A Bloom in Winter by T. J. Brown

time. Either that or she doesn’t know how much time Vic and I spend together.”
    Sebastian laughed. “You’re fooling yourself if you think she doesn’t know, my friend. Not with Colin’s mother sniffing around for her like a trained hunting dog.”
    “I think I’m more afraid of Lady Charlotte than I am of my own mother,” Kit told him. “And that’s saying something.”
    “Aren’t we all,” Colin said, joining them.
    Kit stood and clapped Colin on the shoulder. “How we all managed to have dragon ladies as mothers is what I’d like to know. Not a single dove amongst the lot of them. It’s like Jolly Old England bred an entire generation of harpies.”
    “So what are you doing here, old chap? Aren’t you supposedto be at the university, finishing your studies?” Sebastian asked Colin.
    Kit glanced at his watch while the others talked. Victoria expected him to take her to the opera this evening. Of course, he hadn’t expected to run into Sebastian and Colin. If he ate quickly, he would have just enough time to extricate himself from a night of debauchery and pick her up. He took up the thread of conversation just as they started in on the Irish question. “Oh, bloody hell, hasn’t this been talked to death. If words were weaponry, they would all be dead by now and there would be no question.”
    “But don’t you think—” Sebastian started.
    “No, I don’t,” Kit interrupted. “Or as little as possible. And that is something I’ll drink to.”
    “Hear, hear!” Colin said, signaling for another round. “Now, what were you discussing before I showed up?”
    “Women,” Kit said.
    “Your cousin, to be specific,” Sebastian said.
    “Which one? The lovely, tormented Rowena, or the minx?”
    Kit laughed. “The minx is far more to my taste.”
    “You’d better be careful of that one,” Colin told him.
    “I’d never do anything to hurt her,” Kit said, stung.
    “No, I meant, you’d best be careful. Let me share this and you will get a fair understanding of what I mean.” He leaned in and the others followed suit. “Even my mother handles her with kid gloves.”
    Kit leaned back and Sebastian raised his brows. He nodded toward Kit. “You’re welcome to her,” he said.
    “I already told you we’re just friends. Neither of us wishes to get married. And she means that,” he added, rememberinghow she had once called him on the carpet when he expressed his doubt at her sincerity. As he recalled, she’d actually hit him. Or pinched him, or otherwise threatened violence. Oh, she was serious all right.
    “You’d better hope she never changes her mind.” Colin grinned.
    Kit raised his glass. “I’ll drink to that.”
    “I met the lovely Rowena not too long ago. Your mother had coerced her into doing calls,” Sebastian said. Their meal arrived and they fell silent for a moment as they appreciated the simplicity of stew, steak and kidney pie, and fish and chips.
    “Mother’s taken Rowena under her wing. The poor girl can’t seem to get over losing her maid or whoever it was.”
    “Prudence wasn’t their maid,” Sebastian flared. “That was a ridiculous ruse Rowena made up to pacify your father.”
    Colin shrugged and Sebastian fell silent. “Well, whoever she was, Rowena is as desolate about losing her as she is her father. Lainey’s just happy that Rowena is taking some of the heat off her, now that Mother has a new cause.” He looked at Sebastian. “You had best be careful. If you won’t marry Elaine, I think our mothers would be just as happy if you married Rowena.”
    Sebastian shook his head. “Maybe I’ll drop by and take her for a drive. Get her out of the line of fire. If we give them something to talk about, maybe they’ll lay off for a bit.”
    Colin looked dubious. “It’s worth a try.”
    Kit sat back and checked his watch again. “Well, I’m sorry to cut the evening short, but I have another appointment I must get to.”
    “What? You’re leaving