“Bollocks.”
Nathan laughed. “See, I am even able to laugh at your obvious disbelief instead of being insulted.”
“What was the bet?” Gabe asked.
“If I come with you, I do not have to dance with a wallflower tonight.”
The Deville brothers always bet each other; it was their way. They bribed, bet, and challenged each other most days. If they could get the last piece of cake through arm wrestling or paying a bribe, it was done.
“Abby will be displeased.”
Nathan smiled at the mention of his sister. “How many years ago did she make us promise to dance with a wallflower each evening?”
“Four,” Gabe said. “I miss her.”
Nathan’s smile fell away. “As do we all.”
They were silent for long minutes, thinking of their sister. The brothers were a bit rudderless now that she’d left them. They had each other, of course, but Abby had been different. A sister to protect.
“What are your plans for Dimity, Gabe?”
“I want to see her settled in a good position, but—”
“’Tis easier to settle a wild animal than Miss Brown? Plus, as we’ve already said, she is not your responsibility.”
“Then who’s responsible?” Gabe snapped. “I was her employer, and she is Abby’s friend—”
“And can look after herself.”
“That, how I found her, was looking after herself?” Gabe scoffed.
Nathan gave him a long look before turning to face the window.
“All I will add to the matter is Miss Brown needs consultation regarding her future. You cannot just demand and hope she will follow meekly. She is very much like you, Gabe, which is most likely why you are like two circling rabid dogs when together.”
The sun bounced off the windows of carriages as they rolled by, and there was no sign of the rain that had plagued him last night.
She was safe surely in daylight hours? But what if he’d not found Dimity by the time darkness fell? What would happen to her then? Would she return to that place? Likely not, as he knew she’d stayed there and could find it easily enough again.
“She shouldn’t have run,” he growled. “Why did she flee our house when all I wanted was to see her safe, Nathan?”
His brother took his time answering. “Because she has pride, Gabe, and likely not a great deal more. That, plus you and she have battled wits from the outset, and I doubt she would like relenting to you any more than you would to her.”
He heard the truth in the words even if he was reluctant to acknowledge them.
“Her pride would put her out on the streets rather than in a warm bed with a full belly?”
“As yours would were your positions reversed, brother. Pride will come before a fall for each of the Devilles; it is our way.”
“When did you become insightful?” Gabe studied his brother. Nathan was changing. Now he took the time to look, he could see it. Maturing, Gabe thought. He hadn’t heard his brother roaring constantly like he used to.
“Is all well with you, Nathan?” Something was there in his eyes, shadows that he’d not noticed before. “A problem you wish my help with?”
The smile didn’t reach his eyes. “I am well.”
“But?”
Nathan looked out the window.
