Maxim held uphis hand. With a scowl, Oliver fell silent.
“Youwant to know why I ‘defrauded’ you, Oliver?” Emotion erupted, yearsand years of resentment. “I want to help people. I want to make upfor my misspent youth andhelp. You wouldn’t believe me, soI had to lie. Those funds go to charities,” he continued intensely.“There are five charities I help run, andthat’swhere myinheritance has gone. I bought that manor for Doctor Griffiths’sinstitute, which helps rehabilitate soldiers with war injuriesamongst others. Another allows children—especially girls—get aneducation they might not otherwise have received. I’m working on acharity where children play in a football league they can onlyenter if they attend a certain amount of school lessons everyquarter.Thatis where the funds I’ve ‘defrauded’ from youhave gone.”
Oliver stared athim. “You’ve never—”
“Idid. I did attempt to discuss it. You cut me off. You neverlistento me.”
“Yougo out of your way to vex me. I was just trying to steer you on theright course.”
“Idon’t need your bloody steering.”
“Ididn’tknowthat. You never told me you did any of thosethings. You allowed me to think you a spendthrift, that you werespending money like water. I thought—Christ, Stephen I thought youneededsomeguidance.”
“Why?”
Oliverswallowed. “Stephen, you almost died.”
Stephen blinked.“What?”
“Icouldn’t lose you, Stephen. I couldn’t have another brotherdie.”
Silence. Stephenstared at his brother. “How did you know that?”
“Icame to see you. When you were convalescing.”
“But…You…” When? When had his brother come? He had no memoryof it, had thought Oliver had no idea…
“Isaw you, lying in that bed, your face bruised and your body brokenand I—” His voice cracked.
“Whydid you never say anything?”
He ran his handover his hair, tugged at the knot gathered at his nape. “What wouldhave been the point?”
Bloody hell.They really were both as bad as each other.
“Youalmost died?”
He looked up.Maxim stared at him, shock drawing his features. Stephen smiledwanly. “But I didn’t.”
“Jesus.” Maxim wiped a hand over his jaw. “We’re quite thefamily.”
“Dear lord, are you all attempting to kill eachother?”
They all lookedover. Lydia Torrence glared back at them.
Stephen shookhis head. He’d come to the Long Gallery because he thought he wouldbe alone. Instead, first Maxim had arrived, then Oliver, and nowLydia. He should have camped out in the Entrance Hall, there wouldhave been less traffic.
Oliverstraightened. “Stephen started it.”
Lydia shot him alook. Oliver gave her a sheepish grin as he worked his jaw, wincingslightly as he did so.
Rubbing hisneck, Stephen flexed the bruised knuckles on his other hand. OnlyMaxim looked relaxed, as if he hadn’t just held both Stephen andOliver in a headlock.
“Inany event, dinner will be served in an hour. We have guests, so Itrust you will all be presentable for company by then?” Her voicewavered slightly, and her smile was too bright.
Immediately,Oliver went to her. “Lydia, what’s wrong?”
Her bright smilebrightened. “Nothing.”
