Climbing the earl's tree is a less than sterling idea," Odo said."Even now, he could be watching us from yonder window," Hew warned, glancing over his shoulder."We need those sprigs for tonight's celebration," Keely insisted. She turned to her brother. "Since my cowardly cousins refuse to help me, will you? The thought of the earl catching us here doesn't frighten you, does it?""A marquess outranks a mere earl," Henry boasted. He cupped his hands and crouched down to give her a lift."You win, little girl," Odo relented, stepping in front of the boy. "I'll give you the lift.""I'll do it," Hew insisted, trying to push him aside."I'm stronger," Odo said, cuffing the side of his brother's head."You are not," Hew disagreed."Am—""Not!"While the Lloyd brothers argued about who would lift Keely into the tree, Henry locked his hands together and bent down. Keely placed one dainty booted foot in her brother's hands and surged upward, grabbing the lowest of the yew tree's branches. A devilishly wicked grin slashed across the boy's face as he cupped her buttocks through her skirt and gave her a boost."Nice arse," Henry said.
