William pulled out a chair and sat down, acknowledging Fredrick with a tip of his head. “I need money,” he said.
Harred should have known that was what his brother needed. “What happened to Ruth’s dowry?”
“Sir Percy and I are still negotiating it, but I need money to establish my own household- one that doesn’t include you lording over me,” William replied. “Now that you’ve kicked me out of my house—”
Harred spoke over him. “You mean ‘my house’?”
William scowled. “We both grew up there. I doubt that our parents would have thought you would kick your own brother out.”
“That was because you were treating your wife so horrendously,” Harred said. “When will you accept there are consequences to your actions?”
“I did not come here to fight with you. I just need your help, and I figure you owe me this much,” William stated.
Harred was frustrated to no end. William would never accept fault for his actions, and he doubted he ever would. He couldn’t keep doing the same thing and expect a different outcome.
He knew his brother would react poorly to his next words, but he had no choice in the matter. He had to stop this vicious cycle. “I am sorry, but I can’t give you any money.”
“Can’t or won’t?” William asked, his voice rising.
“As you have pointed out, repeatedly, you are now richer than me with Ruth’s dowry. You need to work with Sir Percy to gain access to it.”
“But he is being entirely unreasonable,” William pouted. “He should be grateful that I took his daughter off his hands.”
Harred gave his brother a stern look. “You shouldn’t say such things about Ruth. She is a sweet young woman who is just trying to win your favor.”
William abruptly rose and shoved in his chair. “I should have known you would side with Ruth,” he grumbled.
“What is it with you and sides?” Harred asked. “Regardless, you have a wife now, whether you like it or not. You can’t keep going on as you have been.”
“You will come to regret this,” William declared in a haughty voice.
“I don’t think I will.”
William narrowed his eyes. “You think you are so clever, but you aren’t. You are no better than me. You just won’t admit it to yourself.”
As he was about to reply, William stormed off in a huff.
Harred took a sip of his drink before he addressed Fredrick. “I’m sorry about that,” he said. “William is exhausting.”
Fredrick chuckled. “That is a good way to describe it.”
“Now I just have to figure out who is trying to kill me- my own brother or Lord Drycott,” Harred said. “And I have to do so before they try again.”
Placing a hand on Harred’s shoulder, Fredrick said, “Don’t despair. We are working on it.”
Octavia had just descended the stairs when a knocksounded at the door that echoed throughout the whole main level. Carson crossed the entry hall and opened the door, retrieving two bouquets of flowers.
As Carson walked across the hall to set them down onto the table, he said, “These were sent by Lord Kendal, my lady. Would you care to read the card?”
“I would,” she replied as he extended the card towards her.
She opened the folded piece of paper and read the short message:
I hope these flowers bring a smile to your face, just as you always bring a smile to mine. I do hope you will join me for a tour of Vauxhall Gardens later this afternoon.
-Harred
Now, Octavia couldn’t help but smile at the sweet gesture. Maybe, just maybe, he had developed true feelings for her- just as she had for him. Or was she trying to see something that wasn’t there? She hoped not.
