Page 64 of Dangerous

She looked so startled he laughed.

“Welcome home, Adam. I’m sorry I don’t have everyone here to greet you, but we believed you had been delayed when you didn’t show up earlier.”

Adam turned to greet his sister. “We ran into some rather wet weather both days, I’m afraid. Sorry to have left you guessing.” He took Jessica’s hands and smiled down at her. “You are looking well, Sister.”

She flushed, discomposed by his unusual gesture of affection. A small, nervous smile spasmed across her narrow, pale face and Adam realized how changed he must appear. Well, for better or worse, he was changed.

“Jessica, this is your new sister—Mia.”

“I have been so looking forward to meeting you, Jessica. I’ve never had a sister.” Mia reached toward his sister as if to embrace her, but stopped when the other woman flinched back.

Mia had not even a speck of English reserve. She liked nothing better than to be in physical contact with other people. Adam’s family rarely touched. He supposed that would all change now.

“I’m pleased to meet you,” Jessica murmured, her natural shyness making her appear haughty, almost unfriendly. She had the same dark hair and pale skin as Adam but had inherited their father’ gray eyes, along with his almost crippling reserve.

Mia’s exuberant manner shifted subtly and became gentler. Adam realized it was the same way she’d handled him those first few days of his marriage, before he’d crumbled like a biscuit dipped in hot tea.

“Come,” he said, his emotions making him brisk. “It’s chilly out here and we’ve been on the road for hours. Is there a fire in the book room?”

“Yes, of course, and Bailey has prepared tea. I thought you might be hungry.”

“I’m dying for tea,” Mia said, companionably taking Jessica’s arm and walking with her. “I’m afraid our late arrival must be putting you out. Do you keep early hours in the country?”

“Yes, we do. I suppose you will find things rather quiet after London . . .” Jessica trailed off, clearly unsure of what to do with his new wife. She turned and looked at Adam, who followed them. “The girls are in bed, of course. I am sure they are not sleeping. I cannot seem to get Eva to stop reading under her blankets, no matter how dangerous I tell her it is.”

Adam suspected his headstrong daughter was becoming more than a match for her quiet, retiring aunt.

Mia stripped off her gloves and gave Adam a saucy wink. “I’m afraid I was the same when I was a girl, Jessica. My mother quite despaired of me. Of course, Adam won’t let me read under the covers now,” she confided, drawing a startled gasp from his sister.

Adam tried to frown but couldn’t.

Mia gave one of her wide-eyed looks—an expression he imagined her using frequently to get her way with the sultan.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Jessica. Was that shocking? Adam despairs of my ever being fit for decent company.”

Jessica tittered nervously at such playful conversation.

Mia waited until Jessica had turned away and poked out her tongue at Adam.

He mouthed the word wicked and became instantly hard at his wife’s sultry smile. He should be ashamed of behaving like a schoolboy but he’d given up trying to resist Mia and her high spirits. Besides, what was the point?

The book room was Adam’s favorite room in the castle. It took up the base of one of the four turrets. The ceiling was rather low, giving the room a cozy feeling, and the circular walls were lined with books from floor to ceiling.

The fireplace could roast an entire ox but now it held only fire. It blazed like a furnace, the oddly curved back throwing heat better than any other fireplace in the castle. It might be summer but the castle was always cold.

“It’s lovely,” Mia said, absently handing her reticule and gloves to Adam, who smiled wryly at his sister’s face—shocked to see her brother acting as his wife’s footman and enjoying it.

The tea tray arrived and Jessica moved toward it and then hesitated.

“Oh please, will you pour?” Mia asked, giving Jessica a pleading smile. “I know I should, but I’m so frightfully clumsy about such things,” said his wife, one of the most sinuously graceful women Adam had ever met.

“Certainly.” The gentle flush that spread across Jessica’s cheeks was the only sign Mia’s invitation had pleased her. Adam’s heart, which he’d forgotten existed until a few weeks ago, swelled. Mia was unfailingly thoughtful and kind, and it pleased him more than he could believe that she was making such an effort to reassure Jessica that her place was secure.

“I am surprised to find the weather so clear here,” Adam said. “It rained almost the entire way.” He shook his head at Jessica’s offer of tea and poured himself a brandy instead.

“It must be moving north, we were covered for some days with a gray blanket of clouds. The rain was so heavy Eva and Melissa were teasing poor Miss Banks almost mad. Neither had been riding for almost a week. You know how they can become.”

Adam’s heart stuttered and then sped up. “She is able to keep them in hand, I trust?” he asked in a voice that was sharper than he wished.