Page 8 of A Dash of Scot
“Of course, how could she deny a good friend a place at her table? And besides, we will no’ be drunk before dinner this time.”
Colonel Austen laughed. “We’ve been friends a long time, Mackay, and I’ve heard your sister deny many a name a place at her table—even when they were no’ drunk.”
Poppy bit back a laugh, and Dougal grinned. “My sister is a saint. I’ll not hear another word of it.” His tone dripped with sarcasm. “If anyone has been tossed out, it is certain that they deserved it.”
“A saint, aye. I think ye refer to her husband,” Austen drawled, which drew out a laugh from Anise.
“I assure you, our brother and his wife are well suited,” Poppy said, surprising both himself and her sister, whose eyes widened.
But Colonel Austen only laughed. “Touché. Then I shall come by early enough that she might invite me to stay for dinner herself, and we shall all swear to secrecy that this little plan was never hatched.”
“And I will pray she does no’ see through our schemes, for ye know how clever Mary is.”
“And suspicious,” Austen said.
“Always.” Dougal nodded. “I was never able to get away with anything as a lad.”
“Nor I.”
“But ye were always so good to try and take the blame, though she never believed ye.”
“Nay, Mary always believed punishments should be tilted in my direction.”
“Indeed, she did.”
“And still does. When I was here a few months ago, she made certain to give the servants the night off and lock up the house when I told her I was going to the club, and she asked me no’ to.”
“Locked out then?”
“Aye. And the sad thing is, I’d agreed to stay because she asked me to, even though I’ve got a house in town.”
“Ye’re a saintly brother. Perhaps tonight, we shall make a toast to the saints in our lives.”
“I think it a good idea.”
Poppy and Anise had perked up mightily now with the banter going back and forth. He hoped it would extend through the evening but had a feeling that when he returned to dinner, their joy might have been obliterated during tea, extinguished for life.
“It was a pleasure to meet the two of ye,” Austen said, tipping his hat. “And I look forward to the delight of your company this evening.”
“I don’t know, Colonel Austen,” Anise said, her voice a touch cheeky. “I think I most look forward to the two of you riling up our sister-in-law.”
“It’s true. We will be happy to have her eagle gaze turned away from us for a moment.” Poppy pressed her hands over her heart and let out an exaggerated sigh.
“A gift, to be sure,” Anise added.
“We shall make it grand fun,” Colonel Austen said.
“And perhaps we’ll find all four of us turned out on our ears.” Dougal imagined Mary dragging them all out and slamming the door in their faces. Sadly, it was an occurrence he’d witnessed before.
Poppy shrugged as if it were a foregone conclusion. “If that’s the case, I’ve developed a good hand at cards, and Anise here has a talent for fortune-telling.”
“Is that so?” Colonel Austen turned his interested gaze back on Anise.
She shrugged daintily. “Well, really, it’s more like lucky guesses. But a number of things have come true. For example, our friend Rebecca did indeed get engaged last season and is expecting her first child.”
“Don’t forget the fortune you made about our cousin’s wife.”
“Oh, yes, I guessed that she would have to take care of her own wicked children, and seeing as how we left before she could hire anyone, that was also a fortune correctly told for at least a day or two.”
