To Dance until Dawn - Emma V. Leech Page 0,92

better than me.”

Catherine cut him a look. “But Papa started teaching me last year. I’m bound to be better than you.”

“Ugh. Girls,” Jake grumbled, and stalked out of the breakfast room.

Lucian exchanged an amused glance with Phoebe, took his daughter’s hand, and followed him out.

***

Phoebe watched her father pause as her mother entered the room. Her papa lingered to kiss his wife, whispering something to her that made Mama blush and smack him lightly on the arm before she came and sat down at the breakfast table. Eliza followed her in, holding a rather crumpled letter triumphantly in her hand before flopping down at the table again.

“Am I the last?” Mama asked Max.

“No, we’ve not seen Helena, nor any of her brood yet, though Gabriel is out with Jasper and Jerome.”

“Good morning, Mama.”

Phoebe watched as her brother Philip, or Pip as everyone knew him, leant down and kissed Mama. “We’re going to take a picnic out to Mast Head. Can you tell Florence and Evie where to find us if they ever deign to wake up?”

Phoebe looked her brother over. He had grown into a fine looking man, as handsome as their father, with his pale golden hair but eyes that were more blue than grey. Thomas, the younger, had darker gold hair, but the two of them made an exceptional picture together, and they had become used to the way women gazed upon them and sighed.

A little too used to it, in Phoebe’s opinion.

She hoped some forthright girls were out there waiting for them, and would have the gumption to take them down a peg or two. Not that they were unkind or uncaring, far from it, and she loved them dearly, but they were spoiled and accustomed to having everything their own way.

“Come along, Rose,” Pip said kindly, holding his hand out to her daughter, who was still sulking. “Come to your Uncle Pip and I’ll take you for a ride on my horse while everyone gets ready for the picnic.”

“Oh!” Rose said, instantly mollified as she ran to her uncle and took his hand. “Thank you, Uncle.”

She gazed up with adoration at Pip, and Phoebe smiled.

“Have you finished, love?”

Phoebe looked around to find Max watching her, his dark eyes warm upon her.

“I have, why?”

Max winked at her and got up. Phoebe followed him out, intrigued as he moved towards the stairs.

“Where are you taking me?” she asked suspiciously.

“Somewhere quiet.”

“For example?” she probed, trying to smother a grin as she knew full well what he was about. Max chuckled, grabbed her hand and towed her up the stairs, making her shriek and snatch at her skirts before she tripped over them.

“Both our children are occupied,” he said, his voice urgent. “It’s too good an opportunity to miss in this madhouse.”

Phoebe laughed and ran after him as he tugged her along until they got to their room and kicked the door shut behind him. She hadn’t the time to speak before she was in his arms and decided she didn’t need to say anything after all. Phoebe sighed, tangling her fingers in his thick hair, greying now, far more than her father’s. She liked it, for it made him look quite serious and distinguished when, in truth, he was funny and irreverent and just a bit wicked, a point he proved as his hand yanked up her skirts and burrowed beneath.

“I prefer the good old days when there were no drawers to get in the way,” he grumbled, seeking the slit at the crotch as Phoebe snorted with laughter.

“Yes,” she said. “I remember our return journey from Paris. You made good use of that fact in the carriage, as I remember.”

Max huffed. “You have a different memory of events than me then, love. I was attacked, as I remember, and debauched at every opportunity. There I was, terrified that Jack would murder me, and you were set on having your wicked way whenever you could.”

Phoebe laughed, delighted and unable to deny it. “Oh, let us visit Jack and Pippin after lunch today. I’m so happy those two married at last. I thought Pippin would keep him dancing to her tune to the end of their days.”

“No, love,” Max said gently. “She loved him too much for that. She just wanted him to know she was worth waiting for, so he’d appreciate what he had.”

Phoebe smiled and took his face between her hands, staring into his dark eyes. “I appreciate what I have, Max. I love you more than ever.