“Love knows no age," Maria said placidly.

"Love." Lucius snorted. "A very fine thing. I can just imagine them in their caps and bedgowns sharing a dish of gruel while they compare ailments. Utter nonsense. I hope you don't wish me to turn romantic now. You will be sadly disappointed."

The door opened, and Philippa and George rushed out like two colts from the pen. Philippa—whose fresh innocence belied a spirit of mischief that Lucius knew all too well could be dangerous—spoke first.

"Lucius, I am so glad you're here so I don’t have to wait to ask you. I finally won Mother's approval to have a Season this year, and I will need you to host me. Mother will be there, of course. But we need your house in London. It's big enough to host a ball for me, as well.”

Not having a ready answer to something he had no intention of saying yes to, Lucius held off from replying and looked at George instead. "When do you go back to school?"

George returned his gaze with a sheepish look. “Oh…I was sent down for the term. So I won't be going back.”

Lucius paused in the act of placing his gloves on the small table in the entrance. “You didn’t tell me this over Christmas. What was it this time? Running off to see a prize fight that was expressly forbidden and getting caught climbing back in?”

George grinned and shook his head. “We dressed a local cow in the headmaster’s cape and hat.”

Philippa laughed, and Maria glared at George before turning to him. “Lucius, you really ought to do something. If I’ve told you once, I’ve told you dozens of times—George will come to grief gadding about in this way.”

Lucius would appreciate seeing a more serious bent to George’s comportment, but he was not about to join his older sister in plaguing him. He knew all too well what that was like. “Well, George, as I know how much you will miss the books, I’ll be sure to hire a tutor to keep you occupied.” As he said it in his driest tone, George just laughed and folded his arms.

Philippa, always an enchanting child but nearly grown now, peered up at Lucius. She was quite taking with her sparkling eyes and hair styled in tight curls around her face. She took him by the hand.

"So when will we remove to London, Lucius? I will need you to purchase the gowns that have to be ordered. We calculated with Mama that I will need seven morning dresses and at least two riding dresses. I suppose there will be no need for a court gown now that Princess Charlotte has died.”

She paused as if contemplating the idea of mourning, but he knew she was too young to be touched by it and did not even remember her own father well. Philippa went on. “But I will need several evening gowns and ball gowns, as well as gloves and stockings and the like."