Brook was silent for a long time, his fingers tracing a crack in the stone. The defiance seemed to drain out of him, leaving behind a boy who looked far younger than his years.
“I will be honest,” he whispered, finally looking up at her. “I do. I want a mother. My brothers and I talk about it a lot, and it’s what we want. Anthony spoke for all of us. We need someone who knows when Daniel has a nightmare without him having to say it. We need someone who notices when Father is working too late and makes him stop.”
He took a shaky breath. “Father is a good man, Lucy. But he’s only a man. He sees the estate, the titles, and the lessons… but he doesn’t see us all the time. Not the way a mother would. We need someone to keep the pieces together. I just…” He trailed off. “I just want someone who actually wants to be with us, not just someone who just wants to be a duchess.”
Lucy felt a lump form in her throat. She reached over and tucked a stray lock of hair behind his ear, her heart aching for the burden he was carrying. “So do you not think Lady Judith can be that person for you? A mother. To take care of you? Anthony and Daniel seem to like her a lot.”
Brook’s expression soured instantly, the momentary softness in his eyes hardening into a cold, flat stare. “I don’t like her,” he said flatly, kicking his heels against the bench. “She isn’t what she seems.”
Lucy opened her mouth to press for more, to ask if Judith had said something specific or if it was merely a gut feeling, but shecaught the defensive set of his jaw. If she pushed too hard now, she would lose the ground she had just gained, so she decided to let it rest for the night.
“All right. Well,” Lucy said, shifting her weight and trying to ignore the cling of her damp skirts, “since we are both currently avoiding the dining room, would you like to do something together? We could play a game, or you could show me that book you were telling me about earlier. That you did not understand.”
Brook looked at her, his eyes traveling over her soaked bodice and the shawl draped over her shoulders. A flicker of guilt crossed his face.
“I’m sorry about the water, Lucy,” he said to her. “I did not mean to spill it on you.”
“I know,” she said, patting him on the back.
“You should go back to dinner,” he said quietly. “Father will be looking for you. You’re needed there to make things look… right.” He paused, glancing toward the door. “Anthony is probably looking for me, too. You should find him first and take him back with you, so you can all finish dinner. I’ll just go to my room and stay out of the way.”
“No,” Lucy said firmly. “I’m not going back just yet. If Anthony has any sense, he’s already made his way back to the table to finish his meal. But I’m staying right here with you.”
Brook blinked, clearly surprised. A small, genuine smile finally broke through his sombre expression, lighting up his face in a way that made him look like a carefree child again.
“All right,” he whispered. “You can stay.”
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“You did not return to the table yesterday.”
The voice was like a sudden frost, cutting through the morning air of the garden. Lucy jumped slightly, pulling her shawl tighter around her shoulders. She had been staring at the rosebushes, lost in a maze of thoughts about her own future. Once she successfully matched Rowan, once this was all over, what was the next step?
She stood up quickly, turning to find Rowan watching her. His expression was a wall of flint, his eyes dark with a frustration that had clearly been simmering all night.
“I… Good morning, Your Grace,” Lucy said, trying to find her voice. She took a step toward him. “No, I didn’t. I couldn’t. Brook needed me. He was so upset, and I couldn’t just leave him in the dark. I stayed by his side until he finally fell asleep. I thought you would understand that he needed?—”
“Brook has people watching him. I made it so,” Rowan interrupted, his voice clipped and cold. He didn’t move an inch, his presence looming over her even in the open garden. “I clearly asked you to be present at that dinner. I expected you to be there.”
Lucy blinked, her confusion sharpening into irritation. “I am aware of what you asked, but surely, the well-being of your son takes precedence over a dinner you clearly were able to manage. From what I heard this morning, the dinner went perfectly well after I left. Lady Judith was charming, the boys were polite, the evening was a success, was it not?”
“That is not the point,” he snapped, his jaw tightening. “You were part of the agreement. You were supposed to be at my side, helping navigate the conversation. But what did you do? You sat away from me. At the far end of the table. Then, you vanished after assuring me that you would return once you changed. I sent countless servants looking for you, but no one was able to find you.”
“I was soaked to the bone and tending to your child!” Lucy shot back, her own temper finally flaring. “If you wanted a statue that sits still and smiles regardless of the circumstances, you should have hired a different kind of help. I stayed with Brook because he was hurting. Is that so difficult to understand?”
“What I understand,” Rowan said, taking a slow step closer, “is that you chose to undermine the very event you were hired to facilitate. You left me alone with a woman I am trying to marrywhile you played games in the shadows with a boy who needs discipline, not coddling.”
Lucy felt the sting of his words. She looked at him, truly looked at him, and was utterly confused as to why he was so upset.
“Why are you truly so upset?” Lucy asked, her voice dropping the defensive edge. “If the dinner was the success you claim, and the lady was as charming as you desired, then what is the problem? Did she say something that upset you? I find it hard to believe that you couldn’t finish a meal without a matchmaker at your elbow.”
Rowan’s eyes flashed, but for a split second, the flint in his gaze cracked. He looked away, his jaw working as if he were chewing back a response he didn’t want to give.
“You assured me you would be there,” he gritted out.
“I know, and I apologize, but there were other pressing matters,” she explained. “It shouldn’t matter that I was not there to explain your jokes or correct your facial expressions. If Judith is the perfect match, my work is effectively done. You should be celebrating, not brooding in the garden looking for someone to scold.”
Rowan went still. The silence stretched between them, heavy with the scent of damp earth and the tension that had been building since the flirting lesson. He looked rattled, his usual stoic composure slipping just enough for Lucy to see.
