“Max cuffed his brother good-naturedly on the ear as River slid in past him and bent to kiss Sophia on the cheek. “Hello, are you sure you’re with the right brother?”Sophia had never had a younger sibling. But this man with his laughing eyes and bright smile... “Are you making me an offer?”

“You’re a sulker, aren’t you?”A sulker? Akira had never had a sibling, but she recognized the type. He was a button-pusher. “And you’re a younger brother, aren’t you?”

“Sophia looked down her long nose at the girl. “Who are you?”“I’m Abigail, ma’am,” she said, curtsying. “This is my brother, Jamie. I apologize for him.”Sophia arched an eyebrow. “I’ll wager you do that quite a lot.”Abigail sighed, sounding world-weary. “Yes, I do.”“Good girl.” Sophia almost smiled. “Younger brothers can be a chore sometimes, but one must persevere.”“Yes, ma’am,” Abigail said solemnly.“Come on, Jamie,” Alistair said. “Let’s go into dinner before they form a Society for Bossy Older Sisters.”

“I think,” Sophia said as Max mock-scowled, “I’m going to like having a younger brother.” Reaching out, she slipped her arm into the crook of River’s elbow. “So, tell me all of Max’s secrets.”

“Will watched her go with regret. His attraction to the dark-haired lady with her execrable embroidery had taken him by surprise. She'd been laughing at his brothers - that was what had done it. Her eyes had sparkled with humor, her smiling lips just begging for a kiss.”

“He heard the voice that had called to him in dreams, had saved him from the sands and from following his brother into the river.”