Jorris returned the look with a small, rather dry nod of his head toward his sister. Believe me, I understand.
Either oblivious to or choosing to ignore her brother, Lily took the offered chair with a small smile and a nod. "Thank you, ambassador," she murmured politely.
She had barely settled herself when the twins came tumbling into the room, laughing and chasing each other around the table like children. Jorris sighed and dropped his head into his hands.
"I swear to God... Jess, Dorian! Behave yourselves!" he begged, lifting his head to glower at them.
"Oh, lighten up, Jory." Jessamine ruffled her brother's hair as she took a seat beside him, Dorian sliding into the open chair on her other side. He looped an arm around his sister's shoulder, whatever their little play-fight had been about obviously forgotten. "Mother and Father will be here soon enough to ruin everyone's fun. Right, Lily?"
The eldest Hartnet daughter choked on a glass of water. It was an innocuous comment, but she couldn't help being on edge. Jess hadn't seen them coming back from their ride, had she?