Aunt?While Mrs.Digby asked Kendall to send in hearty refreshments and arranged for guest rooms to be made ready, Sophia studied the two men.They bore a striking resemblance to each other, with blue eyes and a smattering of freckles across the nose, though Wallace had short, sandy brown hair that curled at his nape, and Xavier had wavy blond locks that brushed his collar.The slight crook in Wallace’s nose did not mar his masculine beauty.
Before Sophia could wonder which branch of the family tree they came from, Mrs.Digby drew Sophia to her side.“My dear, let me introduce you to my nephews, Mr.Wallace Hobart and Mr.Xavier Hobart.”She turned to the men as she linked her arm through Sophia’s.“Miss Sophia Walden is my amanuensis.”
“Charmed, Miss Walden,” Xavier said, bowing over her hand.
“A-man-you-what?”Wallace said as he rose from his bow.With his thick brows drawn together in confusion, his expression reminded her of someone but she couldn’t quite pinpoint who.
“Amanuensis,” Fairfax drawled from his position by the pianoforte.His negligent pose, leaning against the instrument with one ankle crossed over the other, seemed relaxed.But Sophia saw tension in the set of his shoulders and a muscle flexing along his jaw.“Miss Walden is Aunt Gertrude’s scribe for her memoir.”
Both newcomers glanced at Fairfax as though just now noticing him.How could they possibly have been unaware of him?His presence seemed to fill the room, whichever room he occupied.
“Ah, brother dear, I didn’t see you there,” Wallace said with what she could already tell was forced cheerfulness.
Fairfax gave a curt nod in reply, his long black hair swinging over his shirt points as he flipped it back from his face.
“How nice to see you again, Mr.Huntley,” Xavier said, striding over to shake hands with his brother and Mr.Huntley, while Sophia struggled to hide her shock.
Brothers?
Wallace’s blue eyes remained cool and aloof as he observed the greetings at the pianoforte.He made no move to join the other men.
Mrs.Digby ignored the tension.“What brings you boys this far south, pray tell?”
“Xavier has secured himself a position as curate near Exeter, and I decided to make sure he arrived there safely.”There was a wealth of hidden meaning in his tone and the look he gave Fairfax, she was sure.
“I may be the youngest in the family but I hardly need a nurse or governess,” Xavier said.
Ignoring the gibe, Mrs.Royston smiled up at Wallace.“No doubt you intend to sketch the sights along the way?”
Wallace’s brilliant smile was as though clouds parted after a rainstorm.“Yes, Aunt Agnes, you caught me out.”
“That is exactly what he’s been doing, stopping the coach every time something catches his eye.It’s taking forever and a day to reach my destination.”
“We’ve only been traveling three days,” Wallace retorted.“And you still aren’t due to begin your duties for almost a fortnight.”
“I would love to see your recent sketches,” Mrs.Royston inserted, even as Xavier drew breath to continue the argument.
“If you’ll all excuse me,” Sophia said, edging toward the door, “I’ll see you in the morning.”Her departure seemed the best chance to let them drop the veneer of politeness… if they wanted to do so.And as much as she was dying of curiosity, it was getting harder to keep from yawning.
Kendall opened the door to the hall just then and Enid carried in a heavily laden tea tray for the hungry travelers.
Sophia eyed the fresh treats with the tiniest of gurgles from her stomach and a twinge of regret, but kept going, acknowledging the goodnight wishes from the ladies and the newcomers as she went.
To her surprise, Fairfax and Huntley met her at the hall door.Under the context of bowing over her hand, Huntley slipped her two biscuits that had just arrived on the tray.Fairfax reached for her other hand and slipped her a slice of bread and cheese.Did they think she still needed extra food after last night’s activities?
“Sleep well, Miss Walden,” Fairfax said.His tone was nothing out of the ordinary, but his stern expression, with his back to the room, made it seem more like an order.
“I will do my best, Lord Fairfax.”
* * *
“Miss, it’s time to wake up.”
Sophia groaned but couldn’t unstick her eyelids.She’d dropped off to sleep the moment she’d climbed into bed.Had that been only seconds ago?
Had she ever in her life stayed awake thirty-six hours straight?Along with being trapped in a cave for hours, it was an experience she could forego ever experiencing again.
Ruby gently shook her shoulder.“Miss?Are you unwell?”
