CHAPTER 4
Miles Warner hurried along the cobbled steps, he was late to pick up his sister, Hazel. The new Lady Shore was his only sibling. Blowing out a breath of frustration, Miles cursed his new brother in law for the umpteenth time in the past year.
At one point Miles and Lord Benjamin Shore had been rather good friends. But that was before Miles had discovered that Benjamin had practically moved into their London townhouse with his innocent younger sister.
Miles and Hazel’s parents, the Marquess and Marchioness, had been out of the country touring some relics. And Miles had been under the impression that Hazel was being properly chaperoned while enjoying the marriage mart.
In actuality, Hazel had sacked most of the staff, including her chaperone. Miles knew that in a sense he owed Benjamin for stepping in to take care of Hazel. Clearly, she needed better supervision, but that only irritated him all the more.
When Benjamin had tried to marry Hazel, Miles refused to give his consent. He wanted to make sure that they really suited one another. He wasn’t going to give his sister to just anyone.
What Miles found, was that Hazel was not only in love with Lord Shore, but that he was deeply in love with her as well. Eventually, he had given in and they had wed. It had been more than a year now, and his sister had truly thrived in his care.
Miles would have returned to the country, but his parents had decided to return from their travels and took up residency in their country estate. Miles loved his parents—from a distance.
His mother was all too concerned about his unmarried state. With Hazel, no longer in residence in the London townhome, Miles had found his new residence. The problem was that there were too many match making mommas and desperate spinsters.
Miles did not wish to marry, he didn’t even really like people all that well. He did better with numbers and algorithms that were always predictable and did just what you asked of them.
People were completely opposite of this and in truth, Miles didn’t care to deal with them. Spending all those years in the country had made him into something of a recluse. Only speaking when absolutely necessary and having plenty of time to study and work on the things that interested him.
Living in the city meant social functions and family obligations. And to compound matters, his godmother had written that she was coming to town for an undisclosed amount of time.
Lady Genevieve was one of his best correspondents, and he adored his godmother—in Wales. Where he could write when he felt like discussing something, and ignore questions that he did not wish to answer.
Now that the older woman had come into town, Miles would be required to pay his respects. All of this had nothing to do with his brother in law, Benjamin. However, Miles blamed him just the same. Somehow it all had to be his fault.
On this particular morning, Miles had awoken with a blinding headache. Normally he would have stayed abed, but he had convinced Hazel to join him in calling on his godmother.
From there things only went downhill, he had burned his tongue on the sausages. And then he had dropped his tea, resulting in a full change of clothing, hence, the reason he was late.
He had opted to walk to his sisters, thinking that with his luck a carriage would be begging for trouble. And trouble was what Miles desperately wanted to avoid.
Finally arriving at the Shore home, he walked up the steps and knocked.
Robinson, Shore’s faithful butler opened the door, “Your Lordship, Lady Shore is awaiting you in the library. If you would allow me to escort you?”
Miles nodded and followed the servant down the hallway and to the left.
“Miles!” Hazel jumped up at the site of him and rushed over to take his two outstretched hands.
Miles leaned down and kissed her cheek, “You are looking more beautiful every time I see you, Hazy. I trust that Shore is behaving himself?”
Hazel shared the same inky black hair and bright blue eyes as her older brother.
“He is perfection,” Hazel grinned. “And how are you, Miles? I worried when you were late, that isn’t like you.”
Miles grimaced, “I have had a run of rotten luck this morning and after inadvertently dumping all of the contents of my tea cup upon me. I had to go and change my apparel.”
Hazel tried to stifle a snort of laughter, but it escaped just the same.
Miles’ lips twitched, “Go ahead and laugh, Runt. You would have enjoyed it tremendously.”
Hazel’s eyes danced, “You know me too well.”
“I should, I’ve been around since birth, brothers are notorious that way.”
“I am lucky to have such a brother,” Hazel smiled, “Should we be off then? Lady Genevieve will be expecting you by now.”
“We shall,” Miles confirmed and helped Hazel with her shawl. The siblings continued to speak about inconsequential things as they walked the few blocks to the home that Lady Genevieve had rented for the season.
“Have you still no idea why she has come to town?” Hazel asked as they started up the steps.
“I am completely in the dark. I was under the impression that she found nothing amusing about the season. As to what has brought her here, I haven’t the foggiest.”
The door was opened by an older butler and they were ushered into the hallway. From here, they could hear voices. The lovely dulcet tones that Lady Genevieve employed and that of a younger woman.
“Did she bring someone with her?” Hazel whispered to Miles.
“She hasn’t any children, perhaps another one of her godchildren?”
Suddenly a peal of laughter rang from the parlor. It was a laugh that Miles hadn’t heard in quite some time. Surely, he was mistaken, he thought. This day couldn’t possibly be that terrible.