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What the devil are you eating?” Leo, Lord Ramsay, stood in the family parlor at Ramsay House, viewing his dark-haired twins, Edward and Emmaline, who were playing on the carpeted floor.
His wife, Catherine, who was helping the babies to build block towers, looked up with a smile. “They’re eating biscuits.”
“These?” Leo glanced at a bowl of little brown biscuits that had been placed on a table. “They look revoltingly similar to the ones Beatrix has been feeding the dog.”
“That’s because they are.”
“They’re…Good God, Cat! What can you be thinking?” Lowering to his haunches, Leo tried to pry a sodden biscuit away from Edward.
Leo’s efforts were met with an indignant squall.
“Mine!” Edward cried, clutching the biscuit more tightly.
“Let him have it,” Catherine protested. “The twins are teething, and the biscuits are very hard. There’s nothing harmful in them.”
“How do you know that?”
“Beatrix made them.”
“Beatrix doesn’t cook. To my knowledge, she can barely butter her bread.”
“I don’t cook for people,” Beatrix said cheerfully, coming into the parlor with Albert padding after her. “But I do for dogs.”
“Naturally.” Leo took one of the brown lumps from the bowl, examining it closely. “Would you care to reveal the ingredients of these disgusting objects?”
“Oats, honey, eggs…they’re very nourishing.”
As if to underscore the point, Catherine’s pet ferret, Dodger, streaked up to Leo, took the biscuit from him, and slithered beneath a nearby chair.
Catherine laughed low in her throat as she saw Leo’s expression. “They’re made of the same stuff as teething biscuits, my lord.”
“Very well,” Leo said darkly. “But if the twins start barking and burying their toys, I’ll know whom to blame.” He lowered to the floor beside his daughter.
Emmaline gave him a wet grin and pushed her own sodden biscuit toward his mouth. “Here, Papa.”
“No, thank you, darling.” Becoming aware of Albert nosing at his shoulder, Leo turned to pet him. “Is this a dog or a street broom?”
“It’s Albert,” Beatrix replied.
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