He eyes me. “So, if your mother was Frida Carlsen, then your father must be Maxwell Frederick, the poet.”

“He is. He moved back to England when he and my mother divorced.”

“Is he still writing? I studied him at school. Beautiful imagery.”

“That’s what happens when you’re stoned every day.”

“Good heavens, no one ever told me that. I should have been a poet laureate by the time I was seventeen.”

I laugh. “So, what about you?” I ask, leaning against the counter and sipping my drink. I’m surprised to find myself asking questions and being genuinely interested in the answers. But then I have no intention of shagging him. He’s too old for me. I like them young and casual.

He shrugs. “What’s to tell?”

“Well, your name. It’s unusual. From Little Women?”

“My mother was an actress and played Beth in a West End production of Little Women. I bet she died far more dramatically than Louisa May Alcott ever intended, though.” He grins. “Anyway, my name starts with ‘L’. All six of us have names beginning with that letter. You probably know that from Lennie.”

“I think there is a lot I have missed when listening to your sister.” I shrug. “It’s probably better for my mental health.”

He chuckles. “I think my stepfather is rather embarrassed by the naming business.”

“I can’t believe there were six of you. Good heavens. That’s a zoo.”

He throws his head back and laughs. It’s a merry sound that makes me smile. “You’d have definitely said that if you’d known us as children. The Gentry mob. How many of us have you met?”

“Not all of you. I’ve managed to avoid the family parties for years.”

“Very astute of you.”

“I’ve met Lennie, obviously, Luke, and now you.”

“Well, allow me to enlighten you. There are my two older brothers—Lorcan and Luke. Then there are my younger sisters, Leia and Lucy. And my twin sister Lennie whose actual name is Leonora. She insists on being called Lennie. Her version of a rebellion without any actual bloodshed.”

“Why the letter ‘L’? I’m sure your sister never mentioned that. It seems as if it would be memorable.”

He waves an airy hand. “Probably because it all seems entirely normal to us. It was actually my mother’s idea.”

“I was going to say she was mad, but I think that’s evidenced by the fact that she’s married to the reincarnation of Judge Jeffreys.”

He shakes his head. “He does like his brandy.” He claps his hands together and stands up. “Well, I must be getting on.”