The Apothecary's Poison (Glass and Steele #3)(10)

He smiled at her in relief. "India and I had business affairs to attend to."

"Poor Miss Steele, traipsing hither and thither, following you about the city. I do hope you rewarded her with a little treat."

"You seem to have me confused with a lapdog," I said before Matt could respond.

Hope blinked at my snippy impertinence. Lady Rycroft's lips pinched, deepening the grooves drooping from her mouth to chin. "Really, Letitia, you ought to control your companion's tongue."

"As you ought to control your daughter's," Miss Glass shot back.

"Hope said nothing wrong."

"Indeed," Hope said, hand against her chest. "If I offended you, Miss Steele, I am truly sorry. I had no intention of being cruel. I wasn't thinking. So silly of me. I feel utterly mortified to have caused you any pain."

Somehow she'd managed to make me look like the fool for taking offence when none was intended. At least I had Miss Glass on my side—and Charity. She rolled her eyes at her sister, clearly unconvinced by her apology.

"Matt, you believe me, don't you?" Hope asked, her brow furrowed prettily.

"My opinion doesn't matter," he said. Before anyone could respond, he pushed to his feet. "If you'll all excuse me, I have work affairs that need my attention. India, I'll require your assistance."

Thank goodness for that. I finished my tea and followed him out of the drawing room and up the stairs.

"I'm beginning to see what Aunt Letitia means about Hope," he said. "Pity. I thought she was the interesting one."

We had just reached the landing when Hope called to us from the entrance hall below. She lifted her skirts and approached, her sister Charity two steps behind. Her mother, Patience and Miss Glass waited at the base of the stairs.

"Miss Steele," Hope said, joining us on the landing, "I wanted to apologize again. I didn't think my words through, and I meant no offence. I know you may not believe that, but it's the truth." She caught my hand. "I like you very much and admire you greatly."

"Me?"

"Yes, you. You're composed and poised, and I doubt you ever say or do foolish things."

I eyed Matt sideways but he did not tell her some of the foolish things I'd said and done. "Not always," I told her.

"I wish I was more like you."

Beside her, Charity rolled her eyes again, but stopped when she caught sight of Duke and Cyclops standing at the top of the stairs. "Mr. Cyclops!" she said, touching her hair. "What a pleasant surprise. Are you joining us for tea?"

Cyclops looked to Duke. Duke merely shrugged.

"We're leaving, Charity." Hope took her sister's arm in a firm grip. "Miss Steele, please tell me you forgive me or I shan't sleep a wink."

"I forgive you," I said. What else could I say? I didn't think her apology entirely sincere, but it would make me look ungrateful to say so. "Thank you for your apology."

She bobbed me a small curtsy and wrenched her sister's arm to drag her back down the stairs. Charity shot Cyclops a smile. His eyes widened and he retreated out of sight. Duke's broad face broke into a grin.

Matt and I continued up the stairs and headed into the sitting room, a cozier space than the drawing room, reserved for members of the household rather than visitors.

"They gone?" Willie asked, sitting sideways in a chair, her legs draped over the arm.

"Leaving now," Matt said as Duke and Cyclops joined us.

"Finally." She swung her feet to the floor and leaned forward, elbows on knees. "So what happened at the hospital?"

Matt told them what Hale had revealed and how he'd convinced the innkeeper at the Cross Keys to inform us when Chronos returned.

"Well, God damn," Willie murmured. Cyclops grinned and Duke slapped his knee and whooped.

"So we wait," Cyclops said, still smiling.

Matt nodded. "We wait."

"I'm tired of waiting," Willie groaned. "We got nothing to do but go for walks and have tea with your mad relatives."

"You ain't mad," Duke said. "Just eccentric."

Willie pulled a face at him and he chuckled.

"Would you like me to dismiss the servants and you can do their duties instead?" Matt asked.

She slumped into the chair and crossed her arms.

"We're getting closer, Willie," I said. "In the meantime, you need a hobby."

"I had a hobby. Y'all won't let me play poker no more."

"Gambling was costing you a fortune," Matt told her. "So how was your walk this morning? I see you and Aunt Letitia managed not to kill one other."

"It was fine until we came home and found your other aunt and cousins waiting for us," Duke said. "We disappeared up here."

"Not that we were wanted in the drawing room," Cyclops added.

"You were wanted." Duke winked at him. "Miss Charity Glass couldn't stop staring. Careful, Cyclops, or you'll find yourself hitched to an English rose."

Cyclops's big shoulders shook with his silent chuckle. "She's not for the likes of me," he said, without a hint of disappointment or resentment.

"Ain't nothing wrong with American roses," Willie muttered.