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or two, silence hung heavy in the room. He might as well offer some sort of clarification. “I believe I should intervene.” He folded his napkin and casually placed it beside his plate.
    “Giles, please forgive my daughter.”
    “Papa . . .”
    A glare from her father cut off anything else Alex wanted to say. She dropped her head and slowly slid back onto her chair.
    “Allow me to enlighten you.” He studied each face at the table before speaking. “I was having a leisurely ride on my new steed. Following your directions,” he nodded to James, “at the appropriate landmark, I rode into a meadow bordered by a group of oaks. A black stallion bolted from the tree line. Immediately, I recognized the black you purchased from the auction. At first I felt admiration. I was pleased to see such a fine animal race across the open field. But, then, it dawned on me the horse was out of control, and the lad might be in trouble.”
    He glanced at Alex. She fumed, tight-lipped and stiff-jawed. Angry eyes glared back at him.
    “I had no idea your daughter was the rider on that horse. Fearing for the lad’s safety, I set off after him—uh, her.”
    A choked laugh caught his attention. Kit’s shoulders shook.
    “Gor, Alex,” Sam cried.
    “Did you catch her?” Ben turned his sharp gaze on his sister.
    “Of course.” Giles couldn’t keep his lips from turning up into a grin. “I rescued her.”
    “You did not rescue me!”
    Receiving a fulminating glower from her father, her eyes lowered to her hands, fisting in her lap.
    “What happened?” Sam asked with excitement.
    “I only recently purchased Gent. The steed’s owner declared the horse powerful. Quite worth the purchase price. Not only did I catch up with Alex, I snatched her right out of the black’s saddle.”
    All three brothers burst out in loud guffaws, and so did their father. However, Cornelia fanned herself, and Sarah hid a smile behind her fingers.
    “That explains the missing rider.” Ben leaned an arm on the back of his chair. “But not why the horse was alone when we found him.”
    “My guess, the black kept running.” Kit turned his amused grin on Alex.
    “You are correct. Your sister was afraid the stallion would run away.” Giles turned to James. “I apologize earnestly for my rash actions, as I apologized to your daughter as soon as I found out the lad was a girl.”
    “Papa, there is nothing to be concerned about. I did not—” Alex began, only to be cut off by her father.
    “Nothing to be concerned about? Not only did you lose your new horse, but a gentleman had to come to your rescue. And he thought you a boy.”
    “Not the first time,” Sam piped in.
    “Dear God. Sarah, do you have smelling salts?”
    “Aunt Cornelia, are you going to faint?” Kit leaned forward in his chair.
    “Cornelia is fine, dear.” Sarah raised her crystal wine glass and gazed at him over the rim.
    “It’s easy to mistake Alex for a boy,” Ben said. “Why, my own eyes nearly bugged out of my head when she walked in here in that dress.”
    This time the urchin did kick, and sure enough Giles felt the ramifications. He flinched and swallowed a grunt of pain.
    “Alex. One cannot behave foolishly in front of others and not expect it to spread like wildfire,” James scolded. “From this day forward, there will be a new set of rules put in place. Your mother and I, and Cornelia, will discuss the matter after dinner.”
    She practically wilted under the table.
    “Perhaps what your father is trying to say, is that you are of an age now. A young lady is expected to behave a certain way.” Cornelia tried to retain the ambience at the dinner table. Maybe save some embarrassment for Alex in the process.
    “I find her spirited behavior quite amusing.” Giles watched Alex’s face as he spoke. Sure enough, signs of a temper flared. He discovered he liked baiting her as much as her brothers. He ground his lips together to capture the chuckle bursting