Calypso Magic (Magic Trilogy 2)

"Lyonel?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you really think of me as a sister?"

That brought him up short. "I wouldn't know. I don't have a sister. That is, I did have a sister, but she died when she was just a child."

"You don't still feel guilty, do you?"

"Yes. How can I not feel guilty?"

"Your guilt doesn't show in your insults."

"I am made of stern stuff, Diana. Sleep now."

Oddly enough, she was asleep within ten minutes.

As for Lyonel, he kicked a chair in the drawing room. "You want me to what?" he said to Lucia, his eye on the hapless chair that now lay on its side.

9

Better to trip with the feet than with the tongue.

—ZENO OF CITIUM

"I said," Lucia repeated, wondering at the cause of Lyonel's sudden loss of control, "that as soon as Diana is fit, we will go to your estate in Yorkshire. You should take care, my chair and your foot are most valuable."

"That is absurd," he said.

"Really, Lyonel, your clumsiness isn't at all absurd. I have never seen you clumsy before. As for my chair, it belonged to my grandmother and ---"

"It's ugly and I wasn't clumsy. I kicked it. What is absurd is your idea of using me as Diana's nursemaid at my estate. If the chit needs the country air, I will escort the both of you to your estate in Yorkshire. You know very well, Lucia, what everyone would say if we went to Ashton Hall." He paused a moment when she said nothing, then continued, "Ah, you are really up to it this time, are you not? The parson's mousetrap for me, isn't that right? I am sorry not to oblige you, Lucia. I have no intention of marryinganyone."

"Why did you thrash Diana?"

"Because she was eavesdropping and I caught her at it. Her upbringing leaves much to be desired." His eyebrows lowered. "So she told you, did she?"

"No," Lucia said mildly, "I eavesdropped."

He raised his eyes upward. "The Almighty save me from meddlesome women."

"What did she hear? Whom were you with?"

As there was no reply from upward, Lyon turned his eyes toward Lucia. "I was giving my ultimatums to Charlotte, if you would know the truth. Dear Diana got quite an earful."

"Ah."

"Yes, ah," said Lyon. "Is there anything else you would like to know? I would spare you the indignity of eavesdropping in the future."

"Actually, yes. I have wondered why Charlotte played you false before she was safely married to you."

"I asked her that. She just gave me a look and said she'd been stupid."

"Interesting. You know, it is most odd," said Lucia thoughtfully after a moment. Lyon waited impatiently, knowing he wouldn't like what she was thin

king. "I have no idea what Diana wants to do with her life."

That was unexpected, but Lyon had learned to be wary when Lucia slid so easily from one subject to the next. He shrugged. "She is a young lady, ripe for marriage. Why should she want anything differently than most ladies want? A husband, a family. Isn't that why her father sent her to London? To find a husband?"