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I nodded and reached for the scones and jam. Felicity selected some bacon and put it on my plate with a smile. “Forstrength,” she reminded me.
I ate to the sound of their chatter, filling my stomach with sandy crumbs. I would meet my half-brother today, if all went according to plan, and I was equally nervous and impatient to see it done.
“We will not go to his office until two o’clock,” Felicity said, apparently answering a question put to her by James I had not heard.
“Shall we go to the Pump Room? There are always the waters if anyone has a malady in need of curing,” James said sardonically.
The parlor door opened to admit Henry and Benedict.
I cleared my throat, eager for the distraction they could provide. “Benedict ought to try taking them, though I doubt it will work.”
He sat across from me and filled his plate from the dishes sitting in the center of the round table. “I have a feeling you want me to ask what you are referring to, so I am inclined to do nothing of the sort.”
“Suit yourself,” I said, popping a bite of scone in my mouth and washing it down with tea.
Henry silently filled his plate beside his brother, and I turned toward him. “What plans do you have for your time in Bath—”
“Oh, very well,” Benedict said, as though I’d greatly inconvenienced him. “Whatever were you speaking of, Thea? What is it that I should try but will not work for me?”
“I do not think I want to tell you now.”
“That is unkind.”
“No, it is a matter of little importance. We’ve begun to move onto a different topic already. Really, you needn’t be so self-centered that you cannot allow poor Henry the opportunity to participate in the conversation as well.”
Henry looked up at this, his eyebrows lifted as though they could speak for him and declare how perfectly happy he wasnotto be dragged into any conversations.
“I think my brother will be happier if we leave him to his bacon.”
“I second that notion,” James said, slathering a slice of toast with jam. “Leave poor Henry to his breakfast.”
Henry put down his fork. “I am not a child.”
“No, of course you are not,” I said in perfect agreement.
His gaze slid to me. “But my brothers are not wrong, and I will be glad not to be placed in the center of your and Benedict’s games.”
I puffed up my cheeks. “You are no fun.”
He grinned. “Exactly.”
“I think you are perfectly fun,” Felicity said. “No one else is willing to discourse at length on the nuances inTaming of the Shrew.”
“I would be happy to,” James said, grinning, “if you would tell me what the nuances are.”
Felicity laughed and leaned over to kiss him on the cheek. “Or we can stick to our gothic novels, since we both enjoy those.”
“Only when you are reading them to me,” James countered.
Benedict cleared his throat loudly. “Please marry someone you can only mildly tolerate, Hen. I can only take so much of this affectionate bantering with my breakfast.”
“Do not fear on my account,” Henry said softly.
James lifted one dark eyebrow. “If anyone is to banter affectionately with a spouse, Ben, it will one day be you.”
Benedict made a sound of disgust in his throat I believed was mostly for show. “Unlikely.”
“Yes, unlikely,” I agreed. “First, he would have to find a woman willing to put up with him during breakfast.”
