Page 73 of Meet Me Under the Mistletoe
Nory couldn’t help doing an inner yip at the idea of beingtakenby Isaac on his tea break.
“The marquis obviously thinks a lot of you if he takes your advice on how to run his castle,” said Nory.
Isaac laughed. “I was born here, remember? I’m the only person who knows the castle the way he does. We’re both a part of this place in our own way, and we both want what’s best for it.”
“But isn’t he atoff?” Nory teased. “I thought you looked down your nose at toffs.”
“But the marquis is different.”
Nory opened her mouth to protest, but Isaac held his hands up.
“I know, I know, double standards. But Lord Abercrombie has never made me feel like I am less than him. Whereas some people...”
“Okay, point taken.”
“It wasn’t only your friends. I grew up being the punching bag for snotty-nosed Braddon-Hartmead kids who thought they were better than me. Those things take root.”
“I know.”
“My adult brain is over it. But there’s a part of me...”
“You were bullied, Isaac, it leaves scars. You don’t need to explain yourself to me.”
She remembered Thomas coming home with a bloodied nose on more than one occasion after fighting with the kids from the Pomp. Her brother was argumentative for sure, but she’d lay odds that it wasn’t always Thomas who started the fight.
“I spoke to Thomas,” said Nory. “About his poking his nose into our business.”
“You did? How did that go down?”
“Like a shit sandwich.”
Isaac spluttered a laugh.
“He’s worried I’ll use you and leave you heartbroken,” Nory continued.
“That’s pretty much the vibe he gave me, although it wasyourheart he was concerned for rather than mine. I can understand a big brother feeling protective of his little sister.”
Nory waved away his theory. She doubted Thomas’s intentions were that noble.
“I think he’s just afraid to cross the streams,” said Nory.
“Cross the streams?”
“You know, like inGhostbusters: ‘Don’t cross the streams!’ ”
“Are we the streams?”
“Yes. Thomas likes to compartmentalize; the prospect of having his best mate and his sister involved is blowing his tiny mind.”
Isaac nodded sagely. “Crossing the streams,” he said quietly. “And what do we do about that?”
“That, my friend, is up to you.” Nory smiled.
They were back in the courtyard. She reached up and kissed his neck, lingering just a little longer than she needed to, feeling the hitch in his breathing. She stepped away from him, the porch light at her back.
“I’m ready to cross the streams when you are.” She grinned before turning and walking purposefully into the castle and closing the door firmly behind her.
Twenty
