“You and my brother are keeping secrets from me now?”
“No, not at all.” He reached for her arm, his touch gentle. “I just know that he’d want to tell you himself.”
Normally, when Tristan was in dire trouble, Tess felt an odd sense of unease herself. A strange twin phenomenon that neither of them could explain but both accepted. She didn’thave that feeling, and there was an amused twinkle in Dom’s eyes that told her it wasn’t bad news Tristan needed to share.
He scanned the dig site. “Are the Bromleys here?”
Tess lifted her hand to shade her view from the bright morning sun. The younger Bromley was down in one of the segments where they’d found metal fragments, excavating carefully alongside one of the other village men. But she didn’t see Bill.
“There they are,” Dominic told her, pointing toward the lane that led toward Fenbridge land.
Tess turned to see her brother and the much taller Bill Bromley walking down the lane in jovial conversation. Even from a distance, the men’s laughter carried on the breeze.
“Good heavens,” Tess breathed. “It’s like witnessing a miracle.”
Dom chuckled behind her and then drew closer. She could feel the heat of him at her back and resisted leaning into it. “Perhaps people can change after all.”
Tess glanced back at him, catching a flicker of wistfulness in his eyes.
“We have visitors?” Tristan called from a few feet away.
Tess strode toward her brother and Bill. “I trust you two can explain why you’ve become bosom pals.”
“Later, Tess,” Tristan told her. “And I promise the wait will be worth it.”
Tess narrowed her eyes at her twin and saw something in his expression she hadn’t seen in years, something very like joy.
“This has to do with Justine,” she guessed, half worry, half hope.
Bill winked but said nothing.
“Very well, if you’re going to drive me mad with wondering, then I must advise you both to be on your best behavior since our patrons are visiting.”
Both men turned to gape at the Van Arsdales, who seemed stuck in place where Dominic had left them, as if marooned without his guidance.
“What exactly are they going to do at the site?” Tristan’s skepticism matched Tess’s own.
“Observe,” Dom put in. “Though I’d wager they’ll get bored soon enough and return to Fenbridge Hall.”
But just then Miss Van Arsdale’s voice, bright and loud and youthful, peeled across the site. “I say, Mr. Prince, can you give me one of those tiny shovels so that I may dig too?”
Tess bit down so hard her jaw throbbed.
“It’ll be all right,” Dom whispered. “I won’t let her do any damage.” Then he brushed his hand along her back with the lightest touch before marching back toward the Americans.
Tristan stepped closer until they were shoulder to shoulder. He assessed Tess as she stared at the madness unfolding across the trench—Miss Van Arsdale stepping down into the dirt, trailing the ruffled hem of her stylish gown along the ground.
“If you could breathe fire, I suspect we’d all be singed at the moment,” Tristan told her in a teasing tone.
“I’m glad you’re happy.” Tess reached out to take hold of his arm. “But I just want to get through the day. Between waiting to learn your secret and whatever these two plan to do to the dig site, it will be extraordinary if I do.”
“Justine and I want to tell you together.”
“Good heavens, what have you done?” Tess turned wide eyes her brother’s way. “Is she with child?”
Tristan let out one of his deep, full-throated laughs. “It’s even more shocking.” He leaned in. “Wedlock,” he whispered.
“Oh, Tris, that’s lovely news!” Tess embraced him, holdinghim tight, smiling so wide her earlier ire started to melt. A little. “And I promise to pretend to be shocked when you tell me together.” She pulled back to look at him. “I am shocked.”
