Page 75 of Wicked Is the Duke
"Who is Mr. Tiger?" Anna inquired. She'd been quietly letting things play out, hoping with her husband's presence, things would calm. Obviously, it was going to take more than Henry's return to satisfy those two.
Henry, who had been on his way out, stopped and turned. "Yes, who is Mr. Tiger?"
"No one?" Daisy said meekly.
"He's Daisy's cat if you must know," Alice replied.
"I wasn't aware the school allowed cats."
Alice looked nervously at her brother. "They normally don't, but they made an exception for Mr. Tiger."
"I just imagine they did," Henry muttered. "You know how I feel about animals in the house." He crossed his arms and waited.
"But you have dogs, Henry. Why can't we have our own?"
"Because I'm a duke, and I can do whatever it is I please. My dogs are hunters. You, on the other hand, discard things as soon as you become bored with them."
Alice stormed across the room, stopping in front of her brother. "You're just mean, Henry." She glanced at Daisy. "Come, let's see to Mr. Tiger. We're obviously not wanted here."
She arched a brow and stared darkly at Anna.
Anna sat, a puzzled look on her face. Henry turned and joined her on the settee.
"Don't mind Alice. She's always been headstrong, even more so than Jane."
"She was teetering on the edge of being rude. Obviously, she's not going to accept me. Not without a fight."
He draped his arm around her shoulder. "Try not to forget they've both been through a lot recently. Losing our parents, me not knowing exactly what to do with any of them, sending them to school, and finally you and I marrying."
"Without any of them being present."
"Alice will settle. Give her a couple of days. Trust me, Jane will give her a proper dressing down if she even hears Alice hasn't behaved as a lady."
She gazed up at her husband and sighed. "I suppose I need to sit back and let her find her way."
"That would be the wisest course of action."
"I take it Daisy worships her sister and mimics her."
"To a point. Daisy adores Alice, especially since Jane married. Let's just let it all play out."
"As you wish, husband," Anna replied demurely.
"You know, I could be distracted from returning to my office."
"Whatever do you mean?"
"I believe a nap is in order," he replied with a grin. "No one will dare bother us there."
"I've wondered about that, especially in the middle of the day."
"I put fear into the staff should we be interrupted."
"Very well, let's. All of a sudden I find myself rather tired."
He barked out a laugh and offered his hand. "So do I, my duchess. So do I."
***
