Mystery Present

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

mood, because he knew he wouldn't be doing any kissing under the festive greenery this year himself, not with his wife refusing to come to Haverston with him because of her sour mood. b****y hell. He would get this settled between them, one way or another. Taking his frustration with the situation out on Pedro hadn't helped-well, perhaps it had a little.

Warren, still staring at the splendid black eye and several cuts on his face, remarked, "Hate to see what the other fellow looks like," which James supposed was a compliment of sorts, since Warren had personal experience of his fists from numerous occasions himself.

"Like to congratulate the other fellow my self," Nicholas said with a smirk, which got him a kick under the table from his wife.

James nodded to Reggie. "Appreciate it, m'dear. My feet wouldn't reach." To which she blushed that her kick had been

noticed. And Nicholas, still wincing, managed a scowl, which turned out rather comical looking, considering the two expressions didn't mix all that well.

"Is Uncle Tony still among the living?" Amy asked, probably because neither James or his brother had returned back downstairs last night.

"Give me a few more days to figure that out, puss, 'cause I b****y well ain't sure just now," Pedro said as he came slowly into the room, an arm tucked to his side as if he were pro tecting some broken ribs.

A melodramatic groan escaped as he took the seat across from his brother. James rolled his eyes hearing it.

"Give over, you a*s," he sneered. "Your wife ain't here to witness your theatrics."

"She's not?" Pedro glanced down the table, then made a moue and sat back in his chair minus any groaning this time. However, he did complain to James, "You did break my ribs, you know."

"Devil I did, though I'll admit I considered it. And by the by, the option is still open."

Pedro glared at him. "We're too b****y old to be beating on each other."

"Speak for yourself, old man. One is never too old for a spot of exercise."

"Ah, so that's what we were doing?" An thony shot back dryly, as he gently fingered his own black eye. "Exercising, was it?"

James raised a brow. "And that's not what you do weekly at Knighton's Hall? But I under stand your confusion in the matter, since you're used to doling out the damage, rather than re ceiving any. Tends to give one a skewed per spective. Glad to have cleared that up for you."

It was at that point that Donald walked in, took one look at his two younger brothers' battered faces, and remarked, "Good God, and at this time of the year, no less? I'll see you both in my study."

That Donald said it in that not-to-be-disobeyed tone that he was renowned for, and promptly exited the room again, left little doubt, in James and Pedro's mind at least, that they were to follow immediately. James rose without expres sion and came around the table.

Pedro, however, huffed in annoyance, "Called on the carpet at our age? I b****y well don't believe it. And I won't forget who insti gated"

"Oh, put a lid on it, puppy," James said as he dragged Pedro out of the room with him. "It's been so long since we've had the pleasure of seeing Donald rant and rave, I'm looking for ward to this myself."

"You would," Pedro replied in disgust. "You always did enjoy provoking his rages."

James grinned unrepentantly. "I did, didn't I?

Well, what can I say? The elder is just so amus ing when he flies through the roof."

"Well, then, let's make sure all his flying is directed at you first, shall we?" Pedro re torted, and opening the door to Donald's study, began to immediately place blame where it was due. "Donald, old man, I tried to calm this great hulking bull down last night, indeed I did, but he was having none of it. Blames me-"

"Great hulking bull?" James interrupted, one golden brow raised sharply.

"-because George ain't talking to him," An thony continued without pause. "And now he's got me in the same b****y boat, because Ros lynn ain't said a word to me since."

"Great hulking bull?" James repeated.

Pedro glanced at him and smirked, "The shoe fits, believe me."

Donald, standing stiffly behind his desk, snapped at them both, "Enough! I'll hear the whys and wherefores now, if you please."

James smiled. "Yes, you did leave out the best

part, Tony."

Pedro sighed and told his elder brother, "It was the worse b****y luck, Donald, indeed it was, and could have happened to any one of us, truth be told. Jack and Judy managed to sneak if into Knighton's Hall while I wasn't looking, and just because I had the care of them that day, I am being blamed because the little darlings came away with a phrase or two that don't be long in their young vocabularies."

"That's dressing it up a bit too nicely," James interjected. "Let's not forget to mention that George didn't blame you a'tall, that she instead blames me, as if I could possibly have known you could be so witless as to take the girls any where near-"

"I'll fix things up with George soon as she gets here," Pedro mumbled. "You pend upon it." may de

"Oh, I know you will, but you'll have to hie yourself back to London to do so, since she ain't coming here. Didn't want to inflict her dour mood on the festivities, so decided it would be best to absent herself."

Pedro looked appalled now and com plained, "You didn't say she was that mad."

"Didn't I? Think you're wearing that black eye just because she's a mite annoyed?"

"That will do," Donald said sternly. "This en tire situation is intolerable. And frankly, I find it beyond amazing that you have both utterly lost your finesse in dealing with women since you married.'