Page 58 of Her Magnificent Mistake
“I kenned ye would,” groaned Rupert from the floor.
“I taught him that.” Grinning proudly, Marcia moved to stand beside the younger woman. “Our father used to be living a rather dangerous—well, I suppose it does not matter. But he had enemies, and wasquiteoverprotective.”
“You know,mostoverprotective fathers merely restrict their daughters’ movements,” Allison pointed out blandly, hands on hips as she watched the men get to their knees. “Not teach them hand-to-hand unarmed combat.”
“It is only unarmed because that would be unfair on anyone who attacked me,” Marcia said blithely. “And, well,myfather knew that I would not stand for such restrictions. Then I became bestfriends with Bull, and Da refused to let us adventure—even to the bakery!—unless he knew I could defend myself.”
“From your brother?” Allison looked aghast.
Chuckling, Marcia offered a groaning Hawk her hand. “At first, Da did not trust Bull. But by the time he married Flick—that is Bull’s mother—they had grown close. Are you going to make it?” she asked Hawk.
“What thefookwas that?” he growled, dusting off his thighs and knees. “I thought ye were in real trouble!” he barked at his niece.
The young woman shrugged unrepentantly and helped Rupert to his feet, dusting him off. Marcia’s brow rose in amusement when she noticed Allison lingering over the dust on Rupert’s backside.
“Rupert and I were reading about the women campaigning for suffrage.”
“And she wanted to learn how they defend themselves, without weapons,” Rupert groaned, stretching. “Da taught us the basics of jiu-jitsu, which is from feudal Japan, and focuses on throws and grappling locks and uses yer opponent’s strength against him.”
Allison linked her arm through his with a shy grin. “When I mentioned how I would love to learn to protect myself the way they did, Rupert volunteered to show me some moves. It appears I am a fast learner.”
“Dinnae fash,” Rupert told Hawk. “I put down the rug and pillows for her protection, although I’ve been the one grateful for them more often than no’.”
“Ye meanyethrewher?” Hawk roared, shaking off Marcia’s hand.
Chuckling, Allison stopped her uncle with a palm on his arm. “I am well, Uncle Maxwell. Truly. Rupert was most…ahem. Gentle with me. And I have learned ever so much.”
“Ye cannaesay‘ahem,’ Allie, without sounding suspicious as hell! And ye should be sitting demurely, sewing or something.”
Both women clucked their tongues at that, Marcia adding a cursory glare just for good measure, and Hawk blew out a breath with a rueful twitch of his lips. “Aright, point taken.”
“Besides, my stitches are terrible.” Smirking, Allison patted her uncle once more. “That is why we had to bring McGillicuddy.”
“What?” barked Hawk. Marcia tried not to giggle at the bewildered look on the poor man’s face.
“Me, milord,” piped the housekeeper in the chair, without looking up from her sewing. “Yer housekeeper, remember? I’ve been here a few years?—”
“I know who ye are, McGillicuddy,” Hawk growled.
“Och, aye,” the wee woman continued on blithely. “Miss Allison and Lord Rupert have broken more seams on these puir pillows than my grandda after a big meal, bless his heart. It’s all I can do to keep up with them!”
Hawk glanced back at Rupert. “I thought yer maid was Smythe-Smith-Snitt-Whatever. Ye didnae ask her to clean up after ye?”
Her brother sent a panicked glance toward Marcia and her chest tightened.
This was their chance.
This was the moment for her to confess that her “maid” was actually their cousin…but if she did that, she’d have to explain that Gabby was helping them look for evidence against Hawk. Against a murderer.
Until yesterday, until Marcia explained her theory about Bull being mistakenly hurt in an attack meant for Hawk, Gabby and Bull and Rupert had thought Hawk was guilty of murder. And so had she, a small part of her, terrified that she could be right.
He'd been devastated by thehintof such a thing. Learning Marcia had manipulated him into getting closer to investigate him…how would he take that?
“Rupert?” prompted Hawk.
She had to tell him.
If only to save her brother this embarrassment.
