Lucifer laughed; the sound was like a warm hand sliding comfortingly down her back, an invitation to relax. Phyllida breathed deeply-the scent of night stock wreathed around them. "He hasn't gone away."
"No."
They knew that because, just that morning, Dodswell had reported that someone had tried to force the dining room window, the one that used to have a faulty latch. They'd all gone to look, even Sweetie. There'd been scrapes on the window frame and gouges in the earth where the man's heels had dug in, but no clear footprints.
Phyllida exhaled, long and slow. "It's been a week."
"Only a week-Thompson said it might take two." Lucifer drew her closer and turned down another path. "Did you read Honoria's missive?"
The rest of the packet that had come from the duke had proved to be a long letter from the duchess to her. Lucifer had remembered to give it to her after they'd discovered the attempted break-in. Given what Honoria had written, she had to wonder if he would otherwise have "remembered" it at all.
It had certainly distracted her. Honoria had opened by saying that she realized she might be a trifle precipitate in welcoming her to the family, but if they were so unwise as to live their lives according to their menfolk's whims… from there, the letter had got only more interesting. Phyllida smiled. "You have a fascinating family."
"A big one, certainly, especially
if you add all the connections."
"You mentioned a brother-Gabriel."
"He's a year older than me." Lucifer glanced at her as they strolled. "He got married a few weeks ago-the day before I arrived here."
"The day before?"
"Hmm. Gabriel and Alathea-we used to be a threesome when we were young. When they married and left London, I felt like they'd gone off on some adventure and left me behind. Instead, here I am, with you, neck-deep in adventure." He glanced at her again. "Heart-deep in something more."
She wasn't yet ready to inquire into that last statement. "Do you have other brothers and sisters?"
"Three sisters-they're half my age. Heather, Eliza, and Angelica. Gabriel is harboring fond hopes that Alathea will succeed in teaching them not to giggle."
Phyllida smiled. "They'll grow out of it."
"Hmm-that's not something we like to envisage. We don't, as a rule, deal well with our sisters growing up."
Alerted by his tone, she studied his face. "Now who are you thinking of?"
He looked at her, then grimaced. "Two of our cousins-the twins. Due to a sad accident some years ago, they haven't any older brother to watch over them, so we all do. Did."
"We?"
He slanted her a glance. "Didn't Honoria mention the Bar Cynster?"
Phyllida smiled and looked ahead. "She did, as a matter of fact. Very interesting, I found it."
Lucifer snorted. "Don't read too much into it-those days are gone."
"Really?"
"Yes-really!" He frowned. "Though I'm not at all happy about the twins."
"According to Honoria, the twins are quite capable of managing their own lives, and if you mention interfering, I'm to remind you of that fact."
"With all due respect, Honoria is a duchess, and Devil's her duke. She's never set foot in the ton without him metaphorically if not physically at her elbow. Not quite the same as swanning through the ballrooms totally unprotected."
"I'm to tell you your cousins are sensible young ladies and they'll manage perfectly well."
"I know-but I don't have to like it."
His disgusted tone very nearly had her laughing. She glanced at him. "What are you going to be like with your own daughters?"