“And because she realizes that the rest of us shall never marry either.” Lilly folded her arms and leaned against the doorway. “Clem marrying was a shock to us all.”
Violet found herself unable to hold back a wistful sight. “How happy they seem, though.”
Lilly wrinkled her nose. “Sickeningly so sometimes. I’m looking forward to them staying for Christmas, but I hope they do not keep looking at each other all lovingly.”
“How else are they meant to look at each other?”
Her sister shrugged and lifted both palms. “Well, you are not the only one to be put to work. I have to take some of the horses out. Not only are we one sister down but one of the stable hands isn’t well.”
Violet lifted her gaze to the ceiling. “That’s not work for you.”
Lily grinned. “Yes, but I am the only sister able to ride some of those wild beasts our father owns.”
Violet tried to picture herself jumping on their father’s latest acquisition and taking him out to release some energy and failed. “Guess I’m cleaning out the bird cage.”
“Have fun and watch out for Sir Bitesalot.” Her sister gave a little wave and darted away.
Peering at the canary, she wagged a finger at it. “No bites today please, sir. I’m doing you a favor.” She lifted the first of the whicker cages and eased open the door then reached inside for the canary. Surely it was better to move him first before he figured out what was happening?
As she reached tentatively for the canary, he nipped, and she tore her hand away just before he made contact with her finger. Her sudden movement startled the bird, and he shot out of the open door of the cage, flying straight up to perch on the chandelier. Two other birds followed suit before she was able to shut the cage completely.
Eyeing the three birds as they peered down at her with far too much smugness for her liking, Violet ran a hand over her face. “Wonderful.”
“I think you and I have different definitions of wonderful.”
Violet looked to the doorway to see Duke leaning against the doorframe.
“Shut the door. Quickly!”
He stepped into the room and shut it then glanced up. “I don’t think they have any intention of going anywhere.”
“Father will kill me if I lose any of them.”
“I think that unlikely. Your father is far too soft on all of you.”
Violet made a face. “Are you a parenting expert now?”
“No. And I’m not a bird expert either. So, I shall leave—”
Violet dashed forward and grabbed his arm. “Oh no. You are not going anywhere. We are in this together now.”
∞∞∞
Violet plucked a yellow feather off Duke’s shoulder with a giggle.
“You realize I only came to wish you a Merry Christmas before I travel North.”
Her grin widened. A strange sensation gathered in his chest. He spent every Christmas with his father without fail but this year he didn’t much feel like leaving Bath, no matter how much he looked forward to seeing his father.
He didn’t much feel like leavingheractually.
He shook his head. For a purportedly clever man, he could be rather dense at times. He’d see her in the New Year and had he not sworn to revert back to thinking of her as just an excellent friend?
Why then was there a temptation to give her a farewell kiss?
“You would never abandon a friend in need, Duke.”
He sighed, swept a hand over one shoulder then the other, removing any further evidence of his battle with the birds, that currently chirped merrily in their cage as though they had not just led them on a merry chase.