He glanced at his older brother. Straight back, chin erect, clutching the walking stick and looking as much like a duke than Trey had ever seen. Still, there was something in his brother’s eyes that made him suspicious. The way Trevor’s mouth sloped into a frown hinted of a deep sadness. Perhaps Trey’s mother had been correct when she said Trevor was not able to handle a ward at this particular time.
“Are you going to answer my question, Trey?”
Trey grimaced, not liking the sharp tone of Trevor’s voice. Before Trey answered his brother, he needed to discover what Trevor knew. “Of course I will answer your question. So you have heard something about Miss Faraday? What would you like me to tell you, Trevor?”
Trevor’s glare pierced through Trey. “Why are you interfering with my ward?”
“Yourward?” Trey snorted a laugh. “The last I had heard, you turned that responsibility over to Mother.”
“Trey.” His brother’s voice grew harsh. “Cease this foolishness. We both know why I turned Miss Faraday to Mother’s care. Now tell me why you are interfering.”
“Pardon me?” Trey stopped and looked at his brother. “Pray, what are you talking about? I’m not interfering at all. Mother requested my help.”
“Oh, come now. You don’t expect me to believe that, do you?”
Trey scowled. “I don’t give a wit what you believe. I’m only doing what our mother asked of me.” He grumbled and marched toward his office again.
“Why would she want your help?” Trevor continued to harass. “You are a scoundrel, Trey. Why would any mother ask their son with your reputation, to assist with a young, innocent beauty?”
Trey’s steps slowed as his mind unscrambled the doubt creeping into his head. Trevor was correct. Why would his mother ask for Trey’s help? Was she playing matchmaker and trying to hook him up with Judith? Impossible. His mother knew what kind of man Trey was and how he followed so closely in his father’s footsteps. So why would she plan such a ridiculous scheme?
He quickly dismissed the doubt Trevor had lodged in his head and flipped his hand in the air. “She asked for my help because she’s ill.” Over his shoulder, he tossed his brother a scowl. “And because she does not dare disappoint you. What other choice did she have?”
Trevor shook his head. “Mother has certainly lost leave of her senses then.” He grabbed Trey’s elbow and stopped him. “Tell me, is Miss Faraday still innocent?”
Anger consumed Trey, different than what he’d felt with Hawthorne. He wanted to give his brother a good pounding for that comment. “Obviously, you have little faith in me.”
Finally, a grin tugged on the corners of Trevor’s mouth. “Tell me a time when I have been wrong about your character, brother dear.” He arched an all-knowing eyebrow. “What have you done in your life thus far to make me think I should trust you?”
Trey grumbled under his breath. Trevor knew him well.
Hesitating to give an answer, Trey scrambled through the cobwebs of his mind to think of something… “I have it.” He smiled. “I have managed your bets at Whites, and you have never lost. Whenever I have one of thosehair-brainedschemes—as you so call them—I have never led you astray. Have my money ventures not turned out positive?”
Nodding, Trevor folded his arms. “Indeed, I commend you on that. So let me rephrase my previous question. What have you done thus far in your life where it concerns a woman that hasn’t turned out scandalous?”
Trey muttered a curse. “Judith is innocent, you fool. She is Mother’s ward. I will not compromise her. She’s safe with me.”
“She’ssafewith you, eh?” Tilting his head back, he released a loud laugh that droned on for many seconds. When he met Trey’s gaze, Trevor’s eyes sparkled with mirth. The dimple both brothers shared appeared on Trevor’s chin—something Trey hadn’t seen for quite a while.
Trevor shook his head. “For some reason, that sounds more like a contradiction, don’t you think?”
Indeed, his brother was correct. Trey hated how Trevor’sholier-than-thouattitude always surfaced whenever they argued.
“As it is, Miss Faraday is protected while under Mother’s care. Rest assured, I shall guard her from men like me.” Trey quickly turned. Obviously, Trevor didn’t have much faith in his younger brother. Then again, Trey had never given him reason to have faith.
They walked a few more streets in silence. Finally, Trey glanced over his shoulder. “You never told me what you are about this fine afternoon.”
“I needed some clothes repaired, so I took them to the tailor.”
His brother’s answer was too quick and sharp for Trey to believe him. Besides that, Trevor’s servants could have run the errand for him. Something was definitely amiss with his brother. Trey wanted to ask, but he and Trevor had never been one to share their thoughts and feelings, even as young boys. For some reason, they’d never been close.
“How is Gwendolyn?” Trey asked. “Is she well and blissfully satisfied in her marriage to a stranger?”
Trevor shrugged. “We are still getting to know each other, so I have not a clue as to how happy she is. But she’s not doing very well with her pregnancy. The doctor has told her to stay in bed for a while.”
Trey stopped in front of his office. Worried lines added a deeper level of seriousness to his brother’s grave expression. “That doesn’t sound good at all. Does the doctor give hope for a normal pregnancy?”
“Yes. His words are still very encouraging.”
