Nobody said a word.

“I agree.” Alex stepped up next to me. “And if we could keep the insults to a minimum, I would appreciate it, as Olympia is upstairs moving into her bedroom.” He looked around and nodded at me, and I was thankful for him backing me up, something I showed him by touching my hand to his arm.

“Aunt Cat, the entire reason the entire family is here is to solve the situation your relationship put us in. Have a little respect for us, please.”

She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. “You’re right, Gabriella. I’m sorry.” She looked around. “Would anyone object to me returning to my bedroom to freshen up?”

“Of course we won’t, Cat,” Aunt Elizabeth said. “As long as you freshen up your attitude while you’re there.”

Aunt Cat snorted, but she refrained from answering and instead made her way upstairs to her room.

“Right,” I said, turning around. “Now that she’s gone, can we all return to whatever it was that we were going to do? I believe alcohol was mentioned, and I could do with some.”

Adelaide chuckled and squeezed me hand. “That was hot.”

“Shut up.” I laughed as she released me and Alex walked over to her.

Oh.

Ohhh.

“It’s awfully rude of me to leave you to walk in for pre-dinner drinks alone,” he said quietly to her. “If you’d be so kind as to accompany me?”

She glanced back at me with a tiny smile and took the arm he offered. “That’s very kind of you, Lord Worcester.”

“Please, call me Alexander.”

“Thank you, Alexander.” She smiled up at him. “Is your daughter with you?”

“She is,” he replied, guiding her in the direction of the library. “I actually had something I wished to discuss with you. Gabriella tells me you’re a writer…”

Their conversation trailed off as they entered the library, but I turned to Miles.

“Well. That’s interesting.”

He kissed the side of my head. “Not really. Milady?” He offered me his arm.

I laughed and took it, leaning into him. “Ready for this?”

“As ever.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely fucking not.”

***

“My dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to… sort out the horrific bloody mess that is this family.”

Adelaide stifled a giggle.

What? I wasn’t wrong, was I?

Everyone present—minus Olympia, who was sleeping—was in the library, and it was time for us to clear the air. Our three-course meal had been eaten across two different tables, and it was time to pull out the big guns.

We were going Poirot on this.

Minus the moustache. And the hat.

At least I knew my Halloween costume this year.

“Last week, it came to our attention that a lady of house was engaging in sexual relations with a member of staff,” I said, walking across in front of the unlit fireplace.

“Gabriella!” Aunt Cat admonished.

“You be quiet,” I told her. “This upset many people, and it’s time we put this to bloody rest,” I said to everyone else. “Aunt Cat, Arthur, if you’re in a relationship, then do us all the courtesy of telling us.”