with her children and not standing on the opposite side of his desk.
This suggested two things to him. Either she and Kate wanted something from him and to obtain it they had decided to do it away from the family home, or they were going to question him about the foul mood he had been raining down on his family for the past two weeks.
Please let it be the first.
“I am busy and due to have a meeting with an angry lord who neither of you wish to encounter, believe me, so unless you have cakes, which I see you don’t, perhaps whatever this is could wait?” Daniel managed a smile, then looked back down at his papers.
“That smile would scare even your most ardent admirer,” Kate said. Following those words was a scraping of chairs that told him his sisters had ignored his directive. Sighing, he sat back and waited while they took their time settling, twitching skirts and clasping hands together in their laps. He’d always been amazed how these two communicated. With just a look, they seemed to understand each other. Peas in a pod, they were identical in looks but not in personality.
Mary was the softer of the two and did not usually like conflict. Never easy when surrounded by seven siblings, most of whom enjoyed a good verbal debate.
Kate was determined and belligerent when required, and never took a back step when there was confrontation to be had.
“Well, speak. I don’t have all day.”
“We were delegated—” Kate began.
“By whom?” Daniel raised a brow.
“The family,” she added. “To come and see you.”
“You see me most days.”
“Yes, but now Mary is here with me, and we wish to discuss something of importance with you.”
“Can I stop you?”
“No.”
“Do I at least get tea?”
“You just said you are awaiting a client, so I’m sure there is no time for that,” Mary said.
“You can’t always be hungry, Daniel. One day all this eating and drinking will thicken your waistline.”
“Thank you, Kate, I am pleased that my health is your main concern,” he said with a healthy dose of sarcasm.
She flicked her fingers at him, which told him nothing and simply annoyed him further.
“Save your concern for Bernard’s belly. Mine is just fine as it is, thank you.”
“Bernard is in perfect health.” Kate looked smug.
“That will do. We have come here to discuss something serious; I suggest we do so before this escalates,” Mary intervened.
“Well then, get it said. I have business to attend to,” he snapped. He rarely snapped, and never at his sisters… Perhaps that wasn’t entirely accurate, but he tried not to unless provoked, and so far, they had said nothing to do so.
“You have been biting everyone’s heads off for two weeks now, Daniel, and we want to know why,” Mary said. “It is our worry for you that has us here today. Well, Kate works here, but she did not wish to address the matter alone.”
“Why not?” He tried to temper his response. No need to attack the messengers when clearly the entire family was behind them being here. It annoyed Daniel that his family had discussed him behind his back. “I have hardly seen how I can have bitten everyone’s head off, as I live at another address from you all.” Daniel knew, of course, that they were right. He’d been argumentative and hostile, and this was totally out of character.
The twins looked at each other, communicating silently, then Kate nodded.
“You came to dinner, and while you were there you barely spoke. Then you picked on Peter simply because he was sucking peas through his teeth,” Kate said.
“Tell me that doesn’t annoy you,” Daniel demanded. “He should have grown out of that particular habit by now.”
His sisters sent him a steady look that his mother had perfected and clearly handed down to her daughters.
“What is wrong, Daniel? Can we help in any way?” Kate asked.
He ran a hand over his face.
“Please, Daniel, we are worried,” Mary added.
“I am well,” he said, suddenly feeling weary. “I had an encounter with a woman—”
“The one with the brothers that Oliver told us about?” Kate asked.
Of course his brother had said something; there were no secrets in the Dillinger clan, he thought bitterly.
“The very one. But the point is, she lied to me, and I find I am still annoyed about it. I apologize if I have been a little off.”
“A little.” Kate scoffed, which made him want to shake her. He hated anyone scoffing at him, but a