Seven Minutes in Heaven(73)

“We needn’t honor that rule tonight,” Ward said, standing.

Lizzie danced around the table and grabbed Eugenia’s hand as if they’d been friends for years. “I thought of something else that makes me angry.”

“We will wait for tomorrow,” Eugenia said. “You have an imaginative turn of phrase, and I believe Gumwater was shocked.”

She glanced at Ward. “As was your older brother.”

“They are mostly taken from Middleton plays,” Lizzie confided.

“Don’t gentlemen stay at the table and smoke a cheroot?” Otis asked Ward. He had dropped Jarvis back into his carrying sack.

“No,” Ward said. “You’re too young. If anyone tells you differently when you’re at Eton, ignore them.”

“Eton,” Otis breathed.

There was a stunned expression on his little brother’s face; Ward didn’t know if he was horrified or happy. Damn it, it had slipped out; he had meant to tell Otis once the boy was more settled.

There was no keeping the secret now. “I’m sending you at school in a few months, for the beginning of Michaelmas term,” Ward said. “I went to Eton and so did your father.”

“My father promised that I would go to Eton,” Otis squeaked, his voice cracking with excitement.

Thank God: happiness, not horror.

“I know a boy named Marmaduke, Lord Pibble, who will also be new to Eton,” Eugenia said. “I believe your brother can arrange to have you share a bedchamber.”

“‘Marmaduke’?” Otis wrinkled his nose.

“I would bet you a shilling that you and he will be the best of friends by the end of term.”

Ladies don’t make wagers, Ward thought. But he kept his mouth shut.

“It’s not fair that girls can’t go to Eton!” Lizzie exclaimed. She was still clutching Eugenia’s hand, Ward noticed with a mild sense of panic.

He couldn’t have his sister grow fond of his lover. It wasn’t done.

It really wasn’t done.

“Marmaduke has a pet toad named Fred who goes with him everywhere,” Eugenia was telling Otis. “I expect you can’t bring Fred and Jarvis to the classroom, but your pets could wait in your bedchamber.”

“I must teach you both how to swim,” Ward said. “There’s a river that runs by the school, and a boy drowned there during my time.”

From the corner of his eyes, he saw a shiver run through Eugenia. Damn it, he’d forgotten about her husband again.

“Do you know how to swim, Mrs. Snowe?” Lizzie asked, looking up at her.

“I do not,” Eugenia replied, adding faintly, “It’s a useful skill. Many people do not realize how dangerous water sports can be.”

“I shan’t go in the lake,” Lizzie said firmly. “There are dead fish in there, and they might bite me.”

“Pooh!” Otis said. “You think about death all the time. If you don’t learn to swim, you could be dead yourself someday. Did you think of that?”

“I’ll enter the water only if Mrs. Snowe does so with me,” Lizzie said.

“I should prefer not to,” Eugenia said.

“I needn’t either,” Lizzie replied cheerfully.

Ward gave Eugenia a look that aimed to remind her that, as her own experience had taught her, swimming lessons were very important.

“I changed my mind,” she said, with patent reluctance. “I’d be happy to learn to swim.”

“Excellent,” Ward said. “Swimming lessons tomorrow morning. Mrs. Snowe, I think we should forgo the ladies’ teatime. It is the children’s bedtime.”

Lizzie was still clinging to Eugenia’s hand. “I feel angry.”

Eugenia bent over and kissed Lizzie on the cheek. “I have a headache, my dear, but I promise you a tea party tomorrow, and you can teach me more of Middleton’s creative phrases.”

“You know what gave Mrs. Snowe a headache?” Otis demanded. “It was that shouting. I’m lucky not to be deaf.”

Lizzie dropped Eugenia’s hand and poked her brother hard in the ribs. “You are the most—”

Over the clamor, Ward opened the door. “I apologize for my siblings.”

Eugenia smiled at him, and Ward actually found his head bending toward her before he jolted upright again. He wanted that mouth. He wanted to lick inside and see that look she gave him last night, as if she needed him more than her next breath.

“This was one of the more interesting meals of my life,” Eugenia observed.

“We must talk about the new skill you taught my sister.”

Her smile didn’t hitch. “Snowe’s Registry makes a point of being readily available to its clients.”