Page 3 of Lies in Little Sutherland
“You think that’s a point in your favor,” Francis told him, “but it’s not.”
“I won’t be drunk at nine o’clock tomorrow morning!”
“Knowing you,” Francis said critically, “you’ll be hung over, and that’s just as bad.”
“I’m hardly drunk,” Crispin snarled, “and I’ll stop drinking right now, if it’ll make you happy.”
“Are you coming with us, then?”I interjected, placidly.
He looked at me.And then at Laetitia.She turned limpid, blue eyes on him.They stayed locked for a moment and then Crispin turned back to me.“No, Darling.We’ll stay here.”
Laetitia smiled, like a cat with a bowl full of cream.Pleased at keeping him in line with nothing more than a look, perhaps.Or simply pleased that she had kept the two of us from spending several hours in a motorcar together.Even the “Darling,” didn’t seem to bother her.
“Suit yourself,” I told him, since I obviously couldn’t care less whether he decided to accompany us or not.“Christopher and me, Francis and Constance, then?”
“I’ll drive,” Francis said.
“Yes, Francis.We know.”Christopher rolled his eyes.“You’ll want an early start, I assume?”
“As early as we can make it,” I decreed.“If we leave it too late, we may have to stay over.”
“I’m sure there are inns,” Christopher said with a shrug, as if the four of us, unmarried, rooming together overnight, was nothing out of the ordinary.Which of course it wasn’t.I room with Christopher every night.Or if not quite that, we share a flat in London—with separate bedchambers—and can misbehave as much as we want when we’re at home.The fact that we don’t—because we’re best friends, and first cousins, and the next thing to siblings, and most importantly, because Christopher’s queer—is beside the point, but Lady Euphemia didn’t seem to realize that.Her eyes widened comically.
Aunt Roz’s did not.“Don’t do anything you’ll regret,” she said, blandly.To Francis and Constance, I assume.I don’t think she knows exactly what Christopher gets up to in London, but she knows very well that he doesn’t get up to anything to do with me.
Francis grinned.“Of course not, Mum.If we end up staying somewhere overnight, we’ll put Constance and Pippa in a room together, and take turns guarding the door.Won’t we, Kit?”
“You can,” Christopher said, pulling another little shocked sound from the countess.“But Pippa can take care of herself, and Constance as well.If it were a question of Pippa or me versus a burglar, I’d put my money on Pippa.”
“Flattered,” I told him, “I’m sure.”
“You ought to be.”He grinned at me.
“I’ve said it before,” I said.“I’d be happy to share a room with Constance or either one of you boys.But the whole point of leaving early was so that we could make it there and back in one day, with no need to stay over.”
Christopher nodded.“Up and out early, then.”
“If possible.If we leave directly after breakfast, we can be in the Cotswolds by luncheon, and then back in Wiltshire again for supper, if all goes well.”
“Dear me, Darling,” Crispin drawled.After an admonishing look from his fiancée, he added, “Philippa.You seem very concerned about not missing any meals.Is there something we should know?”
“Such as?”I blinked at him, and saw the answer materialize in his eyes.I rolled mine.“Good grief, St George.No, I’m not eating for two.Wolfgang and I did not have that kind of relationship.Just because you go around bedding women indiscriminately?—”
But that was apparently a step too far.Not for Crispin, nor yet for his fiancée, but the bride-to-be’s mother surged to her feet in a flutter of chiffon and lace.“More sherry, Roslyn?”
“Don’t mind if I do,” Aunt Roz said placidly and held out her glass.As Lady Euphemia walked away with it, Aunt Roz added, with a gimlet stare, “Give it a rest, you two.Flirt on your own time.”
It was Laetitia’s turn to squeak, offended, and Crispin turned pink to the tips of his ears.“Thanks a lot, Auntie.”
“You know better,” Aunt Roz told him.She slanted a look at me.“You too, Pippa.”
I made a face.“Of course, Aunt Roz.”
“If you’re leaving early tomorrow, perhaps you should retire soon, to ensure that you get enough rest.”
That was as good as an order, and I got to my feet.“That’s a good idea.Thank you, Aunt Roz.”
“Don’t mention it,” Aunt Roslyn said as Christopher unwound from beside me.“Sleep well, you two.”
