“Ihave been...busy,” he said lamely.
“Toobusy to even enjoy a cup of tea?”
He opened hismouth to say again he’d been busy but that chiding expressionhalted him. Lady Demartine was as a mother to him, and as his haddied when he was a child, she was the only mother he knew. He hateddisappointing her.
“Ihave missed you, Stephen,” she said. “Demartine and Iboth.”
“Yes, my lady.”
She looped herarm through his. “Take a turn with me and tell me what you havebeen up to.”
“Nothing,” he said as they began their tour.
“Ah,you men,” she said, a smile in her voice. “All of you are the same.You say you never do anything and then, five minutes later, onecannot stop your talk of everything and anything. How is yourfootball team?”
“They—we—go well.”
“Andthe children you teach?
“Coach, Lady Demartine. It is called coaching.”
“Ah.The children you coach, how are they?”
“Also well.”
Her mouth kickedup. “Perhaps I was wrong, Stephen. Perhaps you do not speak ofeverything and anything.”
He ducked hishead again, this time to conceal a smile. “How are you, mylady?”
“Ah,changing the subject. Well played, Stephen,” she teased.
Though hischeeks heated, his grin widened. Lady Demartine always saw straightthrough him.
“When was the last time you saw your brother?”
His smile diedabruptly. “I don’t know.”
She shook herhead. “You two. You would think with everything that has occurredyou would be closer.”
“Hestarted it,” he said sullenly, and then cursed himself for thechildish remark.
Lady Demartine’sknowing gaze weighted heavy upon him. “I daresay you are both oldenough to handle your relationship yourselves, even if you do notact like it.” She sighed. “At least we see you at a ball. Perhapstreat your brother kindly, though. There is much to which he hashad to adjust.”
His handsclenched into fists. “And he? Should he treat mekindly?”
Surprised lither expression. “He does, Stephen.”
Heshrugged.
Shaking herhead, she said again, “You two.”
Clenching hisjaw, he took a breath. Lady Demartine meant well, he knew. “I begyour pardon, madam, but I find myself in need ofrefreshment.”
She gazed at himlevelly. “Do you?” she finally said.
His neck heatedagain. How did she always know when he wasprevaricating?
She shook herhead. “No matter. Go, Stephen. I shan’t keep you when you don’twant to converse.”
