Page 113 of Lyon of Least Resistance

“Two, actually, my love,” James said, setting the tray onto a table, then gesturing to the teapot, two cups, and a small vase of flowers. He took the vase and placed it on the table beside the bed.

“Dahlias,” his wife said, fingering the petals. “I thought they didn’t flower at this time of year.”

“They do under Heslop’s tutelage,” James said. “He’s been cultivating these in the hothouse.”

“I’ve been helping him,” Margaret said, placing her arm around Cordelia’s neck. “We planted some out yesterday.” She stuck out her lower lip. “But brother, you said I could give them to Cordelia.”

“They’re from all of us,” Georgiana said.

“All?” Margaret said. “You’ve not done anything, Georgie. You said you didn’t want to get your hands dirty.”

“I said no such thing,” Georgiana said.

“Oh, yes you did,” Margaret said. “You said you didn’t want Leonard Marlow seeing dirt under your fingernails in case he didn’t like it. But Mr. Marlow always has ink on his fingers.”

“How do you know?” James said.

“I’ve seen it,” she replied. “When he helped me climb my tree, I noticed that the fingertips on his right hand are blue. Cordelia says that’s because he’s working so hard so he can take over Sir George’s business.”

“You shouldn’t be looking,” Georgiana said. “And you shouldn’t ask him to help you climb trees.”

Margaret pulled a face. “He offered, Georgie. What’s a business?”

“It’s how some people earn a living,” Georgiana said.

“Oh, like Cordelia?”

James held his breath as Cordelia paled.

Georgiana nodded and glanced at Cordelia, smiling. Her eyes glittered with pride in the sister she had come to love.

“Yes, that’s right,” she said. “Just like Cordelia. We’ve always been fortunate, not having to work to earn our keep. But Cordelia worked hard to earn the money that she gave our brother when they married. And Leonard works equally hard so that when Sir George wishes to pass over his business, it will be in safe hands.”

“Ooh, Leonard, is it?” Margaret said. “It was Mr. Marlow last week. Now it’s Leo-nard,” she finished in a singsong voice, and placed her hand over her heart.

“Be quiet!” Georgiana said, blushing.

“I will when you tell me he’s to be my brother.”

Georgiana’s blush deepened. “He’s not asked me yet and I doubt he will.”

“I disagree,” Cordelia said, smiling. “The poor young man is smitten.”

“No, he’s not!” Georgiana said sharply. Then she tilted her head to one side and gave Cordelia a coy glance. “Is he? B-but what about my… I mean, what happened when Sir Iain—”

She broke off, and James’s heart ached at the stricken expression in his sister’s eyes.

Cordelia took Georgiana’s hand. “Mr. Marlow’s too honorable to consider you anything but utterly blameless over what happened,” she said. “Surely you don’t think he visits us because he enjoys James’s company?”

“Wife, are you disrespecting me?” James said.

Her eyes glowed with mischief. “What if I am, husband? Will you seek retribution?”

She ran her fingertips along the neckline of her nightgown, pausing at the laces in the center.

Sweet heaven! Why was it that when she wore that expression in her eyes, his manhood surged like a stallion? He caught his breath as a fizz of heat threaded through his blood. Cordelia curled her lips in a smile, then flicked out her tongue, licking her lower lip until it glistened with moisture.

James caught his breath, willing himself not to spend at the thought of what she could do with that tongue of hers.