“Why did you leave? Yes, we roared at each other and came to blows, but the next day, I sat down at the breakfast table to Father telling me you were gone.”
Mungo said what his brother needed to hear—the truth.
“He told me to leave. Told me there was no place in the family for me if I could not accept that you were the one who would lead it when he was gone. That all decisions about the future of the Frasers came down to both of you, and that you understood this was how it was going to be, and it was time for me to do the same. I was to contribute nothing to the running of the business, or the family, but just live off the profits. I couldn’t live with that. We argued, I said things Icould never take back, as did he, and then I went to my room, wrote a letter to Mother, and left.”
Shock had Calder’s mouth falling open.
“You didn’t know,” Mungo said softly. He’d thought his brother was part of his father’s plans. It seemed he was wrong about that as well.
“I didn’t know, and I’m sorry to say, he never mentioned your name after you left, and we were forbidden from doing so. Weak fool that I am, I agreed.”
His brother looked defeated. Undone, Mungo thought, looking at the swelling on his jaw.
So many wasted years.
“I never forgot you. I was just too stubborn, thinking you’d chosen to leave us, to try to find you again after my first trip to London.”
“We’re both stubborn,” Mungo said, knowing what else he needed to say even as his necktie tightened uncomfortably. “I’m glad you found me, but not glad of the circumstances.” He held out his hand, and his brother took it, and then he was hugging the man he had once been closer to than any.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
Benjamin drove Mungo, Ellen, and Gray to the Holton Agency.
Ivy had checked Mungo’s appearance before leaving the house. “Because it’s important they see you as an affluent gentleman just as much as they will Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher,” she’d said.
He’d allowed her to fuss with his necktie and then listened while Bram, and then Calder, lectured him on losing his temper and speaking out of turn. He’d acknowledged each word even as they jarred.
Mungo was now seated across from Gray and Ellen in the carriage, which was far too uncomfortable and small for someone of his size with a loathing for small spaces.
“If you kick me with your boot one more time, I shall not be responsible for my actions,” Ellen hissed at him.
“Sorry,” he muttered, turning his legs toward Gray.
“You must behave in there. It is going to seem a bit odd having you along anyway, so stay quiet as best you can.”
“I know how to behave.”
“Is that a new thing? Because I’ve not seen evidence of that lately,” Ellen said.
“You were such a sweet child.”
She poked out her tongue at him then, which had his lips twitching. Ellen had always done that when she didn’t know what else to say to win a debate.
“Miss Downing is nice,” she added, and the look in her eyes might appear innocent, but he was instantly on alert.
“She is,” Gray said. “You and she seem to get along well,” he lied.
“We can’t stand each other.”
“I noticed you look at her a great deal,” Ellen said, ignoring his words. “And such a sad life she’s had?—”
“Stop now.”
“Stop what?” Gray said, smirking.
“I could wipe that smirk off your face,” Mungo said.
“But you won’t because you love him like you do all of us. Now, back to Miss Downing. She certainly knows how to keep you in line and doesn’t take a back step when you’re rude or start growling,” Ellen added. “Plus there’s that thing between you.”
