Page 61 of Sense and Suitability
Fia sent a toothless smile over her brother’s shoulder toward Emme. “I caught a snake today, Miss Emme.”
Emme’s face cooled several degrees. “Oh!”
“He got away before I could keep him, so you won’t be able to hold him.”
Thank heavens.
“I thought Aunt Agatha was watching after you.” Simon scanned the room, finally setting his attention on Charlotte, who took a few steps back. “What did you do to Aunt Agatha?”
“Nothing.” She shook her wild curls. “She fell asleep while readingLittle Red Riding Hoodto us, so we left her undisturbed.”
“She doesn’t do the voices like you do, Simon,” Fia added with a pout, leaning close to her brother’s face. Something in Simon’s expression softened, and Emme’s heart puddled entirely.
That vision nearly overruled the pond scene.
Nearly.
“She was a horrid wolf,” Fia continued. “Will does a much better wolf—he even bares his teeth.” She made a face showing what little teeth she possessed, supposedly in imitation of her brother.
From the doorway, William’s serious expression broke into a rare grin, evidently pleased with this accolade.
Emme’s heart squeezed further. These children might be untamed, but their affection for each other was undeniable. If her sister and brother had been in such dire circumstances, she would have wanted a good friend to step in—even with something as unconventional as matchmaking.
“It seems Miss Lane cannot arrive fast enough,” Thomas muttered, earning a sharp look from Simon. He shrugged regretfully, waving vaguely at the room as if to saycase in point.
“Blast, Simon!” Fia suddenly grabbed her brother’s face with both hands, her urgency palpable. “We must find him before he’s squished.”
“Who?” The poor man blinked, utterly at sea.
“Blast.”
“Fia, I already told you, you cannot use such lan—”
“It’s the frog,” Emme interjected, stepping forward to spare him further confusion, though her smile threatened to escape. She extended a hand to Fia, who squirmed free from Simon’s grasp. “The frog’s name is Blast,” Emme explained, fixing Simon with a look of mock matronly disapproval. “Since it appears to be one of your preferred expressions.”
He opened his mouth, no doubt to protest, but no sound emerged. Seizing the opportunity, Emme led Fia to the bookshelf. After some coaxing and an unladylike amount of kneeling, she succeeded in retrieving the errant amphibian.
Fia beamed, holding Blast far more carefully this time. Smart girl.
“Are you staying for dinner?” Charlotte’s hopeful inquiry broke the moment, earning a cough from Simon.
The look on the girl’s face nearly swayed Emme, but good sense prevailed. “I’m afraid not, but I would like to invite you and Fia to join me at the Sutherlands’ strawberry patches tomorrow—if your brother allows it. My sister and I have been invited, and I’m sure they’d welcome more hands to ensure their fine produce doesn’t go to waste.”
“Strawberries?” Fia exclaimed, clutching the frog with renewed excitement. “Blast loves strawberries!”
Doubtful, but Emme smiled anyway.
“Do you mean it?” Charlotte’s voice came quick, her gaze darting between Emme and Simon. “Truly?”
Before Emme could reply, she caught sight of William lingering in the doorway, edging closer. “William is welcome to come as well,” she offered. “We shall need a strong lad to help carry the baskets.”
Simon narrowed his eyes at her for a moment, but then he drew a deep breath, the corners of his mouth twitching as if to suppress a smile. “You’ve placed me in a difficult position, Miss Lockhart. How can I refuse?”
“Excellent.” She turned to the children’s smiling faces.
“Shall I send my carriage with the children to collect you at your home?” His brows rose, a teasing light in his eyes.
Ah, so he still had a way of steering situations to his advantage. Clever man.
