thirty-six
Effie had been too quick at offering her help with Rowan. Harris had told them Rowan had gone to the stables, and she’d been hopeful at first, thinking that talking with Rowan among the horses would be easy.
But the moment she stepped into the stable and saw Rowan’s grim face, she doubted she could convince him to talk to his brother.
Balancing on one crutch, he was brushing Zeus’s mane without enthusiasm. She glanced behind her. Tristan was talking with the stable master, his posture slacking now and then, likely due to the pain. No groom was close, so she and Rowan could talk undisturbed.
“Good morning, Rowan.” She stroked Zeus’s muzzle, and he replied with cooing, happy noises.
“Lady Effie. Zeus is in great shape,” Rowan said.
“How’s your leg?”
He set the crutch aside and stood on his own two feet. “I can put my weight on it, but not for long, and at night it hurts.”
She handed him the crutch back. “Tristan told me you’re angry with him.”
His expression hardened in the same way Tristan’s would. She hadn’t noticed how similar the two brothers were when angry until now.
“I guess you know what he does to himself,” he whispered.
“I’m trying to help him stop, and your help would be much appreciated.”
He put down the comb and caressed Zeus’s neck. “He doesn’t need me. He never has.”
“You’re wrong. You mean the world to him.”
“Then it has to be a very small world.”
“Give him the chance to show you how much he cares.”
Rowan took the other crutch. “He had many chances, but he never told me the truth about my mother. I’m tired of being treated as if I didn’t exist.”
“You’re wrong. Tristan loves you very much. He didn’t talk about your mother because he wanted to protect you.”
“You’re very good, Lady Effie, but I don’t trust him. If you’ll excuse me, I need to sit.” He walked away, brushing past Tristan, who had just stepped into the stable, without sparing him a glance.
Dealing with animals was easier, which was curious since she couldn’t share a conversation with them. Yet she understood a horse or a dog better than a human. Cats were a completely different matter, but Kettle could make himself clear when he wanted to.
Tristan joined her next to Zeus. The horse showed his delight by neighing happily and butting his head against his master’s hand.
“Zeus adores you,” she said.
“I wonder why.” He kissed Zeus’s muzzle.
“Because you show him your love.”
He lowered his gaze. “No luck with Rowan, I guess.”
“No. He thinks you don’t care about him. I told him he’s wrong, but he’s hurting, and I believe it doesn’t have anything to do with you.”
“In a way it does.”
A while ago, she would have mistaken his blank expression for disinterest, but she knew him better now. He was hurting, too, deeply.
She laced her fingers through his. “I wish I could be more helpful.”
He drew in a breath at her touch, staring at her with his usual intensity. “You’re more helpful than you think.” His gaze dropped to her lips, and just like that, she was tingling all over, aching for his kiss.
