Page 47 of Sir Durham’s Disarming Asset

Vic shook her head so her curls bounced with enthusiasm. “Dolly wants a biscuit.”

“Ah, well. I think we could share with her, don’t you?”

“No. No. No. Um. She’s bad.”

“Oh? What did she do?” Zeph knew that Vic had argued with her older brother over possession of Dolly. The altercation had been loud and come to fisticuffs. Both children were chastised by their nanny. Zeph had been ordained, as she usually was, to be the intermediary and help absolve bad feelings between the two.

“She hit me.” Vic gave a two-year-old’s demonstration.

Zeph ducked. “Oh, that is not kind.” She expressed shock and remorse, knowing the one who’d hit Vic was her brother.

The little girl shook her head.

“But she must tell you she’s sorry.”

Vic wrinkled her nose.

“And after saying sorry, the two of you should hug.”

Vic made a face.

“I know it is not fun. But grownups have arguments all the time, and they always say they’re sorry.”

Not really. But for this purpose, Zeph would say they did. Lately, she had even been inclined to tell Rafe she was sorry. Being angry never got her anything she wanted. She wished to uphold her own philosophy—and apologize to him soon.

At the open door to the hall, Friendly appeared. He looked flustered. “Miss Butler, you have two callers.”

That was a surprise. No one had written to say to expect them. “Who is it, Friendly?”

“Well, miss, the gentleman says he is Monsieur Jean Lenoir, but he offered a card that says Montagne-Jarre Frères et Famille, Paris. He…he appears to be a man who should have admittance. He is with a young lady whom he claims is his daughter, Cosette. But…but she says she is a dear friend of yours, Miss Butler. I do not know if you should receive them. Are they really acquaintances of yours? I don’t know.”

Zeph could not believe it. Cosette is here? But with her father, who presented with a Paris card and the extended family name of Montagne-Jarre. “He looks well, does he, Friendly?”

“He does, miss. Do you know him? I can send a footman to Lord Ashley’s club. Does he need to come home to examine this man?”

She got to her feet and dusted off her hands. “No. I think him…” Careful. In hiding. “I had a friend in Paris by the name of Cosette. Describe this woman for me, please.”

“Pretty. Striking blue eyes. Blonde. Modest and polite.”

“That is my friend.”

The Parisian banker who had fled France in disgrace just prior to her own imprisonment had come to call on her! He had brought his daughter, too! Well! What a wonder.

Zeph turned to Vic. “Excuse me, please, my lady. I must receive these callers. Shall we meet again here tomorrow for tea?”

Eagerly, the little girl nodded.

Zeph bit her lip, suppressing laughter, as Vic reached for the remaining two biscuits.

Zeph waggled her fingers au revoir at Vic and Dolly. “Tomorrow, then.”

*

The moment Friendly closed the salon door, Zeph ran toward her friend. “Cosette! Monsieur Lenoir!”

They shot up from the settee.

The two women hugged and exclaimed over each other’s good looks, then Zeph turned to welcome Cosette’s father.