Oh, Cherry Ripe

“Frederick!” His lordship’s tone boded ill.

“Good morning … see you later, Sky. Mean to get some sleep and be down for lunch.” Freddy’s attitude didn’t extend into his eyes, and Cherry noted his trepidation with pity.

His lordship controlled his temper and said in a hard voice, “Really, is that what you mean to do? Well, I don’t mean to cast a rub in your plans, but I fear I must. Come with me to the library.”

Freddy hung his head and did not look towards either of the twins or Miss Cherry as he followed his lordship into the library.

“Come on then,” Cherry said, trying to bolster the twins. “Let’s go in and nibble at something until they are done and can join us.”

“He is in for it, isn’t he?” Felix asked sadly.

“Yes, and though we three know he quite deserves a dressing down, I am certain you feel as badly about it as I do,” Cherry said and touched Felix’s shoulder.

“Aye … but Freddy should have been with us,” Felix returned. “I think it is time for him to start behaving.”

Cherry laughed and hugged him. “Come on … for Francine is about to steal all the custard tarts!”

* * *

The twins and Cherry sat patiently for as long as they could, with Cherry sipping at her coffee and the twins fidgeting, as she had allowed them only one tart each.

“Perhaps this is not the time to ask his lordship if I can take you to visit the Wilsons,” Cherry said on a heavy sigh.

“Aw,” Felix started.

“Hmmm,” Francine murmured in agreement, “he would only say no. Didn’t you see his face, Felix? He is so angry.”

“Awww,” was all the comment Felix meant to make on the subject.

“We could spend the morning doing your lessons and visit the Wilsons perhaps in the afternoon?” Cherry suggested.

His lordship arrived with Freddy in tow, and breakfast was served. Somber, in fact, was an understatement.

Cherry tried a few times to enliven the atmosphere but quickly caved when she received nothing but grunts. She played with her eggs but ate very little. She had her own problems looming as well as theirs.

“Is there something amiss with your meal, Miss Cherry?” His lordship’s brow was up, but he looked deep into her eyes with his own, and the soft caress he gave her with those dark blues made her heart actually skip.

“The coffee is lovely and eggs, wonderful, thank you.”

“Humph,” his lordship returned. “You don’t eat enough, and I have noticed that you have taken off too much weight since you first arrived at Bromley, and you were thin then.”

“I eat quite enough, thank you,” Cherry replied, puzzled at his concern.

He grimaced but allowed the subject to drop. Since the twins had finished their meals and were fidgeting to be off, she lowered her lashes and asked his lordship softly, “May I take the twins and retire to the schoolroom?”

He nodded, allowed Francine to bear-hug him and kiss him soundly on his cheek, and smiled warmly at Felix. Then he and Freddy stood up as Cherry stood to take her charges and escape.

Freddy did not, however, sit back down, and Cherry heard him say as she left the room, “Must I also request permission to be excused, my lord brother?”

Oh—this is so awful, she thought as sh

e hurried after the twins.

* * *

“You are a man, are you not? You decide what you must and must not do, what is right, and what is not. Only be ready to pay the consequences for the wrong choices,” his lordship said quietly.

Freddy couldn’t reply to this, so he turned and strode from the room, and though he dearly wanted to slam the door at his back, he restrained himself. At the top of the stairs, he saw Cherry.