Morgan shook his head. “Well, that’s a very rational thing to say.”
She laughed softly. “I suppose that thwarts your desire to see him as an utter villain.”
“It does.” He found himself smiling slightly. “Somewhat irritating of you, my lady. I was very happy stewing in loathing for my brother.”
“My apologies then,” she said with a soft laugh. “I should not have disturbed a good stew.”
He leaned in, catching a whiff of orange blossom that took him to fantasies that were unfulfillable. “I forgive you,” he whispered.
Before she could respond, the rest of their party joined them and Morgan stepped away from her. It was so odd how he could feel so upset, so angry in one moment, then a few words from Elizabeth could change his mood and his thoughts.
“Have any of you seen my brother?” he asked, casting Elizabeth a quick glance. She gave him a small smile in return. Encouraging. Comforting.
“I saw him go out on to the terrace from the east parlor,” the Duchess of Donburrow said. “Katherine followed him.”
“Ah. If you don’t mind, I think I’ll seek him out,” Morgan said. “I was not finished talking to him and I think I owe him something.”
“We’ll be here for a while,” Brighthollow said. “You’ll join us when you’re finished with your conversation and we’ll all go in to supper.”
“Very good,” Morgan said as he exited the room and walked down the hallway. As he entered the east parlor, he saw the shadow of his brother and Katherine past the glass doors that led outside. They were standing close together. Katherine had her arm around him.
Morgan sucked in a breath and stepped onto the terrace. The couple turned and Robert scowled as he returned his attention to the garden below.
“Good evening,” Morgan choked out. “You look lovely, Katherine. May I speak to Robert alone?”
She shook her head. For the first time since Morgan had met her, she didn’t look welcoming toward him. She looked protective.
Robert had that. Robert deserved it. Morgan knew it when he got past the complications of their brotherly bond.
Katherine smoothed her hand across Robert’s back once more. “I’m not sure I should leave you two alone. Will you come to blows or will one of you throw the other off the terrace?”
“No,” Robert said, and glanced at her with a look of chagrin. “For my part, at least, the answer is no.”
Morgan inclined his head. “I don’t have any intention of carrying on.”
Katherine considered that for a moment, looking back and forth between the men. Then she nodded. “Very good. I’ll see you two in a moment.” She leaned up to kiss Robert’s cheek. When she whispered something to him, Roseford’s expression softened.
Then Katherine slipped into the house and the brothers were alone once more.
“I-I overreacted,” Morgan admitted, though the words choked him. “I’m…sorry.”
“No. Well, yes,” Robert said, facing him without moving toward him. “But I deserved it, I think. I shouldn’t have talked about your past without discussing it with you first. I’m sorry, as well.”
Morgan blinked. He hadn’t expected that. He almost didn’t know how to respond. But at last, he nodded. “Apology accepted.”
Robert let out his breath in a long stream. “And I overreacted, as well. My feelings about our father are…complicated. And being compared to him is like my greatest fear come to life.”
Morgan’s eyes went wide. Because Robert had been raised by the man, he supposed he’d never fully considered his brother’s past. His brother’s pain. That was a failing, he could see that now.
“You aren’t like him,” Morgan said softly. “I met him once, you know.”
Robert drew back. “You did? Usually he made note of such things in the files he kept on each…each…”
“Bastard?” Morgan said softly.
“Each child,” Robert finished.
Morgan let out his breath in a low whistle. “Great God, what he must have said about me.”
