Page 78 of Teach a Rogue New Tricks

But the victory didn’t feel as sweet as the freedom had.

Chapter Twenty-One

Adawoke up to the sound of screeching. The entire menagerie of the Tower had quite obviously broken free and sailed tooth and claw into their townhouse. She popped to her feet and threw her wrapper on over her shift, then she flung open the door and ran down the hall toward the source of the cacophony.

More like a symphony. Of wails and screams and hoots and laughter. And it came from the sitting room.

She tossed open the door and froze.

The twins and Pansy threw themselves one by one at her father, and he tossed them away. They sailed through the air with a scream and landed atop a pile of cushions and pillows across the room, shrieking with laughter and barreling toward him once more, screaming “Again, again!”

Her stepbrother, the sixteen-year-old James, sat in the window, cackling, and throwing the children back at her father when they came his way.

“James!” Ada cried. “You’re home!”

“Morning, Ada,” Pansy cried, hurtling toward her Papa.

One of the twins hit the pile of pillows then lunged himself at Ada’s legs, giving her a quick hug before tackling her father once more.

“Haloo, Ada!” James waved then grabbed the other twin by the waist, pivoted him upside down and held him there to the boy’s gurgling delight.

“When did you return from Harrow?” she asked over the chaos.

“This morning. For your aunt’s ball. I’m s’posed to get outfitted with a new suit for the occasion.”

“You’ll be handsome, I’m sure.”

“Right enough you are.” He grinned.

Her father stood and shook Pansy off one leg and Nicholas off the other. “Ada, my dear. Have you broken your fast yet?”

“No,” she said. “I’m glad to see you’ve not broken the children. Where is Sarah?”

“With Lola, helping with last-minute arrangements for the ball.”

The sound of the front door opening in the foyer sent the room into blissful silence.

Her father’s brows knit together. “Who could be here at this hour?”

“Uncle!” a male voice called out.

Ada turned with a grin. “Cousin Jackson!”

“Jack, my boy!” Her father joined Ada in the doorway. “You’re here early. It’s good to see you, too, Gwendolyn. You’re late. We expected you yesterday.”

Jackson and Gwendolyn strode toward them, looking travel-weary but happy.

Jackson hugged her father. “There was a delay for rain and bad roads near the end of our journey, but we’d made such good time before that, here we are!” He hugged Ada. “Present and eager for your big day. And Nora’s. She up yet?” He looked around. When he didn’t find her, he turned back to Papa. “But we won’t be here long.” His jolly expression faded, and he shook his head. “Only for the ball. We’ll have to leave the morning after. Wait until you hear what we discovered about Effington.”

“That dullard?” her father roared.

Gwendolyn hung back, looking shadowed and nervous.

Ada flashed her a smile, welcoming her into the group. “Have you broken your fast yet? Would you like to clean up first or eat? I can have food sent your rooms. Nora and I will be spending the night at Aunt Lola’s so you will take my room and Jack will take Nora’s.”

“Thank you,” Gwendolyn said. “I would like to freshen up.”

“Of course. Do you remember the way?”