Kenilworth raised a brow at Leo. “Your mother’s been looking for you as well.”
Of course she was. “She can look to her heart’s content. Where did you last see her?”
“In Portugal,” Lady Kenilworth replied. “Why are you avoiding her?”
“She keeps trying to introduce me to young ladies.” The words were out before he’d thought about them.
“You must know that Chandos does not wish to wed,” Theo said nonchalantly as she studied a little statue of a goddess with three breasts.
Her sister gave him a look that clearly asked, now what are you going to do?
“What do you think she does with three of them?” Theo mused.
Leo shrugged. “Maybe she always has twins or three babies.”
“No.” She shook her head. “If she wanted to feed twins by herself, she would need four breasts.”
Kenilworth turned his back to them, his shoulders shaking.
His wife gave him a disgruntled look. “They are probably meant as symbols. When you see Lady Thornhill, you should ask her.”
“Good God!” Kenilworth blurted out. “Not in company. Write her a note.”
Theo stared at him as if he’d lost his mind. “I am quite up to snuff enough to know not to say something like that in public. Thank you very much.”
Behind them someone coughed. “Excuse me, but I couldn’t help overhearing. She is the goddess Meenakshi. She was a Hindu warrior goddess. It was said that the third … er … breast would disappear when she met a man worthy to be her husband.”
“Thank you.” Theo beamed. “Now my brother-in-law does not have to worry about me saying something embarrassing in public.”
The gentleman bowed. “I am happy to be of help.” He glanced at his watch. “I must go. I hope you enjoy the rest of your visit.”
“Thank you,” Theo said. “It has been fascinating.”
“Please tell my aunt. She is always a bit concerned about what the young ladies think.”
He bowed again and left the room.
“That was strange,” Lady Kenilworth said. “I wonder why he did not introduce himself.”
Leo had no answer for that but decided to venture a thought. “Shy?”
“Or embarrassed that he was explaining a statue with three breasts to a young lady,” Kenilworth said.
Theo nodded. “That is much more likely. If he was shy, he would not have said anything.”
She was right. As usual. Leo looked at her sister. “Why were you looking for us?”
“To tell you that we will take you home. Grace received a message and had to leave.”
Theo glanced at him. “Have we seen everything?”
That was a good question. “I have no idea.” He looked at Kenilworth. “We have been all around the Mediterranean, Egypt, China, Japan, and here.”
“And been fed food and drink from each area,” Theo added.
“Russia,” Lady Kenilworth said. “That was my least favorite. There is a great deal of gold and not much else.”
“And dozens of young ladies,” Kenilworth whispered to Leo.
