“Thank you, Moulton.”
“Is there something I can help you with, sir?”
“Yes, this one, and the one in the blue drawing room need to go.”
“Where would you like me to put them?”
Trent shook his head.“Anywhere that I don’t have to see them.”
Moulton lowered his voice slightly.“Do you think His Lordship will approve?”
Trent scoffed.“I may not be the lord of this estate, but I am the manager of it.If His Lordship wants these portraits on the walls, he can come up here and tell me to put them back.”
“Well,” a deep voice said from the doorway.“Speak of the devil and he shall appear.”
Trent whipped around.“Ash!”Surprise nearly knocked him over.What in God’s name was he doing here?
“My lord!”Moulton rushed across the foyer to take his hat.
After handing it over, Ash walked straight to Trent.
“I’m sorry, Ash, I meant no disrespect.”
“I heard no disrespect.”
“If you don’t want these paintings taken down, I'll put them back.”
He simply shrugged.“Burn the lot of them for all I care.”
“What are you doing here?”
His smile was kind as he placed a hand on Trent’s shoulder.“I came to check on my brother.”
He had to fight back tears as it finally sank in.Ash really was his brother, and saw him as a brother in turn.Trent knew what this house was for Ash, and the nightmares that would haunt him here.And yet, he was here.Trent threw his arms around him.“I don’t know why you’re here, but I’m glad you came.”
After a moment, Ash stepped back, his gaze scanning Trent’s face.“Everything is going to be alright.You’ll see.”There was the unmistakable sound of running feet in the upstairs hallway.“But we can’t talk about it yet, I have to be an uncle first.”
Trent nodded and Ash walked to the bottom of the stairs and waited for her.
“Uncle Aaaash!”Her voice shook as she ran down to him.Ash lobbed his cane over his shoulder and Fogg snatched it out of the air.From five steps up, Maggie flung herself into his waiting arms.She squealed as he spun her around.
“Let’s go see my pony!”
Her smile was never brighter than it was when she was with Ash.Somehow, she’d recognized his kindness from the very beginning.
“We're going to see a pony,” he said to Trent.He held out his hand and Fogg threw him his cane.He didn’t rely on it the way he had the last time he’d been here.At least he was healing.That was some consolation.Maggie leaned in and whispered something into his ear.Ash threw his head back and roared with laughter.“You named her Ashley?”Maggie nodded, moving her whole body, and Trent burst out laughing.
“It’s perfect,” Ash said, pressing a gentle kiss against her cheek.
“I’ll let you two figure out who’s going to take care of me this evening.”He waved his cane between Benson and Fogg.
“I’m afraid I may have a prior engagement this evening, my lord.”Benson’s eyes flicked to Trent.
“No,” Trent said.“Our game of backgammon does not take precedence over taking care of… His Lordship.”Sometimes Trent still stumbled, not sure how to address him in certain circumstances.
Ash raised a goading brow.“It most certainly does.”And with that, he was gone.Out the door to go see the pony he’d bought for Maggie.
* * *
