Mistress of Scandal (Greentree Sisters 3)

Amy’s lips twitched at his lack of tact, but she answered him with her usual unruffled calm. “Helen has little enough room as it is, and you know that Toby gambles away her housekeeping. How would she feed us? Whereas I know that you, William, as head of the family, will always make us welcome. It is your duty, and you are famous for your diligence to duty.” She gave him a sweet smile. “It is good to see you, brother.”

His mouth opened and closed again. Francesca bit her lip to stop herself from laughing aloud, but perhaps she made a sound because her uncle fixed her with a disapproving, beetle-browed stare, before shifting his attention back to his sister.

“Is he here?”

“If by ‘he’ you mean my husband, then no, he is not.”

“Well, at least you had the sense to leave him in Yorkshire where he belongs.”

Amy’s back went rigid and her eyes lost their warmth. “William, if you continue to speak of my husband in that rude manner, then I’m afraid we will have a serious falling out. And you do not want to fall out with me, you really don’t. Remember, I am not Helen, and you cannot frighten me.”

He glared at her a moment more, while she returned his look, and then, to Francesca’s astonishment, he grinned. “You always were a headstrong girl, Amy,” he said admiringly. “You refused to listen to me once before and went ahead and married Sir Henry Greentree.”

“And very happy I was, too,” Amy replied mildly. She sighed and shook her head at him. “William, must we fight like children? I make my own decisions, you know that…or you should by now. Helen has nothing to do with it. To make her miserable just t

o punish me is unforgivable, especially when she depends upon you so.”

With a shrug he sat down and gulped his glass of wine. “Helen is weak,” he pronounced impatiently. “She always was.”

“Marrying Toby hasn’t helped her state of mind.”

“Toby,” he snorted in disgust. “Please, let’s not talk of that fat wastrel. Last time I saw him he was laced so tightly into his corset, I thought his eyes might pop out. I wish they would—I would pay to see it.” He flung himself back in his chair and observed them a moment in silence. “Did you have a pleasant journey?”

“Yes, thank you. The first-class compartment on the train was extremely comfortable.”

“Smelly, noisy things. Give me a horse any day.”

“You’re being old-fashioned, William. One must be progressive.”

“Progressive? What’s progressive about it? I prefer as little progress as possible when it comes to my life. As you can see, I haven’t rushed to have gas lighting in this house—candles were good enough for our father and they’re good enough for me!”

“I wonder if Mrs. March agrees with you, William?”

“Why should I care what she thinks?” he demanded belligerently. “She’s my housekeeper. She takes her orders from me.”

“She seems most efficient, William.”

“She was recommended by one of my acquaintances.” He sounded smug, as if he’d gotten himself a bargain.

At that moment the servants brought the meal in, and conversation waned. It wasn’t until the apple pie that it resumed.

“Did you enjoy your stay in Oxford, William?”

“It was well enough. Always glad to get home, though.” He eyed his bowl greedily, reaching for the cream jug.

“You must get lonely, here on your own? I always thought you’d marry and have an heir, to carry on the Tremaine name.”

This time Francesca truly believed William was about to have an apoplexy. His face went the color of beetroot, and his hand was shaking so much, he spilled the cream on the tablecloth. “Good God, is there no end to your interfering, woman!”

“William, really, I was only—”

“I have no intention of saddling myself with a wife. I only have to cast a look at the choices my sisters have made to strengthen my resolve never to wed.”

“I didn’t know you felt like that,” Amy said, flustered.

“Well, I do,” William retorted, his eyes flashing. “I won’t have you interfering in my life. I cannot abide interference.”

“William, you’re behaving like a child. I didn’t mean to interfere. Even though you seem to think it your right to interfere with Helen and me.”