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“Not that I know of. Really, I don’t think so.”
    “Then stop being silly, or must I remind you that Jeremy is only your stepson, and that he’s only a few years younger than you are. You’re only going to be a step-grandmother. And don’t even think of calling me ancient again, or were you planning on serving shoes for dinner?”
    She pushed out of his arms, laughing at the memory of his chasing her around his desk on his ship, The Maiden Anne, after she’d told him “if the shoe fits” in relation to his being ancient. He’d told her he was going to make her eat that shoe, and he probably would have, too. She’d wounded his vanity, after all, quite deliberately, of course. But shoes and the eating of them were a standard joke with them now.
    “And of course the youngun needs cheering up,” James agreed. “His future mother-in-law all but kicked him out of her house and refuses to let him see the bride before the wedding. I’m deuced if I would have allowed your family to keep me away from you after the wedding date was set.”
    “Very funny, James. We didn’t get to set a wedding date and you know it. We both got shoved up to the altar the very same day my family met you.”
    “And a good thing, too, but then barbarians are so predictable.”
    She burst out laughing. “Let’s not inform them that you did the forcing that day, when they really thought it was their idea.”
    “They wouldn’t believe it anyway, and thankfully, you only have one brother here at the moment—one too many, but one I can tolerate.”
    “You’ll never admit that my brothers aren’t as bad as you thought, will you? Drew even recently helped extricate Jeremy from the leg-shackle that he didn’t want, and without being asked, too.”
    “His help was noted. Hate to say it, but I do owe him one for that. Just don’t remind him that I do. I bloody well hope he forgets.”
    “Oh, posh. He doesn’t expect payback. Andersons aren’t like that and you know it.”
    “Beg to differ, George. Everyone is like that if the need is great enough. Fortunately, he’s got four other brothers to depend on before he’d think of turning to a brother-in-law for help. And it sounds like Tony has arrived,” he added with a wince as they both heard the noise from downstairs. “You really should point out to our daughter that squealing is a habit of pigs, not young girls.”
    Amused by her husband’s reaction to the din their daughter and Tony’s daughter were making, she grinned at him. “Won’t do any good. You know very well Jack and Judy are inseparable. If they haven’t seen each other for a few days, they simply can’t help being excited when they do.”
    “And make that unearthly racket.”
    “Which reminds me. Jacqueline is really looking forward to this trip, but I don’t think it’s occurred to her yet that she won’t see Judith for the couple of months that we’ll be gone.”
    James groaned inwardly, quite aware of where her thoughts were going. “You’re leaving the twins with Regan, but now you want to add to the passenger list? My brother will never agree. You may depend upon it.”
    “’Course he will. It’s going to be an educational trip, after all, for the girls to visit America. They’ve never been out of England, either of them.”
    “What’s that got to do with Tony missing his only daughter?”
    “Just remind him that it will give him some time alone with Rosalyn.”
    He pulled her back into his arms. “And when do I get some time alone with you?”
    “Do you want some?” she almost purred, wrapping her arms around his neck as she leaned into him.
    “Always.”
    “Then I’ll think of something, and you may depend upon that.”

Chapter 5
    “T WO WEEKS AIN’T THE LEAST BIT DEPRESSING, and you only have three days to go before the wedding. Gives you time to have second thoughts, don’t it? Her mother is a genius if you ask me. You may end up thanking her.”
    All four men stared at Percival