“Psst.” A faint voice sounded behind her.

She stifled a groan. She didn’t need to look behind her to know who was hissing. Obviously, something was amiss. Otherwise, wouldn’t Fortesque simply have come into the room? Of course something was wrong. Hadn’t she just been thinking how well things were going?

She quickly excused herself and left the dining room. Fortesque waited just outside the door.

She clenched her teeth. “Did I not tell you, butlers do not ‘psst’!”

“I had no other way of attracting your attention, and I thought it best not to enter the dining room.” He handed her a glass of brandy. “You might wish to drink this.”

She accepted the glass and narrowed her gaze in suspicion. “Why?”

“Isn’t it a butler’s duty to anticipate the needs of his employer?”

“Yes, but—”

“You will need that.”

“Very well.” She took a sip. “Now, Fortesque, why did you think it best not to come into the dining room? And why do I need brandy?”

“Because if I entered the dining room, I would lose sight of the parlor doors.” He lowered his voice and leaned closer. “And should there be pounding at those doors, I might not notice.”

“Why would there be pounding?”

“Because I took the liberty of securing the doors to forestall anyone from wandering about freely. I assumed you would wish to prevent that.”

She stared in confusion. “Who would wander about freely?”

“The new arrivals who are currently awaiting you in the parlor.”

What had Grayson and his cousin come up with now? She bit back a groan. “It’s not orphans, is it?”

“No, my lady.” He shook his head. “These are most certainly not children.”

“That’s something, at any rate.”

Fortesque cast her what could only be called a look of pity.

“Out with it, then, Fortesque. Who is it?” she demanded, trying and failing to ignore an impending sense of doom.

“They said they wished to surprise you and I was not to give you their names.” His gaze slid from side to side as if concerned as to who might be listening. “They were quite confused when they arrived and I informed them that the family was at dinner. Then they were somewhat irate and, well, they threatened me with bodily harm if I spoiled their surprise. I don’t mind telling you, Lady Lydingham, they look like the sort that would carry out their threat. Although, if you were to guess . . .”

“I would much prefer not to play games. I do not wish—” The most horrible thought occurred to her. She took a deep swallow of the brandy. “Tell me, these new arrivals. . .”

“Yes?”

“Male or female?”

Again, he gave her that look of pity. “Most certainly female.”

“Good Lord.” Of all the things that might go wrong, she had never expected this. “And you locked them in?”