He looked up from his sandwich, brow furrowed. “Oh, Kate. I did not mean… I am rubbish at this.” He trailed off, pinching his brow between thumb and forefinger.
“What did you mean?”
“I… Your brother already loathes me. I cannot admit what a mess I have made. Particularly after the way I have treated him.”
“Yes, he had quite a lot to say on the subject of you before we wed. But that hardly matters. He is Kit. He will always help if I ask.”
He considered me for a moment, head tilted, and eyes narrowed. “You say that with such conviction.”
“What do you mean?”
“He will help if you ask. There is not a doubt in your mind that he will, is there?”
“Of course not. That is what brothers do.”
“Not all brothers.” There was an edge to his tone, like broken glass, harmless but cutting with the wrong move.
I considered my response. “Michael and Tom would do anything for you, Hugh.”
“We do not have that kind of relationship. Especially not after what I did, sending Michael away.”
“He almost drowned you whilst trying to save you from drowning. Which, while ironic, was touching if you were not the one inhaling half the lake.”
“And then I nearly ruined his every hope of happiness.”
“Almost. But you didn’t. And you weren’t entirely wrong, what you said. He should not have been courting her.”
“You…” His jaw hung slightly slack as he trailed off.
“You were right, and I’m sorry. I should not have encouraged their relationship. I am glad that I did, and I am thrilled with how it ended. But it was wrong, and it could have ended much worse.”
“I… I did not know he loved her. It never occurred to me until he said as much. Because I do not know my brother at all. All this time, he has been the villain in my story.”
“Perhaps there are no heroes and villains. Just people making choices, good and bad. Except your solicitor. I suspect he is merely a villain.” I teased, pulling the ledgers free from their basket binding and handing one to him. Hoping to draw out one of the quarter smiles of his. If I were truly lucky, I could achieve half of a smile.
“Where did we leave off?” He asked.
“Farming equipment from spring of 1811. Speaking of, Sydney, my sister’s husband, was making some adjustments to his plows. He tested the changes to one last year and found great success, so he was applying them to all of his equipment. I could write to him, if you would like. For the plans, I mean.”
Hugh had his full lower lip trapped between his teeth as he stared at me in an entirely new manner. The breeze caught a curl again. Before I could brush it away, his hand came forward to tuck it behind my ear for me. His touch, first cool but leaving a brand of fire in its wake, startled me. He ripped his hand away, settling it in his lap. His gaze dropped too.
“I would appreciate that very much,” he murmured.
“They have implemented a four-crop rotation as well. Unfortunately, I was distracted by Elliot and did not listen to the reasoning. I can ask about that as well?”
“Yes, thank you.”
I considered him for a moment. “Why is Sydney different from Kit?”
“I was an arrogant ass to Kit during the settlement discussions. I have not directly slighted your sister’s husband.”
“Kit would still help us. I know he would. And I think we need it if there is any hope of getting the funds back.”
He sighed, tipping his head back with the effort. “I will write to Kit, will that satisfy?”
“I can do it.”
“Kate, I owe the man an apology. Let me do the gentlemanly thing, if for the first time.”
