“Don’t tell me he knew what she meant?”

“He pretended he didn’t.”

Jason tapped his boot heels into Dodger’s muscular sides. “Just as you will teach the twins.”

“That boggles my brain. Here they were this afternoon, left alone for but a moment. When Corrie came back into the room, they’d stuffed three apple tarts in their mouths. They looked up at her, innocent as angels, all the while filling dripping off their chins.”

“I wish I could have seen that. I imagine we did the same thing at their age. Are you and Corrie thinking of more children?”

James paled, making Jason reach out his hand to grab his brother’s arm. “What’s the matter?”

James drew a deep steadying breath. “Corrie had a very bad time of it with the twins. I don’t want her pregnant again. It could kill her. She squeezed my hand so hard she broke a bone.”

“You stayed with her?”

“Oh yes. She said since I got her into this mess I could very well see her through it. Then she cursed me, but she didn’t know that many curses, so she had to keep repeating herself. Between the contractions, I taught her meaty new ones. She uses them today-usually on me. It was scary, Jason. You would not believe the number of good deeds I promised if she would survive, and I’ve done every single one of them.”

“I didn’t know. She appears so sturdy, she glows with good health.”

“Yes, but the twins were big. It-it was terrifying, Jason. As terrifying as when I thought you were going to die and there was nothing I could do about it except pray. If you hadn’t survived, I probably would have curled up next to you. It was the same with Corrie.”

Jason never turned in the saddle to acknowledge his brother’s words, though they struck him deep. He felt the old rancid pain filling his throat, the bitterness of it making his belly churn. His head began to ache because his brain didn’t want to think about the past, simply couldn’t.

Jason said, “Damn, the wind’s come up-a cold wind. Don’t you dare claim that you’re still as warm as the back of Father’s knees when Eleanor the Third is tucked there at night.”

James forced a laugh, but it was difficult. He had to give his twin more time. At least he was home, and that was the most important thing. “Just a nip in the air, nothing more. Eleanor the Third now has a brother, William the Fourth, a big black tom who keeps the back of Mother’s knees warm.”

“I saw the two of them trotting into our parents’ bedchamber, tails high, ready for the knees. Any racing cats around?”

“Mother had hopes for William, but the truth is, all he likes to do is eat and sleep and allow Eleanor to wash him, which she does, endlessly.”

“I’d like to have a racing cat. I remember all cousin Meggie’s triumphs.”

James laughed. “Remember Ellis Peepers, who’s now our head gardener? He’s all wiry and long, red-haired, full beard that’s so bright it looks like his face is on fire?” At his brother’s nod, James went on, “He was schooled by the Harker brothers in training techniques and how to select good racing cat owners. Maybe he’ll deem you worthy.”

“Ellis will find me to be the most responsible of racing cat owners. But I suppose it will have to wait. Just now, what with my partner coming tomorrow, there’s simply too much to do.”

“So you and Miss Carrick will be spending all your days at Lyon ’s Gate, repairing the house and the stables.”

“Yes,” Jason said, voice now grim. He turned to face his brother as they drew in their horses at the stable. “Can you begin to imagine the fights we will have? And unlike you, I won’t be able to kiss her until she forgets her own name.”

“Or until she’s wearing a silly grin and forgotten why she wanted to rip your throat out.”

“Now there’s a thought.” Jason laughed and smacked his brother on the arm. “It would be so much easier were she a man.”

Late the following afternoon, Jason was pleasantly tired after working all day at Lyon ’s Gate. The stables were nearly ready for their tenants. Perhaps he could list out for Miss Carrick the joys of being close to her horses, both day and night. Or perhaps not. He’d just placed his boot on the first step of the ten broad, deeply set front steps of Northcliffe Hall when he heard a carriage rolling up the long drive. He stepped back down, knowing it was Miss Carrick.

Despite the fact she was a thorn in his flesh, and that fate had planted her right in front of him with no rhyme nor reason, Jason realized he felt good. He crossed his arms over his chest and watched Miss Carrick lean out the window, waving to him. He hoped she didn’t leap out before the driver stopped the carriage. He watched the coachman draw in smartly right next to him. Jason saw it was a rented carriage, an expensive rented carriage. There were two outriders.

He started forward when the door flew wide and Miss Carrick jumped down before either he or the coach driver could assist her. He wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Mr. Sherbrooke! I’m here. How nice of you to be waiting out here for me to arrive.”

She was the height of fashion in a dark hunter green gown with wide sleeves tapering to fit snugly at her wrists and a belted waist that looked the size of a man’s fists bunched together. Her hair was tucked up under a bonnet of the same dark green, several curls lazily floating down in front of her ears. And in her lovely little ears were sparkling diamond studs. “I see that you are, Miss Carrick. Both you and your equipage look quite grand.”

“Yes, the carriage cost me very nearly all the money my father’s banker would give me, the dolt. I must write my father and have him send instructions.”

“Unlimited funds for you, Miss Carrick?”

“Don’t be a knothead. Oh, thank you for the compliment to my person as well as to my carriage. The gown is from Madame Jordan, who tells me that your father selects all your mother’s clothes, and your brother selects all of Corrie’s. I’ve never heard of gentlemen dressing women. Isn’t that rather odd? Is it some sort of tradition in your family?”

“To be honest, I’ve never thought about it, although the men in this family have excellent taste-Hmm, now that I think about it, I don’t know that I would have selected such a very dark green for you, Miss Carrick. I could, of course, be mistaken-perhaps the late afternoon sun shining too brightly in my eyes-but is bilious the right word?”

She let the bait dangle in front of her nose for a moment, then laughed aloud, a bright, quite lovely sound. “That was well done.” She turned to the carriage. “Come along, Martha. We’re here at Northcliffe Hall. Isn’t it beautiful? Look at all the colors.”

Her maid hopped out of the carriage, landing lightly on very little feet. She couldn’t be more than seventeen, Jason thought. She was very small, her pointed chin trembling in excitement. “Oh yes, it be glorious, more than glorious. So many thick trees, jest like in the park. I didn’t know you was acquainted with such grand folk, Miss Hallie.”

“Only the grandest folk for me, Martha.”

Jason laughed as Hallie rolled her eyes. “Let me see to your coachman and your outriders.” Jason turned to the coachman. “Any problems?”

The coachman gave Jason a smart salute. “None, milord. Benji and Neally, our outriders provided by Miss Carrick’s banker, well they wanted a highwayman or two to break the monotony, but nary a rascal showed hisself.”

“He’s twenty-eight minutes too young to be a lord, John,” Hallie said. At Jason’s raised eyebrow, she added, “I overheard Melissa telling her mother about how close in time you and James were born.”

Hallie turned when Martha lightly tugged on her sleeve. “Yes, Martha?”

Martha whispered, “Who is that god, ma’am?”

“God? What god?”

“The young gentleman, ma’am. Oh Lordie, is he ever a beaut. I’ve never afore seen such a glorious young gentleman, meybe more than jest plain glor-”