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said, following his brother’s lead. “Had we known you had such a charming visitor, Drake, we would have called on you earlier.”
    Drake snorted under his breath and stepped forward. “She is not a visitor, she is my housekeeper, and I’ll thank you two not to work your nonsense on her.”
    The winker laid a hand on his chest. “What nonsense? We’re merely overwhelmed with admiration.”
    “Quite overcome,” his twin agreed. “You leave us breathless, ma’am.”
    She couldn’t but laugh, unsure whether to be offended or flattered.
    Lord Drake, on the other hand, growled low his throat. “Well, I’m sure Mrs. Greenway has no need to listen to your guile.” Standing now at her side, he met her gaze. “You are to pay no heed to my raffish younger brothers. Flirtation is their favor pastime.”
    “Second favorite,” the winker said with an impish humor dancing in his eyes, which she suddenly noticed had slightly more green than his twin’s. “I’ll leave you to guess the first.”
    She glanced down so they wouldn’t see her smile, looking up again only when she had control over her emotions. “Well, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my lords—”
    “Leo,” the winker said before gesturing toward his twin. “And this is Lawrence.”
    “Lord Leo. Lord Lawrence,” she greeted. “I was just on my way to the kitchen. Might I bring you some refreshment?”
    “Yes,” they chimed together.
    “No,” Lord Drake said at the same moment. “That is to say, you may send one of the footmen up with another pot of tea. I’m sure you have other matters to which you need attend.”
    “Indeed I do. However, I believe I can find a moment to ask Mrs. Tremble to prepare a few more sandwiches along with the tea,” she ventured.
    “Capital! You’re as kind as you are gracious, dear ma’am,” Lord Lawrence said, making her an elegant bow before stepping forward to help himself to one of the biscuits on the tray. “In the meantime, Leo and I will have to content ourselves with sampling Drake’s portion. Tell Cook I look forward to more of her delectable fare.” Smiling, he bit into the snack.
    “Pray extend my regards as well,” Lord Leo said, sending her another roguish smile.
    Drake shot his brothers a dark look before returning his gaze to her. “You may go, Mrs. Greenway,” Lord Drake told her. “Thank you for the tea.”
    “Your lordship.” With a respectful smile, she turned and walked from the room.
    Chapter 6
    “A lways knew you were deep as the Baikal Sea,” Leo remarked the moment Mrs. Greenway’s footsteps faded away, “but this goes beyond even my expectations. Be honest, is she really your housekeeper?”
    Drake’s jaw tightened. “Of course she is. Have I not just said so?”
    Leo exchanged a quick glance with his twin, whose face wore an expression of equal amazement. “Well, I must say I can’t fault your taste,” he continued. “She’s nothing like Mrs. Beatty.”
    “As I recall,” Drake said, “you always liked Mrs. Beatty.”
    “Oh, I did. Lawrence too. Didn’t you, Lawrence?”
    “Most definitely,” his twin agreed. “She was an excellent woman.”
    “Sweet as our own grandmother were she still alive,” Leo went on. “But I never had the least interest in admiring Mrs. Beatty. The moment I saw your new housekeeper, it was as if I’d wandered into a garden and accidentally discovered a lush, fragrant rose in full and glorious bloom.”
    Lawrence gave an appreciative smile. “Exactly.”
    Drake’s brows shot skyward. Full and glorious bloom, my eye! What rubbish!
    The twins might be young men of twenty and continually on the prowl for any attractive females that passed their way, but he would simply have to impress upon them that dallying with Anne Greenway was forbidden.
    Strictly forbidden!
    Without conscious awareness, Drake’s hands curved into fists at his sides. How dare they discuss Anne in such a bold fashion. Leo and Lawrence had no right to