“Yes,” he said. “But it’s a risk that I have to take. I will not allow the viscount to ruin his family any longer.”
By the time the viscount was awake, everything was ready. The two brothers met the man at the breakfast table.
The older man looked up at them with an embarrassed smile. “Good morning,” he said. “Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace. I will leave you in peace as soon as I am finished breaking my fast.”
“Actually, we hoped you would be able to stay a while longer, my lord,” Peter said.
The older man raised his eyebrows. “Really? For what reason?” His brow pulled into a frown a moment later. “Of course, you probably want to discuss that article about Joanna.”
“Absolutely not,” Evan said quickly. “I know what the gossip rag said about her is pure fiction. My opinion of her is unchanged, and there is nothing to talk about there.”
The viscount nodded. “So then why would you like me to stay? I am available, of course, but I admit I am at a loss, Your Grace.”
“Let us drop the formalities,” Peter said. “I beg of you. If I have to hear my brother be called ‘Your Grace’ for an entire day in his own house, I will simply go mad.”
Evan smiled. “I do not mind being called Evan for a day. Of course, it is up to you.”
The older man laughed with a note of disbelief. “It makes no difference to me if you call me Matthew.”
“Excellent,” Evan said. “After breakfast, let’s go outside and enjoy the fresh air.”
It didn’t take long for the three men to eat their fill before going outside. Once they were out of the manor, Peter said, “Matthew,I have heard that you were crowned fencing champion during your schoolboy days. Is that true?”
The older man smiled wistfully. “Oh yes. But that was a long time ago. I do not get to fence as much as I used to, but I admit I do miss it.”
“Peter loves fencing,” Evan said. He looked up at the sky and was relieved to see that the sun was out for once. Hopefully, it would stay that way. He could hardly follow through on his plan if it started raining, and he needed to make sure he executed it flawlessly. “He practices as often as he can. He even taught some of the stable hands and the gardener how to fence so he could always find a fencing partner.”
“Indeed!” Matthew exclaimed. “How wonderful!”
Evan led the way to the estate’s large expanse of grassy lawn, on the other side of the gardens. He didn’t come here often unless they were hosting an outdoor party, but Peter frequently used it for sport when he had the chance.
One of the stable hands, a young man named Jeffrey, was already preparing a selection of swords, along with the necessary protective gear needed for fencing. He grinned. “Good morning, Your Grace, Mr. Swinton! It is nice to meet you, my lord.”
“Please, Jeff,” Peter said. “No formalities today. It has already been agreed upon.”
“Of course,” the stable hand said, nodding.
Matthew looked around at the display. “What is all this?”
“I should think it is obvious,” Evan said. “We want to test our sword skills against a champion of the sport.”
The older man laughed. “I am happy to do some fencing practice, but I am rusty. My best years are behind me.”
“We will see if that’s true,” Peter said, grabbing one of the swords and testing its balance. “Choose your weapon, then.”
All four men dressed in the protective gear before they started to practice. Evan battled Jeffrey while Peter and Matthew sparred. After a few minutes, they all switched partners and kept sparring.
Peter, Jeff, and Matthew were soon laughing and enjoying themselves, despite the exertion. Evan found himself feeling a little more relaxed and even smiling from time to time. However, he could not relax entirely because he kept thinking of Joanna, which was bittersweet at best.
Matthew, despite his claims of being rusty and past his prime, took to the sword like it was only yesterday that he was crowned fencing champion.
Peter laughed as Matthew scored yet another strike on him. “All right,” he said, taking off his protective helmet. “I must admit,I am worn out.” He wagged his finger at the viscount. “I believe you were lying, good sir, when you said you were out of practice.”
Matthew had a face-splitting grin as he took his own mask off. He was dripping with sweat, but looked deliriously happy. “And I believe all of you are going easy on an old man. My ego is not strong enough to delude me about my own skills.”
With the fencing over, Jeffrey bid them farewell as the three of them went to the terrace for some cold beverages and sliced fruit.
“It’s a shame that the young man isn’t joining us after all of that fun,” the viscount said. “Would it really be so terrible to give him the day off from work so he could have a drink with us?”
