just watch your back, Brother.”

“And watch Rosie’s,” added Mary-Anne. “Most closely.”

Shaking his head, he ignored the girl’s knowing grin. It was quite one thing to admit to himself he desired Rosie more than anything in the world—more than his next winning hand or profitable speculation even—but quite another to admit it to his family.

∞∞∞

Rosie’s heart gave a hard thud against her chest when she spied the paleness of Harriet’s complexion. She paused beating the dough for the pies into submission. “What is it? Is there a fight? Has something else broken?” She would not be surprised with how things were going at present. Hastening over to the wash bucket, she damped her hands and wiped them on a cloth. “Is Gerald here?”

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