Page 169 of Rough Around the Hedges

I understood them entirely.

It was gross.

“Sorry, kids,” I said quietly, and Oliver put me down.

Abby slowly pulled her hands away from her face and looked at her ring. “Mister Duke, do you need this like Mister George did?”

“No,” I said quickly while he laughed. “No, no, we’re good, thanks.”

Oliver let me go and walked over to her, then crouched in front of her. “One day.”

“Oh. Is Miss Rose gonna be the duckess?”

Duckess.

Christ.

That hadn’t even crossed my mind.

“One day,” Oliver repeated, making me twitch. “When she’s ready. She’d make a great one, don’t you think?”

“Hmm.” Ryan tilted his head to the side. “Are you, like, the kin’ of Hanbwee?”

“Not quite,” he answered. “Maybe my ancestors were kind of like that in the olden days, but I’m not in charge. I just really care about it here.”

“Oh.” He paused. “I don’t fink you’re a wotten bastard now.”

I clapped my hands over my mouth to hide my laugh as his mother covered his mouth with her hand and pulled him back, hissing his name.

Oliver dropped his head, but the shake of his shoulders gave away his laugh. “I’m glad to have gone up in your estimation, Ryan.”

I let my laugh go, howling as I leant against someone’s fence. That moment in the nursery had lived rent-free in my head, and there was no way I was ever going to forget this.

“You.” Oliver rushed to me and grabbed me before I could run away again. He wrapped me in his arms, laughing, and said, “Stop encouraging him.”

“It’s never not funny.” I managed to eke out, trying to get hold of myself.

I couldn’t.

It was impossible.

And yes, I knew realistically I should not be laughing at a four-year-old swearing, but he was so earnest when he said it there was no way I could stop.

“Soooo,” Isa said, sidling up to us once more.

I jumped. “Where are you coming from? Where are you going? Wait, did you set me up?”

She cleared her throat. “Just over there. Just over there, and yes, I did.”

I stared at her.

Just stared.

She flinched and took a step back. “Forgive me, mistress. I have sinned.”

“At least you know.” I nodded. “You know I’m going to get you back for this, don’t you?”

She sighed, pushing her fringe out of her eyes. “It was worth it.” She smiled and looked between us. “Really so.”

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