Breeze Spells and Bridegrooms by Sarah Wallace & S.O. Callahan

Author:Sarah Wallace & S.O. Callahan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Sarah Wallace

CHAPTER 47

ROGER

Roger learned that “we haven’t any time to waste” meant that he needed to change into dinner attire immediately, so they could both go to the Wrenwhistle house and Wyndham could change into dinner attire as well—which took significantly longer than it had taken Roger.

By the time Wyndham made his way back downstairs, the rest of the Wrenwhistle family was waiting for him in the drawing room with Roger. It was a little agonizing to put up with Mrs. Wrenwhistle’s questions as well as Emrys and Aveline’s teasing all by himself.

So Roger was annoyed enough to whisper to Wyndham once they were in the carriage, “You know, I could have finished eating if you’d come here by yourself while I got dressed at home.”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Wyndham responded. “You lose track of time far too easily. I prefer knowing that you’ll be here when I need you.”

Roger’s annoyance evaporated instantly. “Oh.”

“Roger’s been telling us what a productive day you two had,” Mrs. Wrenwhistle explained.

“Yes,” Wyndham replied. “It was most fruitful.” Roger noticed his tone was laced with the tension it usually had around his family. It occurred to him suddenly that Wyndham had lost that tone around him.

“I’ll bet it was,” Emrys leered.

“The door was open,” Roger felt compelled to say. He didn’t like the way Wyndham’s jaw clenched every time his brother spoke to him.

Emrys’ eyebrow arched. “Yet, there was a great deal of talk about pencils being shoved around desks and tea being spilled on the floor.” He clicked his tongue. “Are you sure the door was open wide enough?”

“When have I ever stooped to innuendo?” Wyndham asked.

Emrys shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe since you started taking up with a proper little human.”

“Enough,” Mrs. Wrenwhistle chided. “If you don’t keep a civil tongue around Mr. Barnes in the future, Emrys, you will no longer be included in our party until their marriage.”

“Personally,” Aveline remarked into the awkward silence that followed, “I think it’s lovely that you two have so many common interests.”

Emrys hummed. “True. That will be helpful.”

Roger waited uncomfortably for the punchline.

“Especially when you two retire to the country,” he continued. “You know our little brother is a dreadful bore most of the time, but it’s harder to tell in London. Having some common ground will definitely give you an advantage in terms of conversation.”

“Emrys,” his mother sighed, exasperated. “What a thing to say about your brother. Don’t mind him, Mr. Barnes. You two will do very well in the country.” Then she pointedly took charge of the conversation.

Emrys gave Roger an ostentatious wink. Roger squirmed under all the attention, but suddenly Wyndham covered Roger’s hand with his and gave it a squeeze. I prefer knowing you’ll be here when I need you. Perhaps suffering through the teasing would be worth it in the end. Roger shifted his hand so he could clasp Wyndham’s in return.

As usual, the Wrenwhistles sailed through the crowd, bestowing nods and greetings as though the attention were their due. Mrs. Wrenwhistle took it upon herself to introduce Roger to people he didn’t know.

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