Rules for Reforming a Rake(10)

“What’s that?” four-year-old Charles asked with a sniffle, because it was a well-known fact that all little boys had runny noses. It mattered not if they were the offspring of a duke or a dustman. If they were little, their noses ran.

“Someone who’s very brave,” Lizbeth answered.

“The gentleman’s name is Lord Gabriel Dayne and he’s not a war hero, but his brother, Alexander, is one. I’m sure Alexander saved the lives of many young men and made lots of families very happy.”

“Was Uncle Harrison with him?” Charles asked, referring to Harry’s father, who had died in battle last year.

“Unfortunately, no.” She glanced worriedly at Harry, but he seemed to be fine for the moment. “Alexander and Gabriel are grandsons of our neighbor.”

“Grandmama Eloise?” Harry asked with a sniffle, his nose also perpetually running. Daisy withdrew the handkerchief tucked in her sleeve and efficiently cleaned his pudgy face.

“Yes,” she answered with a nod. Eloise had been wonderfully generous with the boy, often allowing Daisy to bring him along on her afternoon visits. Harry had grown quite attached to their kindly neighbor. “Lord Gabriel has been sick for a very long time—”

“But he got better,” Lizbeth said, punctuating her sentence with a squeal. “He looks very big and strong.”

“Yes, Lizbeth.” Daisy felt another jolt of heat rise in her cheeks as she recalled the firm hands that had gripped her shoulders and the powerful muscles bulging beneath his borrowed shirt.

“Who’s very big and strong?” asked Daisy’s youngest sister, Dillie, as she strode into the room without so much as a knock. She threw off her gloves and hat, then plunked down on the bed beside the little ones.

Daisy shook her head and laughed. “Hello, Dillie. Did you come back with Mother?”

“No, she took Aunt Julia and the rest of our female relations to visit Rose. Laurel joined them, but Lily and I decided we’d had enough of their jibber-jabber and asked to be dropped off at home.” Dillie, always pert and animated, began to make clucking sounds and funny faces in imitation of their female relatives.

The children broke into giggles. Soon, they were all off the bed and following Dillie about the room like chicks marching after the mother hen. “Daisy, a thought just struck me. Why are all the children in your room? Where are the nannies?”

“Hadn’t you noticed? They’ve all left us, though two should be back by the end of the week.”

Dillie’s eyes grew wide and her mouth gaped open. “Crumpets! Who’s been watching the children all this time?”

Daisy waited for her to pass close on her turn about the room. “I have. Mrs. Mayhew and Pruitt have helped.”

“Does Mother know? Wait, don’t answer. Of course, she doesn’t. She doesn’t even remember giving birth to you, me, or Lily. Her patience wore out after Rose and Laurel.”

“You’re not being fair,” Daisy said, stifling a grin, for her sister’s assessment was accurate. Their mother had simply been overwhelmed after giving birth to the first two daughters. It wasn’t her fault really. “Managing a household as large as this one isn’t easy, especially when it’s constantly filled to the rafters with guests.”

Dillie stopped in front of her, flapped her arms, and clucked. “Though you try to hide it, I know that you have been the one in charge of this household since Rose got married. Laurel was too busy grooming her horses to care, and Lily and I were too young. But more important, who is big and strong?”

“Lord Gabriel Dayne,” Lizbeth interjected.

“He’s a wart hero,” Charlie added, his big, brown eyes widening as a mark of his earnestness.

“His brother, Alexander, is a war hero,” Daisy corrected. “Lord Gabriel doesn’t have warts, just a few scars.”

“In very manly places, I imagine,” Dillie said with a smirk.

“Dillie!”

“Is he handsome?” she asked, still smirking. “He must be. Your eyes have turned limpid.”

Daisy held back a gasp. Oh, dear! Was she that obvious? “What you see is pity for poor Eloise. She’s had to endure his outrageous conduct.”

Dillie wasn’t anywhere near finished with her interrogation. “Did you talk to him? When did you meet him?”

Dillie’s twin, Lily, walked into the room just then. The pair were identical and even Daisy had trouble telling them apart at times. Lily was quieter, sometimes wore spectacles that hid her sparkling blue eyes, and always carried a book. Dillie’s eyes, if one looked very closely, were a slightly softer shade of blue. Lily was studious and earnest while Dillie, also a clever girl, had a delightful tendency toward mischief. “Whom did you meet who’s very handsome and doesn’t have warts?” Lily asked.