“Why don’t we talk about something else?” Eugenie suggested, her voice bright. “We could discuss the weather.”
Lady Elsbeth made a face. “Please, no.”
Eugenie laughed as she leaned back. “All right. No discussionon the weather,” she said. “How about I regale you with a story about Niles? I have plenty.”
Niles groaned in mock protest. “Why does the story have to be about me?”
“Because your stories are far more entertaining.”
“More so than when you mistook a badger for a cat?” Niles asked with mirth in his voice.
Eugenie waved a hand dismissively. “It was an honest mistake.”
“And yet, I have never heard of another person making that mistake,” Niles said.
“But I learned from my mistakes, and I have never tried to bring home a badger again,” Eugenie responded.
“You say that as if it is an accomplishment,” Niles teased.
Eugenie shrugged. “In my defense, I was only eight. I did ask you to come with me, but you said you were too busy.”
“Because I had just returned from Eton,” Niles said. “I had no desire to traipse through the woods with my little sister.”
“And that,” Eugenie said, holding up a finger triumphantly, “was your mistake. You underestimated how much I wanted a pet.”
Niles chuckled. “Father did give in and get you a cat after that debacle.”
“Exactly the outcome I wanted,” Eugenie declared.
“Surely there was an easier way to convince Father to get you a cat?” Niles asked, his tone dry.
Ignoring his question, Eugenie turned to Lady Elsbeth. “Did you ever want a pet?”
“No, my mother is allergic to cats and dogs,” Lady Elsbeth responded.
“To both?” Eugenie asked.
Lady Elsbeth nodded. “Yes, her eyes water and she sneezes incessantly. My grandmother had a cat, and every visit was miserable for her.”
“That is awful,” Eugenie said. “Well, I suggest you avoid getting a black animal with a white stripe down the length of it.”
For the first time since the incident, Lady Elsbeth smiled. “I do think I will heed your advice.”
Niles watched as the tension eased from Lady Elsbeth’s shoulders. Eugenie’s plan had worked. He felt a strange sense of gratitude towards his sister for her ability to comfort and distract, a skill he clearly lacked.
Eugenie spoke up again. “You simply must visit our country estate someday. My cat, Shadow, is a delightful companion. Niles just adores him.”
Niles let out a disbelieving huff. “Adore? Hardly. I hate that cat.”
“That is a shame because Shadow absolutely adores you,” Eugenie said with a playful smile.
Niles turned to Lady Elsbeth to explain. “Shadow doesn’t adore me. He lies in wait like a predator. He watches for the moment I let my guard down and then leaps out to attack me in the corridor.”
“Shadow is merely playing with you,” Eugenie said.
“One day, that cat will be the death of me.”
Eugenie laughed. “You are being utterly ridiculous. He is just a cat.”
