How wasit possible to go from elation to devastated fury in the space of a single breath? My knees were weak and jittery, and I was still frozen, half turned to the side where Rosehill’s shoulder had brushed mine.
“Sit down,” Hugh hissed under his breath. The order broke through the horror, and I collapsed into my recently vacated chair by the doorway.
One by one, patrons returned to their previous conversations now that the excitement had passed.
My eldest brother’s club was always preferable to White’s but Rosehill never went to Wayland’s. Hugh favored White’s—I suspected more out of habit than actual fondness for the place. And the hope of Rosehill was enough incentive to waste a few hours in the more fashionable club.
Hugh’s attention had been thoroughly captured by the scene, but now his eyes were locked on me. “What was that?” he demanded in a whisper.
“What was what?”
“Do not tell me you were thinking of intervening.”
“I do not understand why no one else was,” I retorted.
“Damn it, Tom. It was a repugnant display, I will grant you that. But you are the second son of an impoverished viscount. Who are you to defend a duke? And Rosehill? You hardly know the man.”
“I know him well enough.”
“Damn it all, Tom. Rosehill can withstand powerful enemies. You and I cannot. Do not go about making any, I beg you.”
“But—”
“Tom, please.”
I bit back a curse and swallowed the remaining two-thirds of my scotch before signaling for another, glaring at my brother.
“Are you all right?” Hugh asked after an uncomfortably long pause.
“No, that was horrid.”
Hugh’s nod was subtle as he turned to the bow window. There was a self-satisfied set to Beaumont’s posture. But something in the line of his mouth, the tightness around his eyes—something Rosehill had said hit a mark. I could only hope his parting jab hurt—if only a little.
When Hugh finally turned his gaze back on me, it was with too much consideration. In general, marriage and fatherhood had improved him greatly. But it had also left him more observant. A few years ago, he never would have noticed that I was seconds from casting my accounts all over the floor. That he read me now as well as he could was an irritant.
“Why did you agree to come with me? You hate it here.”
“So do you,” I pointed out.
“Habit. Appearances. It keeps doors open, doors I made need some day.” He shrugged and finished his own drink just as the barkeep brought mine. Hugh snatched the fresh drink from the man’s hand before it found mine. “You’re finished for today.”
I would die before I admitted that he was likely right and I couldn’t handle any more.
“Do you really wish for help fromthesepeople?” I asked, unable to hide my disgust.
“Not at all. But I have little Henry. I won’t have my choices limit his.”
My fingers caught in my curls as I ran a hand through them. I wasn’t willing to give deeper consideration to Hugh’s comment.
A raucous laugh spilled out from behind me. I glanced around at all at the arrogant, lecherous drunks, the idle louts, the prideful gluttons. Sinners, all. And they’d be the first to condemn me to hell if they knew what lay in my heart.
Turning back to my brother, I was struck with the realization that at some point he’d become a man, and a good one. Quite without my noticing. Sometime between the beginning of their love story when Kate spilled lemonade on him and when he first held his son, he’d grown into his responsibilities. He was a man who would make sacrifices for his family. He hadn’t always been that man.
“He’s lucky to have you for a father.”
Hugh scoffed.
“I mean it. You’ve changed. A lot.”
