James chuckled and held his hand out to Thalia. “Alas, I am aware that Weverton is not so grand as Holdridge. Nevertheless, it is good to see you again, Duchess.”
She hesitantly allowed him to take her hand, Henry bristling as James brought that gloved hand to his lips and kissed it gently.
Get a hold of yourself, man!Henry scolded himself, for this was his cousin, not some admiring stranger who might steal his wife away.
“And you, Lord Weverton,” Thalia replied.
A flicker of surprise turned Henry’s gaze down to his wife. How had she known what to call him? Had she remembered that James was a Marquess? He wanted to take her to one side to ask, but that would only invite suspicion from Frances and James.
“Any news of Walter, these days?” James asked, as he let Thalia’s hand go and Henry felt himself breathe more easily.
“Still enjoying himself in far off lands, as far as I am aware,” Henry replied. “He does not write so often. Even when he does, the information is always weeks in the past.”
James nodded. “He was always a… different sort of fellow.”
“That is certainly one way to describe him,” Henry conceded with a smile.
Leaning in, James lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “Did you know, Duchess, that Henry and his brother used toloatheone another when they were younger? They fought as if they had no kinship at all. Indeed, when we were all at Eton together, you would have thought they were nemeses, rather than brothers.”
“I… knew of an estrangement,” Thalia said haltingly. “And is it not rather normal for brothers to be that way in their youth? Rivalry must be rife between an heir and a second son. I would not know, seeing as my brother only had sisters to contend with, but I can well imagine it is difficult to navigate. Why, all siblings have their incendiary spats from time to time.”
An odd tightness in her voice caught Henry’s attention, reminding him of her nightmare in the library: the fragment of memory that her mind had seen fit to recollect.
But has she remembered more?He did not recall telling her about Walter at all, beyond having a brother. Yet, she spoke as if she truly knew of the brothers’ uneasy past.
Frances giggled and nudged James in the arm. “Oh, my brother is keenly aware of vicious arguments between siblings. I daresay I have done my share of screeching at him like a wounded cat.”
“If ladies could inherit, I have no doubt that she would have smothered me in my sleep when we were younger,” James replied, chuckling good-naturedly. “But you are quite right, Duchess: these things resolve with age and maturity. Mostly. Francesstillrelishes a quarrel here and there. Sometimes, I am convinced she picks a fight purely because she is bored.”
A huff came from Frances’ lips. “You try entertaining yourself in a manor that is falling down, where you cannot invite anyone out of utter embarrassment.”
“You could always get married again,” James offered slyly. “Then, you would not be so bored. You would have your own household to run once more, and I might finally have some peace.”
Frances arched a stern eyebrow and weaved her arm through Thalia’s. “Well,thatis assuredly my cue to be elsewhere. Come, Thalia, let us get some refreshments before my brother begins toactuallythink of finding me a husband.”
There was nothing Henry could do as his cousin ushered Thalia away, though he felt the absence keenly, his hand falling to his side now that she was no longer there next to him.
Thalia’s heart hurt for Frances, and the remark James had made about remarriage, as if that part of her remembered her friend’s painful past.
“What a mean thing to say, Franny,” she murmured, as Frances hurried her toward the refreshments room. “As if you would be inclined to remarry after what befell you.”
A surprisingly cheery smile graced Frances’ lips. “Oh, that is just the nature of our teasing. He does not mean it. He knows that he shall likely be stuck with me for the rest of my days.” She paused. “Do you and your brother not tease one another like that?”
“Goodness, no,” Thalia replied with a confidence that soothed her, tapping into the comfort of the memories she still possessed. “He is much too serious for that.”
Frances nodded. “James is rarely serious. I like to think of it as his rebellion against our father, who was as strict as a headmaster.” She shuddered dramatically. “I barely interacted with him, which was rather a blessing, but my poor brother…”
“I fear that is all too common,” Thalia agreed, understanding. “My brother was raised with similar strictness. I suppose we were all expected to be obedient without question.”
Otherwise, I would not be married. Not like this, at least.
The cheerful blonde hugged Thalia’s arm tighter to her side. “We are becoming much too gloomy, dear Thalia. Let us speak of merrier things. Indeed, let us speak of this magnificent change in your husband!” She sighed. “You make such a charming pair, you really do. Did you see everyone staring?”
“Unfortunately, yes,” Thalia muttered, still feeling the burn of so many eyes watching her at once.
Frances batted the remark away. “It isgood, Thalia. Trust me. It is better that they are spreading the pleasant kind of gossip than the other kind. The scandal sheets will be awash with glowing compliments about the two of you tomorrow, you mark my words.”
“Instead of?” Thalia blurted out before she could stop herself, her curiosity getting the better of her.
