Vexing the Viscount

“Oh!”

He laughed as she ran out of the room to her bedchamber. Hearing her rustling about in her room, he rang for Wilson, but when his valet entered the room, so did Nelson.

“Good morning, my lord,” Nelson said as Wilson said the same. “You have a caller at this odd hour and one of them seems most upset.”

“Ah, the Earl and Countess of Hartsfield,” Braden said and then smiled at Nelson’s gaped mouth.

“How did you know that?” he asked.

“Miss Featherstone heard them in the hall. She informed me of their arrival and her sister’s state of angst.”

Nelson leaned in closer. “She is far from angst. The woman is livid, my lord. I have sent in tea and biscuits, but that won’t hold her for long. I’m quite surprised she hasn’t stormed upstairs.”

“I’m sure Hart would prevent that as best he could.”

“I do hope so, my lord.”

He would love to get Hart alone before meeting Tia’s sister, but Nelson was most likely correct that she would storm upstairs. “Tell them we will both be down presently.”

“Very good, my lord,” Nelson replied before turning and leaving the room.

Braden dressed quickly and then knocked on Tia’s door. Hearing her admit him, Braden slipped into the room and waited as Mrs. Abbott dressed her hair.

“We are almost done, Middleton,” she said. “I don’t suppose they have decided to leave.”

He chuckled. “No, we will have to face them.”

“Stop fretting, Miss Featherstone,” Mrs. Abbott reprimanded. “We all have to pay the piper for our actions.”

“You are not helping, Mrs. Abbott,” Tia said.

“I know,” the housekeeper replied with a wink to Braden. “You are dressed. Now go face your sister.”

“Come along, Miss Featherstone,” Braden said, holding out his arm to her.

She took it slowly. Looking up at him with her big brown eyes, he felt a pang of pity for what she must be going through.

“Thank you for going in with me,” she whispered.

“Stop fretting. It will be all right.” He squeezed her hand.

They walked down stairs to the salon. Entering the room, Tia halted at the threshold for a long moment and stared at her sister. She broke away from him and ran into her sister’s arms.

“Oh, Mia!” she cried. “I really am so happy to see you.” She pulled back and stared at her sister. “I sent you a letter a week ago. Did you get it?”

“We were in Suffolk,” she said slowly. “Now, what exactly is going on here? Mother instructed Middleton to bring you back as soon as he’d found you. He left six weeks ago.”

“Yes, but he didn’t find me for—” Tia glanced back at him—“was it a fortnight?”

“Yes.” Braden finally moved to Hart and shook his hand. “Good to see you and congratulations, Hart.”

“Thank you.”

Hart moved closer. “This may get nasty before they are through.”

“I realize that. What should we do?”

“Stand by and be ready to separate them if necessary.”