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week at Marcus’ a few months ago. That alone shocked Patrick more than anything he’d ever witnessed. That man hated horses, and for good reason, too.
    “ You girls about ready to mount?” he asked, walking up behind them.
    Celia nodded vigorously. “Yes. And Harry said I get to go first.” Her words spoken as proudly as if she were declaring she’d just won a war.
    Patrick grinned at her. She may be a girl, but there was no denying she’d been spending too much time with Cook’s two sons. A mother would be very good for her, indeed. He’d have to ask Juliet to work with them on being more ladylike. It wouldn’t do for Celia―or any of them―to continue to puff her chest out as she spoke when she got older. That could result in all sorts of situations he’d rather avoid.
    Clearing his throat, he stepped closer to her. “Allow me to help you.” He grabbed her about the waist and hoisted her up into the saddle. “Settled?”
    Grabbing for the reins, Celia grinned. “I’m ready to ride.”
    Reluctantly, Patrick handed the reins to his daughter. “Be safe and do exactly as Harry says.”
    “ Yes, Papa.”
    Patrick waited for her to ride off before turning back to Helena and Kate. “Can I interest either of you in a secret?”
    “ A secret?” Helena shrieked. “Always.”
    He chuckled. “I thought you might be interested. How about you, Kate?”
    Kate just stared at him with her big hazel eyes in a way that would have made him feel bad if not for the good news he was concealing. She was still disappointed she’d had to leave the Hughes’ home yesterday without a promise of return, but he also knew he had just the words to make her look at him as if he were the bravest hero in the world.
    Locating the nearest mounting box, Patrick sat down and pulled Kate and Helena down to his lap. Settling one on each of his knees, he grinned at one, then the other. “All right, since only Helena’s interested in my secret, I’m only going to tell her.” He winked at Kate before turning to whisper his news in Helena’s ear.
    Helena’s response caught him off guard as she bounced off his lap and started jumping around, while shrieking something he couldn’t understand.
    Turning back to Kate who just blinked at her older sister, he said, “Are you the slightest bit curious now?”
    She turned her eyes back to his and looked at him with an expression only a five year-old could make. “I suppose,” she said in the most insincere disinterested tone he’d ever heard.
    “ Hmm. That’s not quite the response I was hoping for. I expected more of a reaction from you. Perhaps I ought to just keep my secret to myself.”
    Crossing her arms, she blinked up at him.
    “ I need a wee bit more excitement, Kate,” he teased even though it was obvious she was trying her hardest not to crack even the smallest hint of a smile. “You must really be angry with me.”
    She nodded and glanced at her squealing sister.
    He gave the most exaggerated sigh he could muster. “Well, I’m torn. On one hand, I could just keep my secret to myself until you’re no longer angry with me; or I could try to charm my way back into your good graces by letting it slip. Helena,” he called out, grabbing the attention of his other daughter. “What do you think I should do?”
    Helena glanced at her younger sister. “Keep the secret.”
    Patrick shook his head. “And here I thought I was raising loving little girls,” he muttered. He ran his fingers through his hair. “Well, since I cannot teach sisterly love, perhaps one Miss Juliet Hughes, soon-to-be Lady Drakely, can.”
    Kate and Helena blinked at him, both silent.
    Right. Yet again he was speaking with words beyond their understanding. “I’m marrying Miss Juliet Hughes on Saturday.”
    Immediately, the squealing, shrieking, screaming, and giggling commenced again, this time Kate joining in the celebration. Patrick spotted Celia on the old brown nag she was riding. He’d tell her