“You’re here.”
Hector managed—though it was a near thing—to tear his eyes from Clio when her brother appeared at his side, looking as stern and disapproving as ever. This time, at least, Hector knew he deserved Aaron’s ire.
“I am here,” he agreed, his eyes already wandering back to Clio. She was dancing with that same cousin now, her self-deprecating expression undercut with laughter when she made a misstep.
“You know, Metford,” Aaron went on, also surveying the dance floor. Phoebe was also one of the dancers, in line next to Clio, though Hector didn’t recognize her partner—a man who only had one hand, his other sleeve neatly pinned where the rest of the limb should have been.
Hector wondered if he’d ever reach a place of such sanguinity with his own wife, if he’d ever find himself able to watch her dance with another man without burning with jealousy.
He doubted it.
“I can’t decide if I hate you,” Aaron went on.
“Probably fair,” Hector said.
Aaron didn't show any surprise at Hector’s acquiescence, but maybe that was just the admiral in him, never showing weakness.
“I did not like that you brought scandal to my sister’s name,” he continued, laying out Hector’s sins with a disturbing placidity. “And I did not like that you took so long to muster yourself to do right by her once you’d done so.”
Hector wasn’t certain where this was going, but he hoped that Aaron wasn’t about to challenge him to pistols at dawn. It would bedeserved, of course, but Hector couldn’t afford to get himself shot dead before he made amends with Clio. He would refuse, honor be damned. Clio mattered more.
“Moreover,” Aaron said, “I do not like that my sister has spent the last week at my house, not that I don’t enjoy her presence. But she seemed sad, and any time I tried to talk about it, my wife kicked me. I’m covered with bruises. It’s a miracle I’m not limping.”
“I have plenty of walking sticks you can borrow,” Hector offered. Aaron’s quelling glare told him that this was not the time for jesting. Which was rather fair, since Hector had only made the comment to distract from the stabbing feeling in his chest over the reference to Clioseeming sad.
“I do not,” Aaron concluded, “believe you are worthy of my sister.”
Hector swallowed. “I know that.”
If this indictment was all that Aaron had to offer, then Hector would consider himself as having gotten off easy.
“But,” Aaron went on, and Hector’s head whipped around so quickly that he knew his neck would hurt in the morning, “I cannot say that marrying you has not been good for her.”
“I …” Hector had no words. Not one single word in response to this.
Aaron looked at him with approval. Reluctant approval, but approval nonetheless.
“She seems … more grounded,” he clarified gruffly, sounding as though he absolutely hated to admit it. “She has purpose. Admittedly, sometimes that purpose is quarreling with you, but as a man with his own headstrong wife … I suppose I cannot hold you entirely responsible.”
Hector was gaping. He knew he was still gaping, that he looked like a bloody fish on the line, but he couldn’t seem to stop.
“Just … fix things,” Aaron said, turning back to the dance floor. “I’m tired of getting kicked. And I’m tired of my sister being sad. So. Fix it.”
“I want to,” Hector stammered. “I’m trying.” And then, because this all sounded impossibly weak and he was many things, but he wasnota weak man, he added, “I’ll do it.”
“Good.” Hector assumed this was the end, and wondered if he ought to walk away, when Aaron added, “And Metford?”
“Aye?”
“If you make her miserable again, Iwillshoot you.”
And then, bruises or not, limp or not, Aaron turned as smartly on his heel as the military man he’d once been and stalked away.
Leaving Hector staring after him, wondering when, precisely, he had started to actuallylikethe damn fellow.
CHAPTER 30
It wasn’t that Clio wasn’t having a good time. She was. No, she was fairly certain that she was. She was surprised, actually, to find that she enjoyed parts of it—she enjoyed dancing, Phoebe laughing at her side. She enjoyed seeing people she hadn’t seen in years and learning that a diamond of the first water from her debut Season had decided not to marry, no matter her many proposals, or that a previous wallflower was now happily married with her fifth child anticipated soon.
