“—because George ain’t talking to him,” Anthony continued without pause. “And now he’s got me in the same bloody boat, because Roslynn ain’t said a word to me since.”

“Great hulking bull?” James repeated.

Anthony glanced at him and smirked, “The shoe fits, believe me.”

Jason, standing stiffly behind his desk, snapped at them both, “Enough! I’ll hear the whys and wherefores now, if you please.”

James smiled. “Yes, you did leave out the best part, Tony.”

Anthony sighed and told his elder brother, “It was the worst bloody luck, Jason, indeed it was, and could have happened to any one of us, if truth be told. Jack and Judy managed to sneak into Knighton’s Hall while I wasn’t looking, and just because I had the care of them that day, I am being blamed because the little darlings came away with a phrase or two that don’t belong in their young vocabularies.”

“That’s dressing it up a bit too nicely,” James interjected. “Let’s not forget to mention that George didn’t blame you a’tall, that she instead blames me, as if I could possibly have known you could be so witless as to take the girls anywhere near—”

“I’ll fix things up with George soon as she gets here,” Anthony mumbled. “You may depend upon it.”

“Oh, I know you will, but you’ll have to hie yourself back to London to do so, since she ain’t coming here. Didn’t want to inflict her dour mood on the festivities, so decided it would be best to absent herself.”

Anthony looked appalled now and complained, “You didn’t say she was that mad.”

“Didn’t I? Think you’re wearing that black eye just because she’s a mite annoyed?”

“That will do,” Jason said sternly. “This entire situation is intolerable. And frankly, I find it beyond amazing that you have both utterly lost your finesse in dealing with women since you married.”

That, of course, hit quite below the belt where these two ex-rakes were concerned. “Ouch,” James muttered, then in his own defense, “American women are an exception to any known rule, and bloody stubborn besides.”

“So are Scots, for that matter,” Anthony added. “They just don’t behave like normal Englishwomen, Jason, indeed they don’t.”

“Regardless. You know my feelings on the entire family gathering here for Christmas. This is not the time for anyone in the family to be harboring any ill will of any sort. You both should have patched this up before the holidays began. See that you do so immediately, if you both have to return to London to do so.”

Having said his peace, Jason headed for the door to leave his brothers to mull over their conduct, or rather, misconduct, but added before he left, “You both look like bloody panda bears. D’you have any idea what kind of example that sets for the children?”

“Panda bears indeed,” Anthony snorted as soon as the door closed.

James looked up to reply drolly, “Least the roof is still intact.”