“Come now, Hawthorne,” Trevor spoke up. “You have upset the woman. Let us adjourn on our ride and let her be.”
“Forgive me, Louisa.” Hawthorne smiled. “I hope your day improves.”
“I’m certain it will, my lord.”
As the men walked away, Trevor found himself sneaking a peek back at her. Sadness lurked in her expression, but when her gaze met his, she smiled. He gave her a polite nod and turned away, once again wishing she wouldn’t react in this manner. Yet, he nearly encouraged her behavior. Why couldn’t he stop?
The men mounted their saddled horses and began their ride. At first it was quiet, which gave Trevor a moment’s peace. He’d always enjoyed riding, and it didn’t matter if he had company or not. It surprised him that his visitors weren’t talking like loose-lipped women. Glancing back, Trevor studied their expressions. His younger brother appeared deep in thought, and poor Hawthorne…that man couldn’t stop looking back toward the house. Could the man really have met Louisa somewhere in Mayfair? Yet if the young woman were indeed of noble birth, wouldn’t her family be looking for her by now? And that certainly didn’t explain the scars on her back.
“Trey?” Trevor finally broke the silence. “How is that lovely wife of yours?”
His younger brother grinned wide. “Perfect, as always. She loves being a wife and mother.”
Trevor nodded. “Judith is certainly a gem. The best thing that ever happened to you, if I might say.”
“I agree,” Hawthorne chimed in. “I have never seen you happier.”
Trey chuckled. “And with our long-lost brother, Tristan, home again, life is definitely good.”
“Indeed, it is,” Trevor agreed. “I just wish Tristan would not stay cooped inside the house with Mother so much. If he’s not there, he’s wasting away in his London townhouse. He needs to get out and meet new people. And for sure, he needs to forget about Lady Hollingsworth.”
“Oh, that reminds me,” Hawthorne’s voice grew loud. “Have you heard the startling news? Lord Hollingsworth died late last night. From what I have heard, the police do not know what to make of it.”
At the same time, Trevor and his brother pulled their horses to a stop. Hollingsworth was not a name either of them wantedto hear…especially the lord’s wife. She was the very reason Tristan had nearly lost his life.
Trevor scowled. “Dead, you say? Are you jesting, Hawthorne?”
Trey murmured a curse and shook his head.
Lord Hawthorne leaned forward on his horse and stroked the mane. “It was a shock, to be sure. Lady Hollingsworth found him passed out drunk in the stables that night. The man was not wearing a stitch of clothing. She was so disgusted with her husband, she left him there, but a few hours later the stable boy found his lordship dead.”
“What is this news going to do to Tristan?” Trey asked.
Trevor hardened his jaw, fearful to say anything at this moment. The Worthington family hated Lord Hollingsworth. All of them wished the man dead. But now… Indeed, what would this kind of news do to Tristan’s well-being?
Taking a deep breath, Trevor prayed his anger wouldn’t show. “I shall have a talk with him. Let us hope this news does nothing to our brother. I would think after two years Tristan has gotten over that fiasco and is well on his way to living a normal life again.”
Trey urged his horse into a walk, which the others did as well. “I would like to think Tristan is over that, but sometimes…” He shrugged. “Sometimes he grows quiet and I wonder if he does not still think about her.”
“Well, I pray he does not get any wild ideas now that she’s a widow.” Trevor adjusted himself in the saddle. “That woman broke his heart once, I would hate for her to have the chance to do it again.”
The other two men nodded. Trevor pushed his steed faster. He’d definitely take the time to talk to Tristan now. His brother’s head injury from two years ago had brought trauma on the family and Tristan took a long time to recover. Finally heseemed normal again, and Trevor couldn’t let anything disrupt his brother’s life. Especially now.
An hour later, the men stopped by a pond to rest their horses. Dominic and Trey had been chatting back and forth during the ride, but seldom did Trevor join in. Now the two seemed remarkably quiet. Trevor prayed the two would remain this way until they left the estate.
“I cannot stop thinking about Louisa,” Hawthorne broke the silence.
Silently, Trevor groaned.
“You know,” Trey said, “Mother was telling me she thought Louisa might be Lord and Lady Danvers’ daughter.”
Trevor shook his head and moved away from the pond, closer to his brother. “Trey, would Louisa really be their daughter? I would think by now her family would be missing her. Am I correct? Besides that, I do not think they have a daughter.”
Trey shrugged.
“Actually,” Hawthorne said, “I recall a conversation I had with Viscount Wellesley a few years ago. He mentioned having a younger cousin who drowned when she was twelve years old.” He met Trevor’s eyes. “How old do you suppose Louisa is? If I remember correctly, the drowning happened six years ago. That would make his cousin nineteen.”
“She does not look that age.” Trevor shook his head.
