A Sibling's Interference

Chapter Twenty-One

 I hurried up to the front door of the gatehouse. Before I knocked on the door, I could hear the giggles of young Isabella. Whatever entertainments her father had engaged her in were clearly successful.

My knock was answered by the housekeeper. "Good morning, Mr. Lucas," she greeted. "You'll find Mr. John in the sitting room with Miss Isabella."

"Excellent." Though I didn't want to have an audience to my conversation with my friend, his daughter was young enough that she would undoubtedly not pay us any mind.

"Have you breakfasted?" Mrs. Willow asked.

"I have," I told her with a smile as I removed my hat. "Mrs. Wallace keeps me well-fed."

Humming a skeptical note, Mrs. Willow nodded and then retreated to her kitchen. I strode for the sitting room. Even if she hadn't told me, the laughter would have guided me there.

When I opened the door, I found that Mr. John Ward was sprawled on the floor with his daughter on his back. They both looked up at me. Isabella giggled while Ward looked embarassed to have been caught in such a position.

"Well, Miss Isabella," I greeted with a grin. "It looks as though you have caught a vile criminal. Do you need assistance in subduing him or do you have the matter in hand?"

With another giggle, Isabella scrambled to her feet. "It's not a criminal!" she declared. "It's Papa."

"No!" I exclaimed in mock disbelief. "Are you sure?"

"Papa, get up and show him it is you!" the girl said, tugging on her father's arm.

"What brings you here, Bywood?" Ward asked as he rose. "Some new crisis?"

"I came to invite you to a picnic I will be having in two days," I informed him. "I hope you will be able to attend."

Immediately, Isabella jumped up and down, clapping her hands. "A picnic!" she repeated with delight. "Papa, we will go, won't we? A picnic will be ever so much fun and I've never been to one!"

"I don't think it is a picnic for little girls who ought to be having her lessons," her father told her, though his tone was kind. "Why don't you run along and see what Mrs. Winters has to teach you today?"

The girl pouted, and looked to be on the verge of stamping her foot. "Do as I say, Isabella," Ward said sternly. "I need to talk to Mr. Bywood in private. We'll have fun later on."

After a moment, the girl heaved a dramatic sigh. She bobbed a curtsy and then ran from the room. "I really need to see about a governess for her," Ward remarked, shaking his head. "She's running wild already."

"I'm afraid I have no advice to give on that topic," I said. "Though I could ask my mother if she knows of a woman in need of a position."

But Ward shook his head. "I'm sure I can manage the matter without bothering your mother." He brushed at some unseen dirt on his sleeves. "Well? What brings you here today? Dare I hope you've come to take Talbot off my hands?"
"I'm afraid not," I said guiltily. "I hope he has not been too difficult?"

Ward paused and shook his head. "He has been a considerate guest, but I doubt he and I will ever be more than passing acquaintances."

"Understandable." I was beginning to think that Talbot and I would only ever be cordial with each other, even if he did manage to win my sister's affection once again. Disappointing, as I liked my other sisters' husbands.

"So why are you here?" Ward asked, getting back to the point.

With a sigh, I told him everything that had happened the day before. It wasn't often that he showed any emotion, but my tale made his eyebrows go up. "By Jove, Bywood, you have landed yourself into a mess this time," he commented, shaking his head. "How do you manage it?"