Free Sari Robins - [Andersen Hall Orphanage 05] by The Governess Wears Scarlet

had given up on any attempt to waft the steamy air around her and had settled for simply sitting as still as possible. Sweat moistened her face, and her underarms had a very unladylike feeling of dampness. Still, the tree above her was heavy with green leaves and provided a welcome shade to relieve the worst of the heat.
    The boys didn’t seem to mind the high temperature one bit as they raced and pranced. They were fully occupied with their new kite and wouldn’t have known if it was hotter than Hades. Felix was in the lead, holding the wooden spool, with Seth following after him whining for a turn.
    The yellow kite had been a gift from Lord Steele, left for the lads to find after their studies. Lord Benbrook had departed that morning, and Abigail supposed that Steele had wanted to give the boys a distraction. It was a good thought, although he couldn’t have counted on such breezeless weather.
    “Let go!” Felix screamed, yanking on the kite in Seth’s hands.
    Seth gripped it harder. “I want to fly it!”
    Abigail straightened, lifting her head.
    Felix raised his hand as if to strike.
    “No!” Abigail leaped from her seat and charged forward.
    Felix looked up, his face twisted in anger. “He’s being an idiot!” But he lowered his hand.
    “You’re the idiot!” Seth screamed, tears spilling out his red-rimmed eyes.
    Abigail watched Felix carefully, but the taunt didn’t seem to trouble him.
    Pointing a finger at Felix, Abigail charged, “Don’t you ever raise a hand to your brother! Do you hear me?”
    “I wouldn’t have hit him.” Felix pouted, crossing his arms.
    “Have you ever struck him?”
    “Yes!” Seth cried. “He punched me!”
    “When?”
    Seth puffed out his chest in justified resentment. “On my birthday. He punched me in the arm for each year I was born.”
    “That doesn’t count!” Felix exclaimed, flinging his arms in the air. “It’s a tradition.”
    “One you relish hardily, I’m sure,” Abigail muttered with relief. It seemed that Felix might get irritated with his brother, but the anger didn’t propel him to real violence.
    Abigail turned to Seth. “Do you get to punch Felix on his birthday?”
    “Well…yes.”
    “Then since he’s older, it would seem that you get to punch him three more times than he punches you.”
    Seth blinked. “I…hadn’t ever thought of that.” He smirked, mollified.
    “Now, about this kite.” Abigail crossed her arms. “Please don’t make me have to inform Lord Steele that you must return his gift.”
    Both boys started. “What?”
    “I’ll be forced to do so if you two can’t figure out a way to play together.” Unwinding her arms, Abigail held open her hands. “Do you want to fly the kite?”
    “Yes!” the boys cried in unison.
    “Then you must find a way to work together.” She looked each boy in the eye. “Agreed?”
    Sighing, Felix nodded. “Agreed.”
    “Yes.” Seth rubbed his eyes.
    Abigail waved them off. “Go on now.”
    The boys traipsed off.
    “Here, let me show you the best way to hold it.” Felix leaned toward his brother.
    “Thanks,” Seth replied.
    A new air of camaraderie enveloped their play.
    Satisfied, Abigail returned to her seat in the shade and sighed. But she could not seem to quiet the thread of anxiety woven in her heart. The altercation between the boys had brought her fears about how so many conflicts seemed to come to blows. She’d certainly had enough experience with lightning tempers. Her brother had been the worst offender.
    It had happened again and again when he was a child. Reggie was easily affronted, and no matter how much Abigail had worked with him on trying not to take life too seriously, he always seemed to wind up in nasty confrontations. If a boy had pushed him in jest, he’d slammed him back at full force. If a girl had teased him, he’d barked out the nastiest retort. Heaven forbid someone said a cross word to Abigail, Reggie would make him pay, usually in resourceful