“You should not write such descriptive passages about things you cannot bring home for me, then,” she said with a disgruntled frown. “I fell in love with them from your letters.”
Her nose crinkled disapprovingly at him. It was an expression he had never been able to resist when she was younger and now was no different.
“You are far too old for a rocking horse, Rosemary.”
“I would not have ridden it,” she protested. “I merely wished to admire it.”
She was now twenty years old. He could not believe that the baby he had once held in his arms was out in society. At two and thirty, he felt ancient in comparison and wondered whether they would enjoy the same easy relationship they had once had now that she was a woman in her own right.
“Well, speaking of things one should not take onto a ship,” he said, unleashing his roguish smile, “a man I met did bring something very unusual aboard on my return journey to London.”
Rosemary rolled her eyes at him, knowing he was changing the subject, but her curiosity was peaked.
“What was it?” she asked eagerly.
“A magnificent parrot.”
Her eyes widened, and then she giggled prettily. “Nicholas, pray, do be serious.”
“I am quite sincere, I assure you. This parrot perched uponhis shoulder at the dinner table each evening, a most splendid creature.”
Rosemary was staring at him now, flabbergasted. “But how?”
“Did I mention it could recite poetry?” He grinned, knowing she was captivated. “He informed me it was an extraordinary specimen, a rarity he could not bear to leave unattended in his cabin. He insisted on taking it with him wherever he went.”
“You are a fool if you think I shall believe such folly.”
“I ought to have penned a letter to describe its brilliance. I assure you, every word is true.”
She snorted in a most unladylike fashion and came to lean against the windowsill with him, looping her arm in his. He felt a flicker of guilt as he looked down at her sad expression and squeezed her arm gently. If she had missed him half as much as he had missed her, she had every reason to be unhappy he had stayed away so long.
They stood in companionable silence for some minutes, Nicholas simply enjoying the touch of one another. He had missed casual touches on his travels.
He had certainly not been without companionship—indeed, he had developed quite a reputation in certain circles—but real affection had been lacking. As he contemplated the top of his sister’s dark hair and wondered if she had finished growing yet, the door to the room opened to admit his Aunt Eleanor.
Nicholas straightened, noticing the familiar stern expression on her face. His aunt had been a wonderful guardian and a great companion to Rosemary, but she did have a rather waspish countenance when she was displeased. She could also be exceedingly elegant, but right at the moment, she was advancing on him like a knight about to tackle a dragon.
“Good morning, Aunt,” he hazarded, “you are looking so well these days.”
“None of that,” she said, waving him off and brushing a disapproving hand over Rosemary’s shoulder. “What are you wearing, child?” she asked as Rosemary looked down at herself rather self-consciously. “I have told you countless times that these ruffles are out of fashion. Is this not your dress from last season?”
“It is from last month, Aunt. The seamstress assured me that they were back in fashion.”
“Frivolity!” she said, although her tone was almost affectionate. “None of these modern ladies know how to dress if you ask me.”
Her green eyes swiveled to Nicholas, and he reminded himself he was two and thirty, not five years old anymore.
“You look like a fop,” she said, narrowing her eyes at his waistcoat. It was actually one of the more modest garments in his collection. His valet constantly bemoaned the colours he wore for evening occasions, and Nicholas rather enjoyed gently riling his aunt with his choices.
“Thank you, aunt,” he replied. She sucked in a breath and stuck a bony finger in his face.
“You are not yet too advanced in years to be taken to task over my knee, young man,” she proclaimed and seemed all the more furious when Nicholas chuckled.
“Over a waistcoat?”
“Over your conduct!” Nicholas’s smile quickly dimmed. “You have been exceedingly lax in your duties, both as my nephew and the heir apparent. I shall not hear another word of you gallivanting off to Europe for a second time in two weeks no less! It is high time you took up your father’s duties and found a suitable wife.”
Rosemary’s fingers clutched tightly to his arm in a silent show of support, and he was grateful for that.
