Page 15 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“Tell me what happened.” Both children began to speak, and she held up her hand again. “One at a time, please. Gigi, how about you start?”
“Why does she get to start?” Alistair demanded at the same time as Georgia said, “It is a George day.”
“Fine, George. You can start because Alistair got to start last time.” Rowen gestured for her daughter to speak.
Georgia stuck her tongue out at her brother, who returned the gesture.
Rowen let out a sigh, counting slowly to ten in her head and willing herself to remain patient.
“I was packing away my things like you told me to, and I was putting away my book when Alistair came up and snatched it from my hand,” Georgia explained with the air of a person telling another that the sky was blue.
“Because it’s my book!” Alistair exclaimed, scowling. “Aunty Verity gave it to me on my fourth birthday.”
“No, she did not. She gave it tome. Why would she give it to you?” Georgia shot him a withering look that was so much like the one Rowen usually gave to people that she had to hide her mouth behind her hand to keep from laughing.
Thankfully, her children were too engrossed in their argument to notice her slip.
“Because it is for boys!” Alistair retorted.
“I do a lot of things that are for boys,” Georgia replied hotly. “And it’s not for boys; it’s a book!”
“Yes, it is.” Alistair shook his head vehemently.
“What book?” Rowen interjected, looking between them and taking in the smashed china on the floor. “And how did that break?”
“Alistair pushed me, and I fell, and then it fell on the floor, and it broke.” Georgia’s cheeks reddened.
Alistair added, “I only pushed you because you kicked me.”
“Because you wouldn’t give me my book.” There was no hint of apology in Georgia’s voice.
“It’s not your book. It’s mine.” Alistair stamped his foot.
“It does not matter whose book it is; all of our things are going to the same place,” Rowen snapped and then let out a long, frustrated sigh. “More importantly, what have I told you about kicking and pushing each other?”
“But—” the twins began.
“There is no excuse for violence,” Rowen interrupted. “The pair of you are old enough to know better. I expect more of you—both of you.”
“Well, if we are so badly behaved, maybe you should just leave us here.” Georgia tilted her chin up, her eyes wet with unshed tears.
And now the truth comes out.
Rowen felt a lump form in her throat as she saw the hope in her children’s eyes. It mingled with fear and anger and tugged her heart in too many directions.
She forced herself to hold firm. “You know that I would never leave you behind, no matter how badly behaved you are. You are my children, and I love you with my whole heart.”
“Promise?” Alistair swallowed.
Rowen took their hands in her own. “I swear it. I will always love you.”
“Even when we are bad?”
“You are not bad. Your behavior was,” Rowen corrected. “And it is because I love you that we have to leave this place. It is not safe here. That tree caused a lot of damage, and if another storm breaks out, who knows what might happen.”
“But how can I be an earl if I am not at my estate?”
“Your estate is but a part of being an earl.”
