Frovtunes’ Kiss

by Lisa Manuel

  “Hit me again and I’ll have you arrested, I will.”

  Letty spotted Graham and swung about as if to strike him, too. “He’s been drinking again, Monteith. The little sneak.”

  “I have not. You knocked the glass from my hand before I had the chance.” Freddy peered out at Graham from between the carved newels. “And then she hit me.”

  “Oh, you make me so angry!” Letty waved her fist in the air.

  Graham grabbed her wrist. “That’s not the way to prevent him from drinking, Letty.”

  “Then why don’t we simply drive him back to that horrid place, if he’s so determined to destroy himself.”

  “Will you please hush?” Freddy darted a look up the stairs. “Mother will hear you.”

  “Perhaps it’s time she found out what a miserable little coward her son is.”

  Despite Letty’s sharp words, Graham heard the quiver in her voice, saw the tears gathering in her eyes. He pulled her into his arms. “That’s enough now, Letty. It’s all right. You stopped him this time. Perhaps next time he’ll stop himself.”

  “Oh, Graham, did I actually break his nose?”

  Despite the drama, the hysterics, and the salty tears ruining his coat, a warm sensation filled his chest. Letty had finally called him Graham again. He patted her hair. “Don’t you worry, we Fosters are more resilient than that.”

  “No…no, it is broken.” Freddy glared from over his fingertips. “I’m sure of it.”

  “Let’s have a look.” Moira knelt below him on the bottom step. “Take your hands away.”

  “It hurts.”

  “Yes, I know it hurts, dear.” She pried Freddy’s hands free with the gentle determination Graham had discovered to be uniquely Moira’s. She secured them in one hand—well, Freddy let her, really—while pulling a handkerchief from her reticule with the other. She dabbed carefully at the wounded appendage. As blood seeped through the ivory cotton, she examined her patient. “Let’s see, now…it looks fairly straight. Hmm. Did you always have that bump?”

  Freddy’s eyes ballooned. “What bump?”

  “Only joking.” She grinned. “That perfect Foster nose has prevailed.”

  “Thank goodness.” Letty poked her face out from Graham’s collar. She heaved a breath of relief, the sound drowned out by a sudden squalling from upstairs.

  “That’s Michael.” Moira pushed to her feet.

  “Don’t go.” Graham moved to her side and barred her way with an outstretched arm. “Letty, would you please tend to him?”

  Moira looked puzzled. Letty positively balked. “After such a long nap, he’s sure to be sopping and goodness knows what else.”

  “I’ll just get him, then.” Moira stepped around Freddy and started up. Determined not to let her slip away, Graham took the stairs two at a time until he caught up to her.

  “We need to talk.”

  “Yes, I know, but—”

  “I’ll get the baby.” Using the banister for leverage, Freddy hauled himself to his feet, his free hand pressing Moira’s handkerchief to his nose. “You two lovebirds can have your little talk.”

  Graham didn’t know whether to thank his brother or swipe the back of his insolent head. The next thing he knew, though, Letty was pounding up the stairs in pursuit of her twin.

  “You will not tend to that child, Frederick Foster. Not in your condition.”

  “I told you I hadn’t so much as a sip…”

  Graham held Moira’s hand to his chest and released a sigh. “Pure bedlam, this family. I wouldn’t blame you if you demanded an immediate return to Monteith Hall.”

  Her fingers spread over his shirtfront, her palm pressing warmly against him and filling him with a hope so sharp it knifed his insides.

  “When I do go,” she said, “I’m taking them all with me, if they’ll come. But I won’t leave until you do.” She stepped closer, infinitely close, until her dazzling dark eyes filled his world. “I’ll stay till then.”

  “And what if I don’t leave?” There, he’d said it. Damn his pride, he’d finally said it. The effort left his lungs aching, his heart knocking.

  She took an interminable time in answering, leaving him dangling between fates like a felon on the gibbet. Finally, she said very quietly, “That is a question I cannot answer for you. I will not.”

  No, she was right. He was still hedging, still playing it safe. Ah, the past wounds had left deep scars, sure enough. But just as sure, those wounds would scar his future if he didn’t find his courage. The whole of it, and right now.

  He sucked a draft of air into his lungs and plunged.

  “I’m staying in England, Moira. I’m not returning to Egypt.”

