Ewan refused to allow that fact to give him hope.
“What about Simon and Graham?” he wrote. “I’ve heard from them both, of course, but what’s your assessment?”
Baldwin answered this time, his smile wide. “It’s been about a month since they began speaking again, but they seem closer than they have been in years. Simon and Meg are scandalizing the universe with how deeply in love they are. Adelaide is still living with them, though I think it’s a fairly open secret that Graham spends most nights with her. Hence the rush to the altar as soon as the new year is here.”
Ewan sighed with relief. He’d watched Graham suffer deeply after Simon betrayed him over the summer. That the two friends had not only repaired their breach, but had both found love and happiness as well, was something that warmed his heart.
“As for the rest,” Matthew said, “Hugh is stalking around London, always in a poor humor. I wish he would talk to any of us about whatever is troubling him.”
Ewan frowned. “I’ll write to Brighthollow,” he suggested. “Perhaps that would open him up.”
“If anyone could, it would be you,” Baldwin said with a shrug. “Hell, you’re the only one Willowby keeps in contact with either, aren’t you?”
“He used to write to Simon, too,” Ewan wrote with a sigh. “But in the past few months, I don’t think he’s written to anyone. I worry about Lucas. He’s so secretive and he hasn’t been in England for so long.”
“My theory is that he’s a spy,” Matthew said with a wink as he downed his drink.
“Don’t be an idiot,” Baldwin chuckled, and Ewan grinned.
“Roseford is still fucking half of London,” Matthew continued. “So some things never change.”
Baldwin set his drink down. “And some things do. Have you heard about Kit’s father?”
Ewan shook his head. Matthew bent his. “He’s ill. Quite ill. Kit is beside himself.”
“Who can blame him?” Baldwin said softly. “The Duke of Kingsacre is the best of men.”
Ewan nodded. “I’ll write to him, as well. I assume he is in the country?”
“Yes, though I’m sure Kingsacre will encourage him to carry on with his life and his duties.” Matthew shook his head. “That’s just who he is.”
Ewan frowned. Kingsacre had always reminded him of his uncle. Both were good and decent men. A rarity amongst the fathers of their ragged group. Most weren’t worth the paper to write their names. Luckily, their sons had found each other.
“And that’s everyone,” Baldwin said, and his gaze snagged Ewan’s. There was something about that dark stare that made Ewan straighten a little. “Except you.”
Ewan motioned to himself with a shake of his head.
Baldwin’s eyebrows lifted. “Don’t give me thatme, who melook, Donburrow. I have a feeling you have much to tell.”
He swallowed. Sheffield was one of his best friends—they’d been close since childhood. But in that moment, Ewan felt a wariness around him that he’d never experienced before. Slowly, he wrote, “Not much, truly. The rain disturbed the bridge, we had to do a sandbag wall. I’ll have to look into a permanent solution in the spring, so if you have any advice on that, please do share it. I’m the most boring of our group, I assure you.”
Baldwin and Matthew read his note together, and Baldwin snorted. “That’s not what I’m talking about. What did you do to Charlotte?”
The mood in the room shifted in an instant. Tension suddenly hung there, heavy and thick. Matthew’s eyes went wide and he slowly stepped back from the men. Not so far that he couldn’t intervene if blows were thrown. Not so close that he was involving himself or taking sides.
Ewan swallowed hard as he wrote, “I don’t know what you mean.”
“Of course you do,” Baldwin said softly. “But if you need me to spell it out, I can do so. The moment I arrived I noticed she was…ill at ease. Onlyyoucan do that to her.”
Now Matthew stepped forward. “See here, Sheffield, I’m not sure that’s fair.”
Baldwin kept his gaze on Ewan rather than looking at their friend. “I agree. It is not fair.”
Ewan bent his head. Over the years, he’d never known if Baldwin was aware of the connection between Ewan and Charlotte. Of course, the world knew they were friends, their circle often smiled over the overly complicated hand language they’d created. He was certain many had their suspicions, and he would wager half his fortune that Charlotte had likely spoken of her feelings to James’s sister Meg.
But Baldwin had always stayed outside the fray. He’d never brought up the subject.
Now he had, and his face was…hard. Protective. Like Ewan was an enemy rather than a friend. Perhaps he deserved that after the past few days. Few years. After the last lifetime.
