page68 (1/2)

“I’m heartbroken,” Gareth said

Hyacinth looked at hihtly peeved expression, then turned to her brother with a hissed, “Stop it”

“Won’t you have tea, Mr St Clair?” Lady Bridgerton asked, glossing right over her children’s squabbling as if it wasn’t occurring right across from her “It is a special blend of which I am particularly fond”

“I would be delighted” Gareth sat in the same chair he had chosen last tiory, although in truth, he didn’t knohich Bridgerton wastea on his lap

But it was an odd position He was at the short end of the low, center table, and with all the Bridgertons on the sofas, it almost felt as if he were seated at its head

“Milk?” Lady Bridgerton asked

“Thank you,” Gareth replied “No sugar, if you please”

“Hyacinth takes hers with three,” Gregory said, reaching for a piece of shortbread

“Why,” Hyacinth ground out, “would he care?”

“Well,” Gregory replied, taking a bite and chewing, “he is your special friend”

“He’s not—” She turned to Gareth “Ignore him”

There was so condescended to by a ory see Hyacinth, an endeavor of which Gareth could only approve

So he decided to stay out of it and instead turned back to Lady Bridgerton, as, as it happened, the closest person to him, anyway “And how are you this afternoon?” he asked

Lady Bridgerton gave him a very small smile as she handed him his cup of tea “Smart man,” she murmured

“It’s self-preservation, really,” he said noncommittally