  He hadn’t counted on his announcement raising such a frown, but then one never knew with Moira. “What about your oath? What about that man who threatened to kill you if you didn’t help him hide Egypt’s treasures?”

  Blazing hell, was she going to toss all that honor and obligation nonsense in his face again? So be it. He smoothed his hand through the ebony tresses he’d brought to ruin earlier.

  “Hakim al Faruq will have to understand that I have responsibilities here that preclude my oath to him. My family needs me. I abandoned them once. I won’t do it again.” A little ridge formed above her nose. Her hand started to come away from his chest, but he held it firm. “I’m right to stay, aren’t I?”

  Before she could answer, Shaun’s voice called from the landing above. “Did I just hear you correctly? You’re not going back to Egypt?”

  “That’s right, my friend.”

  Shaun descended the stairs slowly. “But Hakim…”

  “Will have to travel all the way to England if he still wishes to slit my throat.” He grinned when Moira flinched. “Don’t worry, darling, the man’s terrified of water.”

  Shaun stopped on the step above. “Won’t be the same there without you.”

  “Then don’t return.”

  Shaun shrugged. “Might as well. Not much for me here in England, really.”

  “Then there’s something you can do for me.” Graham reached into his coat pocket, waiting until he felt Isis scramble into his hand. “Will you take her back for me? I’m afraid she won’t last the winter here.”

  His friend cringed. “Ask me anything. Anything but that.”

  “But she’ll most likely die here. You don’t want that on your conscience, do you?”

  “Don’t I?” His features contorted. His gaze darted from Isis to Graham to Moira and back to Isis, a perusal concluded with a murmured curse. “God will get you for this, Foster. You secure that crate good and tight.”

  “Will do.”

  “What should I tell Hakim?”

  “Tell him…” Graham met Moira’s expectant gaze and nearly drowned in an upsurge of emotion. “Tell him I stayed for a woman. He’ll understand.”

  Shaun nodded and started back up the stairs.

  “Don’t stay away too long, Mr. Paddington,” Moira called to him. “There’s more here for you than you guess. I shall miss you dreadfully. But I’m not the only one. Do come back. Come back for Letty.”

  The tips of his ears flaming, Shaun stared down at her a long moment before continuing up the stairs.

  “And what of me?” Graham asked when they were alone. He glanced down at Isis, now climbing from his cuff to his shoulder. “Does someone care for me more than I dare hope? And does that person understand even a fraction of how much I love her?”

  “Do you, indeed?” she replied brusquely, with a note of indifference that sent his confidence tumbling. “A moment ago you told me you were staying for your family. Now you claim you’re staying for me. Which is it, Mr. Foster? Which of us finally tamed the blackguard?”

  “Now see here, you little tease.” He sank to the steps and drew her down beside him. Their shoulders and thighs pressed, their faces so close the warmth of her cheek imbued his. “It’s both. I’m staying for you and my family, but we both know deuced well, you
alone tamed me. Tamed and inflamed me.”

  He brought his mouth against the corner of hers. “Moira, Moira, whose name forms a kiss on my lips each time I say it. What do you say? Will you have me? Or must I abduct you and force you to marry me?”

  “Always the cavalier.” She leaned a little away, angling disapproval from the slant of her brow. But laughter danced in her eyes and along the curve of her lips. “No one has tamed you in the least. And no one ever will.”

  “Yes, well, if you’ll remember, my stubborn darling, this cavalier has made love to you, and at your own prompting, I might add. I will not be responsible for any more illegitimate Fosters running about.”

  She looked thoroughly perplexed. “What about the sheath?”

  “That? Not completely reliable. Far from it, in fact. Honestly, I wouldn’t be at all surprised if there was already another little Foster on the way.”

  Scandal sparked in her eyes. He closed his hand around hers where it lay against her thigh. Isis chose that moment to scoot down to his wrist and leap onto Moira’s arm. “Look, even Isis believes we belong together. If you continue to resist, I’m afraid I shall be forced to use my dimples to persuade you.”

  “Hmph.”

  “You like your blackguards with dimples, don’t you, Moira?”

  “I’ve never heard such nonsense.”

  “And let’s not forget my perfect Foster nose.”

  “Take it out of the air this instant.”

  “Yes, Moira.”

  “And kiss me, you adorable blackguard.”

  “With pleasure, my darling, dazzling Moira.”