“You underestimate your value, my friend,” Giles said. “They dote on you, one and all.”
Markham tapped Julia’s shoulder. “Speaking of tiresome sisters, you’ve two more pages to go, and my legs are starting to ache.”
Julia glared at Markham and then resumed playing.Largo, of course.
“Youdounderestimate your value,” Katherine said.
“Do you think so?” Farring asked.
Katherine closed one eye. “I do. You’ve been skillfully placating Julia, keeping up Gi—Lord Bromton’s spirits, distracting me from my worries, and, all the while you’ve been maintaining the fiction—for Markham’s sake—that Rayne left of his own accord.”
“Ah.” Farring’s expression softened. “So you know Brom intervened.”
“I should hope we have no secrets,” Katherine replied. “We are to wed in the morning, after all.”
Farring’s gaze drifted toward Markham. “I understand Brom a little better, now.”
“Pardon?” Katherine asked.
“He was singularly determined to establish a friendship with Markham. Odd of him to take in a stray, if you’ll pardon.”
Katherine lifted her brows. “Do continue.”
“Now that I know all of you better, his actions make more sense. Substance, my father says. You Stanleys are people of substance.” Farring looked back to Giles. “And, perhaps, something of a kinship develops naturally between peers who have lost a parent just as they reached manhood, as happened with Giles, Rayne, and Markham.”
Katherine’s gaze moved between Farring and Giles. “I did not know Giles shared such an experience.” Shouldn’t she have known something so significant?
“The loss of the marquess was quite a shock. We all thought the old man was mean enough to last forever.”
Mean? Something else she had not known. In fact, Giles had never mentioned his father, had he?
“I’ve upset you,” Farring said. “I apologize.”
She met his perceptive gaze. “Do you always make a study of people, Lord Farring?”
Again, Farring winked. “Only when they marry into the club, so to speak.”
“You are Clubs, aren’t you?” she murmured thoughtfully. “The lucky one.”
“Always,” Farring replied with a not-quite-genuine smile.
Julia marked the end of her piece with particular flourish.
“Brava!” Farring stood and clapped. “I say. What a lark these past few days have been—minus Rayne’s unfortunate absconding. We should do it again next year.”
“I believe,” Giles said drily, “it is the custom to wed only once.”
In the distance, men began to shout. Then, the doors to the library burst open with explosive force. Rayne stepped into the center of the room, chest heaving. A group of servants trailed him, apologizing profusely.
“Lord Rayne is welcome,” Markham said, dismissing them. “There’s no need for a fuss.”
“You hear that,” Rayne asked Giles. “Idareyou to tell me to leave.”
“Nonsense!” Markham exclaimed. “Why would Brom tell you to leave? I take it you’ve resolved your family trouble?”
“Family trouble.” Rayne snorted. “Is that what you told him? I haven’t any family trouble, pup. Unless you consider the way Bromton humiliated my sister. I was halfway back to London when I decided an eye for an eye was indeed appropriate.”
“Don’t do this, Rayne,” Bromton said. “It’s me you wish to hurt, no one else.”
