Elise’s father, the Marquess of Roxbury, joined them, a newspaper under one arm. Selecting a plate, he piled it high with ham, tomatoes, eggs, and a dash of fruit—to pacify her mother. Setting his heaping dish on the table, he poured himself a piping-hot cup of tea.

“Good morning, Elise.” Her father took his place at the head of the small oval table and unfolded his newspaper.

“Morning, Dad.”

Her father’s morning routine never altered. For as long as Elise could remember, no one interrupted his ritual—the reading of the paper—before they included him in idle chitchat. To keep him abreast of the latest news, Elise had downloaded several apps on his mobile over the holidays. But he had stubbornly resisted moving into the digital age.

Elise smirked at her mother across the table while they waited for him to get his “fix.” It didn’t take long. Her father only read two sections: headline news and sports. When Dad finished, he passed the society pages to her mother.

“Thank you, darling.” Mother browsed the latest gossip. “Hmm. Lady Ogilvie’s giving a party. Did we receive an invitation?”

“I hope not.” Roxbury winked at Elise, then polished off his eggs.

Elise ducked her head and bit back a laugh.

Mother glanced up, her blue eyes huge. “Whyever not? They’re having a charity auction for the Children’s Leukemia Foundation.”

“Can’t we donate without attending?” her father asked.

Mother’s mouth dented at the corners, and she set down the thin society section beside her teacup and saucer. “Of course not, and you know it.”

“Unfortunately, I do.” Her father made a face.

“You’d best finish your tea, darling. We’ve a flight to catch.”

Dutifully, her father picked up his teacup and took a sip, while his pale-blue eyes probed Elise over the gilded rim.

For the last few minutes, Elise had surreptitiously attempted to read the upside-down headlines on her father’s paper.

Seeing her arched neck, he handed it to her with a flourish. “I doubt it will be as up-to-date as your digital apps, but you’re welcome to read it just the same.”

“Touché, Dad?” Elise smirked.

Her father chuckled and placed his cup back on its saucer. “Couldn’t resist after the fuss you made at Christmas.”

“I definitely deserved that.” Elise smoothed out the paper.

“Has Sophie been down yet?” her mother asked, referring to Elise’s next oldest sister.

“Been and gone,” Elise said absently, frowning at the national headlines.

Meth deaths in Camden on the rise.

Parkwide search continues. Six girl guides and their leader, Lucy Jones-Newton, went missing Tuesday. They were last seen hiking the Minor’s Track in Snowdonia National Park.

“Sophie works too hard.” Mother added cream and sugar to her tea.

“Where’s Cairstine this morning? She’s not one to lie abed,” Dad said with a glance at his youngest daughter’s empty chair.