with one sharp glance and spoke again to the squire. “I wouldn’t want any unpleasantness to spoil the friendship that our families have enjoyed for so long. The duke and duchess have always expressed gratitude for having such a good neighbor as you.”
“But they stopped the hunt!” the squire exclaimed, unable to let go of his grievance.
“Yes, I know, and they acted quite unbecomingly in doing so,” Kyria agreed soothingly. “I assure you that I will take the matter up with my mother and father.”
“But what about the hunt?” The squire’s voice was taking on something of a wail.
“Now, wait.” Rafe spoke up again. “Sorry, I’m an American, so maybe I’m a little confused here. Let me get this straight. You’re saying that all you folks areout here, with the dogs and everything, trying to chase down that one little fox?”
“Yes, of course. It’s a hunt.” Winton looked disdainfully at him.
“Oh, I see.” Rafe nodded thoughtfully. “I was just…well, back home a fella usually just goes after a varmint like that himself, you know. He doesn’t need a whole bunch of folks helping him.”
The squire bridled a little at his words. “Well, of course, I don’t need help. It’s, well, that’s the way it’s done.”
“Oh. Well, sure.” Rafe glanced around. “Thing is…I think the other side got tired of waiting.”
He turned and looked significantly at the bush in front of which the twins stood. The boys turned to look, too, then stepped aside, grinning. The small red fox that had been hiding beneath the bush was gone.
“Bloody hell!” the squire exclaimed. He glared at Kyria. “Your father will hear from me.”
“I am sure he will be happy to discuss the matter with you.”
He shook his riding crop toward the twins one last time, saying, “They should have leashes on them!” He turned and stomped off back to his horse.
Kyria sighed, watching her neighbor stalk away. Rafe cast her a glance, one eyebrow raised.
“So,” he said slowly, “tell me, is this what you’d call a typical day around here?”
Kyria had to chuckle. “Unfortunately, it is more often than not.”
She swung around to face the twins, who hurried up to her and Rafe, agog with interest.
“What a cunning gun!” Alex exclaimed. “May I look at it? Please?”
Rafe held it out in the palm of his hand. “Yes, but you can’t touch it. It’s loaded. When we get back to the house, I’ll unload and clean it and let you look at it.”
“Will you?” Alex grinned. “That would be ever so good of you.”
“It’s so small!” Con said, peering at it. “I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“It’s called a derringer. The aim’s no good. You can only use it close up, but it’s handy to carry.”
“I must say,” Kyria interrupted crossly, “you two boys certainly have a ghoulish interest in guns for people who are so concerned about the squire hunting that miserable fox.”
“It’s not the same thing!” Con protested. “They are only killing that poor fox for sport. Theo says that a gun is a necessity.”
“No doubt it is when you are in the wilds of Australia, as Theo was,” Kyria said. “That’s not the point, anyway. The point is—why did you have to do this? This week of all times?”
Con shrugged, but Alex replied seriously, “Actually, it seemed to me that this week would have the most impact. After all, it is the biggest and most important hunt the squire is likely to have, what with our guests being here, too.”
“That is exactly what I mean. You embarrassed the man in front of some of the very people he would most like to impress. Now it will be doubly hard to placate him. And I imagine our guests were none too pleased about it, either.”
“Mother says you cannot waver on what you think is right just because it isn’t a popular opinion,” Alex put in pedantically.
Kyria let out a low groan. “I’m sure she did. But she isn’t the one trying to keep a large
Alice Clayton, Nina Bocci