Page 60 of For the Love of Lilah
“Leave the boy alone.” More amused than she would have admitted, Colleen thumped her cane. “At least he has manners.” She waved a hand at the tea things. “Take this business away, Cordelia, and bring me a brandy.”
“I’ll get it.” Lilah unfolded herself and strolled over to the liquor cabinet. She winked at Suzanna as her sister wheeled over the tea cart. “How long do you think she plans to make our lives a living hell?”
“I heard that.”
Undaunted, Lilah turned with the brandy snifter. “Of course you did, Auntie. Papa always told us you had ears like a cat.”
“Don’t call me ‘Auntie.’” She snatched the brandy. Colleen was used to deference—her personality and her money had always demanded it. Or to fear—the kind she easily instilled in Coco. But she enjoyed, tremendously, irreverence. “The trouble is your father never lifted a hand to any of you.”
“No,” Lilah murmured. “He didn’t have to.”
“No one loved him more than I,” Colleen said briskly. “Now, it’s time to decide what to do about this mess you’ve gotten yourselves into. The sooner mended, the sooner I can rejoin my cruise.”
“You don’t mean—” Coco caught herself and hastily rephrased. “Do you plan to stay with us until the emeralds are found?”
“I plan to stay until I’m ready to leave.” Colleen aimed a look, daring disagreement.
“How lovely,” Coco said between unsteady lips. “I believe I’ll go in and see about dinner.”
“I dine at seven-thirty. Precisely.”
“Of course.” Even as Coco rose, the familiar chaos could be heard racing down the hall. “Oh, dear.”
Suzanna sprang to her feet. “I’ll head them off.” But she was a bit late as both children came barreling into the room.
“Cheat, cheat, cheat,” Jenny accused, eyes brimming.
“Crybaby.” But Alex was near tears himself as he gave her a brotherly shove.
“Who are these hooligans?” Colleen asked, interest perking.
“These hooligans are my children.” Suzanna studied them both and saw that though she had tidied them herself less than twenty minutes before, they were both grimy and grim faced. Obviously her idea that they spend a quiet hour playing a board game had been a disaster.
Colleen swirled her brandy. “Bring them here. I’ll have a look at them.”
“Alex, Jenny.” The warning tone worked very well. “Come meet Aunt Colleen.”
“She isn’t going to kiss us, is she?” Alex muttered as he dragged his feet across the room.
“I certainly will not. I don’t kiss grubby little boys.” She had to swallow. He looked so like her baby brother, Sean. Formally she offered a hand. “How do you do?”
“Okay.” Flushing a bit, he touched the thin-boned hand.
“You’re awfully old,” Jenny observed.
“Quite right,” Colleen agreed before Suzanna could speak. “If you’re lucky, the same problem will be yours one day.” She would have liked to have stroked the girl’s shiny blond hair, but it would have shattered her image. “I’ll expect you to refrain from shouting and clattering about while I’m in the house. Furthermore...” She trailed off when something brushed her leg. Glancing down, she saw Fred sniffing the carpet for crumbs. “What is that?”
“That’s our dog.” Seized with inspiration, Alex reached down to heft the fat puppy in his arms. “If you’re mean to us, he’ll bite you.”
“He’ll do no such thing.” Suzanna put a hand on Alex’s shoulder.
“He might.” Alex pouted. “He doesn’t like bad people. Do you, Fred?”
Colleen’s skin went even whiter. “What is his name?”
“His name is Fred,” Jenny said gaily. “Trent found him on the cliffs and brought him home for us.” She struggled the dog away from her brother to hold him out. “And he doesn’t bite. He’s a good dog.”
“Jenny, put him down before he—”
