“They are right over there,” Merry told him, shooing him away with a smile as she handed Lion to Sissy. “Off with you.”
Walters, their ancient butler who refused to retire even though he had fully trained his replacement, Fipps, shuffled toward them, struggling to dodge all the children.
Merry hurried over to meet him before he toppled over with his efforts. “Would you like some cake, Walters?” she asked loudly, knowing the poor man to be deaf as a post.
He stared at her, his bushy white brows knotting over his watery eyes. “Cake?”
“Yes, lemon cake. Felicity made it.” She hooked her arm through his and helped him safely make it to the table. “Sit with us. Since it is my birthday, I make the rules, and I rule that you sit and enjoy some cake with us.”
Waving away her command, he backed up a step and nearly trod on a dog’s tail. “I cannot, my lady. That is not done.”
Spotting Fipps nervously watching from the doorway, Merry realized he was attempting to afford Walters some pride and allow the man to do the job even though the dear old soul could barely remember his own name on a good day.
“Is there something you wish to tell me?” Merry asked the ancient butler, wondering what it could possibly be. The entire family had arrived. There was no one left to announce.
Walters stared down at the floor, scrunching his face in an effort to remember. He slowly nodded. “Yes, my lady.” Tapping his chin with his gnarled, bent fingers, he narrowed his eyes, then turned and lookedback at the doorway. “A guest.” He didn’t smile, but he did appear relieved. “Your guests have arrived.”
“My guests,” she repeated. Everyone was here. No other guests had been invited. Perhaps Walters had imagined someone’s arrival?
She glanced over at Fipps once more and arched her brows in a silent plea for help. None of them had the heart to force Walters into retirement. He had been with the family since before they were all born, so they had all agreed to make allowances for him. He deserved their patience and respect.
“Who might my guests be, Walters?” she asked.
“Men.” The aging butler nodded, then cast a pained look back at Fipps and motioned him forward.
Only then did Fipps cross the room and join them. “Yes, Mr. Walters?” he quietly asked.
“Announce Lady Merry’s guests immediately. Why would you tarry so and keep them waiting?”
“Forgive me, Mr. Walters.” Fipps bowed, treating Walters with the gentleness and respect for which he had been hired. Then he turned to Lady Merry. “Lord Kirkston and his brother, Lord Malcolm Galloway, are here to see you, my lady. Lord Kirkston wished to leave once he realized they had interrupted a family gathering, but Lord Malcolm was most adamant that they stay and at least let you know they were here.”
Her heart did a little hop of joy that made her clap a hand to her chest. “By all means, show them in, Fipps. They are most welcome to join us.”
As Walters and Fipps left the room to fetch the men, she hurried back to her sisters at the table. “He is here!”
“Who is here?” Blessing asked as she wiped her youngest child’s hands, then released the two-year-old to join the others.
“Lord Kirkston.”
“Who is Lord Kirkston?” Fortuity, another sister, stretched towatch the doorway.
“One of the gentlemen who saved our lives,” Serendipity said with a knowing smile. “And our Merry finds him most enchanting.”
All six sisters united in a chorus ofaahs.
“Stop it,” Merry told them, then clamped her mouth shut as Fipps led the men across the sea of children, toys, and dogs. Unable to keep from smiling broadly, she curtsied. “Welcome, Lord Kirkston, Lord Malcolm. It is so nice to see you both again.”
With a leery glance around the chaotic room, Duncan bowed. “It is our pleasure to be here, my lady, and it does my heart good to see that yerself and yer sister made it safely home through the snow.”
She wouldn’t gloat and remind him that she had known all along that they would be safe. No, she would be gracious. After all, the poor man looked as though he’d just walked through the gates of hell. She couldn’t stop herself from grinning.
“Come meet the family.” Without waiting for him to offer, she looped her arm through his and stepped over an army of toy soldiers. “Mind the battlefield, my lord. Quill and Rorie have declared war upon one another.”
Duncan grunted and stepped carefully while Malcolm maneuvered around the obstacles with the agility of a cat.
When they reached the table, she reluctantly released his arm. “Sisters, this is Lord Kirkston and his brother, Lord Malcolm Galloway.” She pointed at the head of the table. “You remember Serendipity?”
Both men nodded and bowed. “Forgive the intrusion,” Duncan said, looking ready to bolt. Malcolm grinned, appearing to find great joy in his brother’s discomfort.
