As they approached the portico and slowed, Nicholas glanced over his shoulder and saw Viola, head tipped back and holding onto her hat, scanning the width of the front façade. Her expression suggested she found the sight intimidating.
Having noticed the direction of his gaze, Adriana flicked a brief glance that way. Facing forward once more, she murmured, “Viola will be fine.”
Nicholas merely inclined his head, then drew sharply on the reins to halt Tamerlane as the three younger Sommerville siblings burst through the open front door yelling “You’re back! They’re back!” at the tops of their lungs.
Adriana and Dickie managed to wrestle their horses to a halt without trampling any of the trio, who exuberantly danced about the leading horses.
Then the three saw the curricle, which Phillip had drawn to a standstill.
“Hello.” Angie tipped her head. She’d noticed Viola first, but then her gaze had passed on to Phillip and come to rest there.
Mortie stopped beside Angie. After a second of staring frowningly at Phillip, clearly puzzled, Mortie challenged, “Who are you?”
Nicholas and Dickie dismounted. Nicholas rounded Nickleby and lifted Adriana down before she could jump. He set her on her booted feet, and they turned to see Benjamin walking up to the curricle, with Mortie and Angie falling in behind him.
Like his siblings, Benjamin had his gaze locked on Phillip’s face.
That the three younger Sommervilles recognized the familial resemblance was plain.
Benjamin halted beside Phillip and, after a fraught moment, simply asked, “Are you our older brother?”
Phillip shot a glance—a pleading one—at Adriana and Dickie, then looked at Benjamin, hesitated for a heartbeat, and somewhat carefully, nodded. “I am. I’m Phillip.”
Nicholas sensed that Adriana was torn between rushing forward to intervene and standing back and allowing matters to play out by themselves; she all but teetered beside him. He closed his hand about one of hers. “Wait,” he advised, then even more quietly added, “The four of them have to find their own way.”
After several seconds of silently studying each other, Phillip offered, “I’m here to see…our father.”
That, apparently, reassured the trio.
“Good-o.” Benjamin offered his hand. “I’m Benjamin. Please don’t call me Benny or Benjy—just Benjamin. I’m pleased to meet you.”
“I’m Angie.” Angie pushed forward to offer her hand as well. “Don’t call me Angela, or I might not answer.”
“And at home, I only answer to Mortie.” His gaze still scrutinizing Phillip, Mortie also shook hands, then he stepped back and, including Viola with his gaze, waved to the house. “Welcome to Aisby Grange.”
Taking that as a signal that her siblings were predictably curious and not about to make a fuss over this being the first time any of the three had set eyes on their half brother, Addie exhaled with relief. She handed her reins to Rory, and still leading The Barbarian, he and Young Gillies, who had Nicholas’s and Dickie’s mounts in tow, turned the horses and, with Jed and Mike, headed around the house and on toward the stable.
Sally had already scrambled down from her saddle, and she gave her horse’s reins to one of the two stable lads who came rushing up to take charge of the curricle and pair. Phillip stepped down to the gravel and surrendered the ribbons, then rounded the horses to help Viola down.
After stepping carefully from the carriage, Viola looked at the three younger Sommervilles, who had followed Phillip. Shyly, she smiled at them. “Hello. I’m Viola.”
As, with Nicholas, Addie joined the group, the trio’s gazes were shifting from Viola to Phillip and back again.
It was Angie who asked, “Are you Phillip’s wife?”
Phillip squeezed Viola’s hand and replied, “No. Viola is my fiancée. We plan to marry soon.”
“Oh!” Angie’s eyes brightened. At her most angelic, she inquired, “Can I be a bridesmaid?”
Addie quickly stepped in. “We’ll have to see about that, but first, Phillip needs to see Papa.” She met Phillip’s eye. “And Mama, too.” As Dickie came up, she glanced at the younger three. “Do you know where they are?”
“They’re in the conservatory,” Angie said. “It’s cooler there,” she informed Viola.
Merriweather was hovering in the doorway. Unlike Addie’s younger siblings, he’d recognized Phillip and wasn’t sure what was afoot.
Addie saw the butler’s uncertainty and smiled reassuringly, then beckoned the others to follow and started up the steps. “Merriweather, we have guests, who I expect will be staying the night. At least.” She passed into the front hall and paused, waiting for the others.
Merriweather bowed. “Of course, my lady.” He straightened to his full imposing height. “I will ensure suitable rooms are prepared.”
