“And a good morning to you too, brother. How are you? It’s good to see you again after such a long time,” Andrew replied, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Liam threw him a narrow-eyed glance. “Don’t be impudent.”
“Me? I was just trying to be civil,” Drew said, leaning against the edge of the massive desk and crossing his arms. “I haven’t seen you in what? Five years?”
“You could have visited me in Tuscany. I invited you several times,” Liam muttered.
“I could have. But I haven’t been idle here. With you gone, somebody had to take care of the estates and the family’s business interests.”
“I suppose. Yet you still found time for amorous pursuits, it seems,” Liam retorted with a raised brow.
“You barge in the day after my wedding, and instead of congratulating me, you come close to insulting my wife.”
“I meant no insult, and you know it. I just want to know why you didn’t tell me about your engagement.”
“Precisely to avoid this kind of reaction from you.”
“Maybe I wouldn’t have reacted this way if I had heard it from you. Instead, I had to find out about it through a scandal rag that described it in the worst possible light. It made it seem as if you had been ambushed.”
Drew gave him a sardonic glance. “You know better than to believe the scandal rags, brother. But would you have accepted my betrothal if I had told you I’d fallen in love?”
“Maybe. I don’t know. How long have you known this girl?”
“Long enough.”
“Grandmama hinted at some intervention in order to force your hand.”
Andrew laughed. “Oh, they tried. It wouldn’t have worked. But as it turns out, my bride wouldn’t countenance trapping a man into marriage either, so she spiked their guns herself.”
“How do you know she is not a fortune hunter? Or after the title?”
“Ha! That’s rich coming from you, brother, and hypocritical, too, seeing as how you are shacking up with her sister. How do you know the sister is not the fortune hunter? Or after your title? After all, you are the one who holds the title.”
“That’s preposterous. But we are not talking about me.”
“Maybe we should. Since you feel the need to meddle in my life, let me return the favor.”
“I’m just trying to look out for you, Andrew! To keep you from making the same mistakes I made.”
“I hear you, brother. And I appreciate your concern. You know I’ve always heeded your advice. But this time is different. I love this woman. And she loves me. Can you accept that and give us your blessing? Or at least hold your judgment until you know her. I believe you will like her.”
Liam looked at his brother for the space of a few heartbeats. Something had changed in Andrew. He was so used to seeing him as his younger brother. The scapegrace who needed adviceand guidance. But his brother was not a boy any longer, had not been in years, and somehow Liam had failed to notice. And now, maybe because of this girl, Andrew looked mature. Settled. A man ready to take responsibility. Form a family. Have his own household.
“Of course, brother. Have I massively overreacted? I’m sorry for being an overbearing boor. If your bride is anything like her sister, I will indeed like her very much.”
He regretted mentioning Thalia as soon as he saw the speculation in Andrew’s eyes. “What’s going on between you and Lady Renier, brother?”
“That is none of your business.”
“As a matter of fact, it is. She is now my sister-in-law. Part of my family. Someone very important to my wife, and therefore to me. I need to know what your intentions are towards her.”
Fuck. It only needed this. “Back off, Andrew. She is an adult. An independent widow. She doesn’t need your protection.”
“Meaning you have no plans to marry her.”
“Hell, no. You know where I stand on the subject of marriage.”
“Then you are trifling with her. You’ll break her heart.”
