Free Amanda Scott - [Dangerous 02] by Dangerous Angels Page B

them to you. Now, how are the children to address you, I wonder? I believe Kenhorn said you like to be called Charley by members of the family. I do not hold with masculine nicknames for females, myself, but if that is what you like—”
    “How old are the children?” she said, smiling at the two toddlers hiding their faces in the skirts of the younger of the two women who had entered in his wake.
    Tarrant said, “Our Neddy is four, I believe, and Jane is two.”
    “They can call me Cousin Charlotte if you prefer,” she said, “or Charley if you will allow it.” Turning from him, she held out her hand to the older of the two women with him, and said, “Forgive me if I seemed to forget my manners. We did not anticipate your arrival for some weeks yet, you see, but you are certainly welcome. You, I need not add, may call me Charley if your sensibilities are not disturbed by such nicknames. And your name is …?”
    “Edythe Tarrant, with a ‘y’ and an ‘e,’” the woman said, standing straight and looking down her nose. She was not much older than Charley, but she was at least six inches taller and carried herself like a haughty dame with fifty years’ experience behind her. Indicating the slender, light-brown-haired girl to whose skirts the children clung, she added, “This is Mr. Tarrant’s sister, Elizabeth, spelled the ordinary way. She makes her home with us, their parents being deceased. I must say, Charlotte, my dear, since I do not believe in mincing words, that I am astonished to see a young woman of quality putting herself forward in such an unbecoming way as you have done today.”
    “Are you, ma’am? Well, when you have come to know me better, my behavior will not surprise you at all. As you can readily see, my grandmother does not enjoy robust health, so it has fallen to me to look after things here since my parents and my grandfather died. Now then,” she added in a brisker tone, “I will be glad to show you over the house when you have got settled in. Mr. Tarrant,” she added, turning back to Alfred, “I will gladly arrange to help you become familiar with estate matters, too.”
    “You must call me Cousin Alfred, Charlotte,” he said. “As to estate matters, I assure you, I do not require lessons in management from a scrap of a girl. Kenhorn has promised to visit me to attend to all that. In the meantime, I’ll want to speak to one Petrok Caltor. Quite an outlandish name, but I am told he is the late lord’s steward. Kenhorn tells me he is capable enough, and I don’t suppose he named himself.”
    “Petrok Caltor’s is a good and well-respected Cornish name, sir, and he is an excellent steward, I might add.”
    “I expect we will see about that in good time.”
    Charley ground her teeth together, noting that Lady St. Merryn had collapsed with her salts bottle and seemed to have no intention of speaking to the newcomers. She was grateful when Medrose chose that moment to return.
    “Here is Mrs. Medrose, Miss Charlotte,” he said from the doorway. Then, turning to Edythe Tarrant, he said, “Do the children have a nursemaid, madam?”
    “Ain’t arrived yet,” Alfred said before Edythe could reply. “We met with a dashed heavy fog rolling in from the sea, which doubtless delayed the second carriage. Nonetheless, our baggage and servants cannot be far behind us and ought to arrive before nightfall. In the meantime, our Elizabeth will look after them, won’t you, Lizzie?”
    “Oh, yes, Alfred, of course I will,” the girl said in a soft voice. “Come, children. We will find a warm fire and perhaps some cinnamon toast. Oh!” The exclamation came when she looked toward the doorway.
    Turning to see what had startled Elizabeth, Charley saw Letty come in with Jeremiah perched on her shoulder.
    “Upon my word,” Alfred exclaimed. “What the devil is that?”
    Calmly, Charley replied, “Cousin Alfred, everyone, this is my cousin, the Lady Letitia Deverill. Letty, dear, this is