“I won’t,” Zack said.
Giselle suppressed a snort. She did not believe him for a minute. But she would make sure that from now on, the door to the tower was locked and barred until repairs to the deck could commence. Clearly, that was the only way to keep the little daredevil safe permanently.
They managed to reach the house just as Jon and Tory pulled up in front. When they leapt out, she ran to hug them both. “What are you doing here?”
“Jon read in the press that you are betrothed to Heathbrook, so we came to save you from a fate worse than death,” another voice said.
“Chloe!” she cried, and ran over to hug Jon’s sister, who was also her friend. “It is so good to see you!”
Chloe drew back with a laugh. “I mean it, Giselle. The man is an unrepentant scoundrel who doesn’t deserve you. Or so Jonsays, anyway. We came straightaway to inform Lord Heathbrook of that.”
“Where’s your mother? And Cyril?”
“Cyril came down with an ague,” Chloe said, “so Mother stayed in London to nurse him back to health. They may join us if Cyril starts feeling better.”
“How did you know where to find me, anyway?” Giselle asked Jon.
“I went to your town house, and they told me you were at Longmead. It wasn’t hard to figure it out from there. I was here enough times in my youth to remember it.” He walked up to Evan. “And I remember this rascal, too, I think. Evan?”
When he started to hug Evan, the lad thrust out his hand to shake. “How are you, Your Grace?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, call me Jon as you always did.” Jon turned to Kit. “And this strapping lad must be Christopher, I presume?”
“Kit,” the lad said, and happily hugged Jon. “It’s so good to see you, sir. You used to give me lemon drops when I was a boy.”
“I outgrew that habit, I’m afraid. Now it’s ginger comfits, if you’d like one of those.”
“Excuse me, husband of mine,” Tory said archly. “You know those aremyginger comfits.” She smiled at Kit. “But you’re welcome to one, if you like.” She looked at Zack, who was hanging back, looking unsure of himself again. “And you, too, young man. You must be Zachary.”
“You know about me?” Zack said.
“Of course,” Jon replied. “How could we forget Heath’s youngest brother? Even though he’d never met you, he told us everything he learned about you from your mother’s letters.”
When Zack’s face clouded over, Giselle stepped in to change the subject. “Ginger comfits?” she said to her half sister. “Are you, by some chance—”
“I am,” Tory said, beaming up at Jon.
“Congratulations!” Giselle cried, and hugged her again, more gently this time.
“Congratulations for what?” Zack asked. “She is what?”
“My wife and I are expecting a child, young Zachary,” Jon said, staring down at Tory with love in his eyes.
It was hard for Giselle to watch. Of course, she was thrilled for them, but seeing the way he looked at her made her wonder if Heath would ever look atherthat way.
“Now,” Jon added, “where is the rapscallion who has the audacity to think he can marry our favorite French friend? Heathbrook! Come out here, you scoundrel, so I can call you out!”
“That’s not amusing, Jon,” Tory said. “Leave him be.”
“He cannot hear you, anyway,” Giselle said. “Believe it or not, he is in London just now on urgent estate business. But he is supposed to return late tomorrow, so you might as well stay until then.” She looked at Evan. “That is, if Evan is fine with it, since I am sure he put Evan in charge.”
“Actually,” Evan said, “he left me a note sayingyouwere in charge. Which is fine by me. You are generally better at such things as hospitality.”
Giselle melted. “You are very kind, Evan.” She gazed at her friends. “Do come in then. I am sure you would like a cup of tea and a biscuit or two, not to mention a chance to stretch out on a more comfortable seat than the one in your coach.”
“You aren’t lying, my dear,” Tory said. “Lead the way.”
When Giselle first walked inside, one of the footmen tried to take her redingote, but she told him she wanted to keep it on.