Thomas nodded. “She played along directly.”
Darcy found it difficult to conceal his amusement at this juncture.
The twins watched him closely.
“We do not like Mr. Wilson,” Toby declared.
“Not at all,” Thomas added.
“He wants to take Lizzy away.”
Darcy stilled.
The words should not have affected him.
They did.
“He has known her scarcely two days.”
“That is enough,” Toby insisted darkly.
Darcy almost asked how two eight-year-old boys possessed such certainty regarding courtship intentions before remembering the twins approached most subjects with complete confidence regardless of actual understanding.
Still—
The idea lodged unpleasantly in his thoughts all the same.
“What sort of man is he?” Darcy asked, aiming for casualness and failing somewhat.
Thomas answered first this time.
“He talks too much.”
“And too loudly,” Toby added.
“He keeps staring at Lizzy.”
“And asking her questions.”
Darcy found himself irrationally irritated already.
“Perhaps he merely wishes acquaintance with his family.”
The twins exchanged matching looks of deep skepticism.
“That is not how men look at ladies when they merely wish acquaintance,” Thomas informed him.
Darcy stared.
Toby nodded gravely. “We know things.”
“I see.”
The twins moved closer.
“Did you apologize properly?” Toby demanded suddenly.
Darcy started. “I beg your pardon?”
