Page 129 of A Duchess for his Family

“No.”

Amelia stood more slowly, though her smile remained bright. “Then why did you bring biscuits?”

Benedict looked at the tray. He had not prepared for interrogation.

“I thought you might like them.”

The girls stared at him. Marjorie turned to Amelia. Amelia turned to Marjorie. Then both looked back at Benedict.

“This is extremely suspicious,” Marjorie mused.

Benedict entered and placed the tray upon the little table.

“You may eat them or spend the next quarter hour investigating my motives. I have no preference.”

Marjorie was already reaching.

“You have a preference,” Amelia said gently.

“I do?”

“You prefer us not to investigate your motives.”

Benedict looked at her. Amelia smiled sweetly. Sophia had encouraged this. He was certain of it.

“Take a biscuit.”

Amelia did. Marjorie took two.

“One.”

Marjorie stopped. She looked down at the biscuit in each hand. Then up at Benedict.

“One at a time.”

“That is not what you said.”

“It is what I meant.”

“You should say precisely what you mean.”

Benedict stared at her. Marjorie bit into the first biscuit.

“Sophia says communication is important.”

Benedict felt her name beneath his ribs. Amelia gave her sister a warning look. Marjorie appeared not to notice or chose not to.

Benedict lowered himself into the chair beside the fire.

“What have you been doing?”

The question worked instantly. Marjorie abandoned the subject of Sophia in favor of explaining, through a mouthful of biscuit, that they had spent the morning constructing a defensive fortress for Admiral.

“A fortress,” Benedict repeated.

Amelia nodded. “It was originally a house.”

“It required battlements,” Marjorie said.