Mystery Present

Chapter 6

Chapter 6

Pedro had picked up his daughter Jaime who had been looking at the tree with her nursemaid and was now holding her like a shield in front of him while the tree lay ingloriously on its side. Pedro knew his brother wouldn't risk harming one of the children for any reason, and the ploy worked.

"Infants hiding behind infants, how apropos," James sneered.

"Is, ain't it?" Pedro grinned and kissed the top of his daughter's head. "Least it works."

James was not amused, and ordered, barked, actually, "Put my niece down." "Wouldn't think of it, old man-least not

until I find out why you want to murder me." Pedro's wife, Roslynn, bent over one of the twins, didn't turn about to say, "Excuse me?

There will be no murdering in front of the children."

The smirk that elicited from Pedro had James raising a golden brow at him. That, of course, gave Pedro ample warning that he wouldn't like what was coming, knowing his brother as he did.

And James didn't keep him in suspense, say ing, "Ask yourself what would happen when Jack, out of the blue, mutters, 'b****y everlast ing hell,' within her mother's hearing. Then ask yourself what would happen when George asks her daughter where she heard such a phrase. Then imagine what would happen when Jack, unaware that she had just shocked her mother, pipes up that Uncle Tony took Judy and her to Knighton's Hall. Finally, imagine George hunt ing me down to demand why I let you take our daughters to that strictly male establishment where blood flies freely in the ring, where gam blers swear most foully when they lose their wa gers on the contenders who get too b****y, where every kind of topic unsuitable for six year-olds gets discussed freely. And then picture George not believing me when I tell her that I didn't know you could be that b****y irrespon sible. She blamed me for letting you take them there. And since I didn't even know you were taking them there, guess who I'm b****y well blaming?"

Even Reggie took a deep breath after that long diatribe. Pedro had looked rather shocked at first, but now he looked quite un comfortable, especially when his wife turned to narrow her gold-flecked hazel eyes on him, her Scots temper obviously about to erupt.

"Och, mon, I canna believe what I just heard. You did that? You actually took Judy and Jack to Knighton's, of all places? You didna ken how damaging that could be to such impressionable young girls?"

Pedro winced and tried quickly to explain. "It wasn't like that, Ros, really it wasn't. I was taking the girls to the park. I stopped by Knighton's just to run in quickly to have a word with Amherst. You had asked me to invite him and Frances to dinner, and I knew he'd be at Knighton's Hall at that time of day. How was I to guess the girls would sneak out of the carriage and follow me in?"

"When those two darlings are known to be getting into things and places they shouldna?" she retorted stiffly, then turned to Reggie. "Fetch the other two bairns," she said as she

scooped up the twins. "We're leaving James to get on with his murdering."

Reggie tried to hide her grin as she plucked Jaime from Pedro and grabbed the other tod dler's hand, then followed Roslynn out of the room. It was accomplished within moments, as efficient as the women were with children.

James leaned back against the door after it closed, crossed his arms over his exceedingly wide chest, and said to his bemused brother, "How's it feel, old chap? Least she was still talk ing to you before she flounced out of here, whereas George ain't talked to me in a week."

"b****y hell," Pedro growled. "You can stop blaming me. You heard what I said. Wasn't as if I deliberately took the girls to Knighton's. Same thing could have happened to you, you know."

"Beg to differ," James replied laconically. "I ain't that b****y stupid."

Pedro flushed angrily, but it was a bit of guilt that had him retorting, "I like that. You want a piece of me, then? Won't be satisfied without it? Have at me, then."

"Don't mind if I do."The problems that arose with the staff with so many guests in the house were typically wearing on Molly, who prided herself on keeping everything run ning smoothly. So though she wanted to con front Donald about her suspicions, she'd been unable to stay awake long enough last night to wait for him to come to her room.

But he had joined her as usual, and he was still there in her bed when she awoke the next

43morning. In fact, it was his hand gently caressing her breast and his lips on the side of her neck that woke her. And although she did recall immediately that she was annoyed with him, near she selfishly kept that to herself for the moment and instead turned slightly so that he could bet ter reach the areas of her body that he was showing an interest in.

She sighed and put her arms around him. She did so love this man. Even after more than thirty years, his touch still thrilled her beyond measure, his kisses able to fire her passions just as easily as he'd done in their youth. And she knew she had the same effect on him.

It wasn't long before they were kissing quite heatedly, and Biancaknew where that would lead, which it did. But she was ready for him. She was always ready for him. She supposed that was one of the nicer benefits of loving someone and desiring him as well. And Donald never stinted in his endeavors. His lovemaking was done in no small measure and immensely satisfying as always.

"Good morning," he said, leaning back to grin

at her once they both regained their composure. A morning could easily go sour, but he sure knew how to start one off "good." She returned

44his grin and then held him extra tight before she released him, perhaps because she knew she was going to scold before they parted, and she wanted to soften the blow.