She didn’t. Unfortunately, Maxwell climbed into the dark, empty house, blood on his shirt and his breathing pained, and he found a surprise of another nature waiting for him.
Simon sat in the study with a small light illuminating his face. By the looks of him, he had been waiting there for quite some time; there was an empty glass of brandy beside him, and an open book on his lap.
Maxwell groaned, leaning against the wall. “I’m not in the mood to entertain a lecture.”
Simon looked at him, eyes narrowed. “By God, you’re a mess.”
“It’ll heal.” He grinned, feeling his lip split. “And I have no intention of showing my face to the world at present.”
“Fortunate, as you’d send small children running away screaming,” Simon said dryly. “What has possessed you to take up boxing again?”
“I never truly stopped.”
“This is different.” Simon slammed both palms against the desk and pushed himself to his feet. “And tell me what the devil you were thinking by telling Thalia you don’t love her when anyone can see you’re pining away without her.”
Maxwell set his jaw, ignoring the ache. “It’s best for us both.”
“You’re a mess.” Simon sighed and tugged the bell pull. “At least let me patch you up. How bad is it?”
“Cracked ribs, at a guess. He was a tough one. Got some good punches in.”
“You let him hit you, you mean.” Simon poured another glass of brandy and handed it to Maxwell. “You may as well drink.”
Maxwell tipped it back, the alcohol stinging against the cut on his lip. “You can’t change my mind about this, Simon. There’s no point trying.”
“I suppose you know she’s staying with us.”
Maxwell winced, trying to find a more comfortable position on the chair. “I suspected as much.”
“And you haven’t once come to see her.”
“What would be the purpose?”
“To reassure her, for starters. And to convince her that you do care for her and she will not live a miserable life empty of affection.” When a footman arrived, Simon dispatched him to find some bandages and water, then took a seat opposite Maxwell. “I know you are a stubborn man. No, a fool. But you must concede that this path is madness. Why must you insist on this course of action?”
“You don’t understand,” Maxwell said.
“No, I don’t. But I would like to, so please, explain things to me. In simple terms, so I might understand.”
“There are no simple terms.” Maxwell gritted his teeth as his chest gave another spasm of pain. “Or at least, none that you would accept.”
“We both know you’re in love with her.” Simon accepted the bandages and water a maid brought. He wet one of the bandages, handing it to Maxwell. “Clean your face. I’m going to bind your ribs. Fool.”
“You met my father,” Maxwell said through clenched teeth. “You know as well as I that in our family, love is notlove. If it were, my mother would still be alive. So would my brother. As much hurt as I may be causing Thalia now, better that than I fall in love with her and—if I’m close enough to hurt her more, I will.”
Simon paused in his wrapping. “Is that what you believe?”
“I have the evidence of my own eyes to support my claims. What else should I trust in? Is her happiness worth risking?”
Wordlessly, Simon crossed to the bell pull. A servant arrived almost immediately; they must have been waiting. Simon dispatched them to bring Lydia to them.
Irritation rose in Maxwell at his friend’s presumption. “She’s abed,” he said. “And I am hardly in a position to receive her.”
“You ought to have considered that before punishing yourself.” Simon scowled at him. “I need to get through your thick skull, and I think she may be able to help me.”
Maxwell attempted to rise, but Simon pushed him back into the seat. “Sit down and stop fighting this. You are a fool, Maxwell. A cursedfool. Trust in us, your friends, that we may in fact be attempting to do what is best for youandThalia. Do you suppose I would dare act against her, given how close my wife is to her? I am not putting your best interests over hers, believe me, but I have seen her state these past few days, and this is not sustainable. Ah, Lydia.”
He turned to where Lydia was standing in the doorway in her nightgown.
