“What?” the young woman protested. “He is determined to make fools of us all, so why should I not show a little annoyance now and then? I have not forgotten that he tried to sell my pianoforte.I have not forgotten that he forced dear Thalia into a marriage she did not want!”
“Dorothy!” Kenneth scolded, his tone harsher this time.
At once, Dorothy blushed and put a hand to her mouth, staring up at Henry. “Goodness, my apologies. I meant no offense! Father has been insufferable all morning, and I have let myself get carried away.” She cringed. “Please, I am so sorry.”
Thalia could not look at Henry to see his expression, still feeling the memory of his touch on her waist. She would turn as purple as blackberry juice if she dared to set her gaze on him now.
“You are quite forgiven,” Henry said softly. “I know a thing or two about insufferable fathers. With that in mind, I believe I shall take my leave and wait for your father outside. I would learn the temperament of this new horse before I put my stable boys in any danger.”
Thalia’s heart quickened at the masterful, thoughtful gesture.
She had forgotten that her husband was quite the horseman. Many a time in the years of their marriage, when news had spread through the house that he was returning briefly, she had watched him arrive from her window.
She had particularly liked it in the colder months or during rain, when he wore his greatcoat, the fabric sailing out behind him ashe charged down the driveway. Never knowing that he was being observed by lonely, appreciative eyes.
“He is a good man, Thalia,” Kenneth said, once Henry had gone. “Wise, too. That stallion is as wild as any I have seen, which is likely why Father was able to buy it at such a reasonable price.”
Thalia chewed her lip in consternation. “Then, should we search for him?”
“Leave him wherever he has fallen, I say,” Dorothy remarked.
“Has something happened?” Thalia asked. “Has he fallen not into a ditch but into immense debt again? Is that why he wishes to speak to Henry, to ask for more money? He knows that has ended.”
Kenneth’s eyes widened, his body leaning forward as he stared intently at his sister. “You remember…”
Oh, fiddlesticks! Thalia had forgotten that she was not supposed to be telling anyone.
“Yes, I remember,” she admitted. “I got my memories back.”
Kenneth paled, his mouth slack. “Then, you remember all of the awful things I said? You remember our fight? You remember… my most abhorrent moment?” His breath caught in his throat. “Thalia, forgive me. I will get on my knees and beg it.”
“There is no need,” she tried to say, but he continued.
“Since that terrible argument, I dedicated all of my efforts to fixing my debts myself. I could not bear the guilt of what I had said and done and threatened. I paid them all, dearest sister. I did it because you were right; I could only help myself. I had a habit I could not break, and until I broke it, I would forever be begging for money. But I broke it, Thalia. I swear to you.”
Dorothy dipped her chin to her chest, her hands folded in her lap. “He is telling the truth, Thalia. He has worked tirelessly.”
“I know,” Thalia said, as she walked over to her brother and sat beside him. “I asked an… acquaintance for news of you. I was proud of you, but I wanted to wait until you felt you could come to me.”
There was a glisten in Kenneth’s eyes as he looked at Thalia. “I am so very sorry for the things I said.”
“You were suffering,” she replied, taking his hands. “I forgive you. Of course, I forgive you.”
Kenneth gripped her hands in return. “I was just too embarrassed to come to you, after all I had borrowed, all I had done. I am working toward gathering enough to pay you back.”
“There is no need for that,” Thalia insisted. “It is my gift to you. A gift that was given to me, passed to you, so that, one day, perhaps you will pass it to someone else who needs it.”
Kenneth’s throat bobbed, a slight nod confirming that he understood what she meant. “The duke is a very good man.” He paused. “There is comfort in knowing he is here to keep you safe, to protect you in… so many ways.”
“There is comfort in knowing my brother will no longer be too ashamed to visit, as well,” Thalia said, her voice hitching.
Indeed, she thought she might burst into tears, thinking of a future without Henry there beside her, without him being in the manor with her, without his safety and his comforting presence.
So, she leaned in and pulled her brother into a hug, hiding her face in his shoulder so he would not see her secret pain. And when he hugged her back, she allowed a few silent tears to fall. Tears that became a smile as Dorothy nudged herself into the embrace, her arms around both of them.
Even if I lose my husband again, I still have this.
And, oh, how she wished that could be enough.
