Page 42 of Tales of Highland Loyalty

But Trenton was looking at him oddly, a sly little grin starting in the corner of his face. Despondent, Will recognized that look. It meant he had something on him.

Squaring up to him, Will found his mood souring.

He really had no time for this.

"Come, Brother, there is no need for false modesty," said Trenton, casting his smirk across the room.

Breakfast that morning was not well attended, with a spartan turnout from the family itself. It was not a repast Will believed in, leaving it for the womenfolk and the invalids of the estate. So it was hardly a surprise to find Trenton munching on a handful of bacon from the table on the way in.

"Trenton?" he snapped irritably, the smell of the bacon making his stomach churn.

Trenton raised an eyebrow and smirked. "As I said, Brother," said Trenton, steadying himself on the table's edge, "I must congratulate you. I didn't know you had it in you! Quite a hit with the Scottish hen." He grinned stupidly, and Will wanted to shove the irritating churl into the porridge bowl.

Noticing the porridge, Trenton grinned again. Picking up the spoon, he tasted a bit before quickly spitting it out.

"Good Lord, it's got salt in it!" He wiped the porridge from his face with his loose shirt sleeves. This morning he was looking particularly foppish, his blue linen shirt contrasting jarringly with his tight-fitting red doublet. The doublet was embroidered with a particularly rich edging and tucked in tightly with a fine belt direct from Milan.

Will squinted.

His fine leather belt, to be precise. He was just about to say something when Trenton lurched forward. Will started; his first instinct was to draw his sword, as for one minute, he thought Trenton was about to attack him.

But of course, he did not. Will relaxed back into his chair as Trenton stumbled and then burped loudly.

"Well, 'tis the sort of thing that your new paramour should approve of, what ho!" blathered Trenton, still clinging to the table leg and threatening to pull it over with him.

It was then that Will stood up.

"Trenton. If you've got something to say, then kindly say it. Else I am needed elsewhere." His eyes flashed their meaning, but to Will's annoyance, Trenton just smirked.

Across the room, their mother looked on unsurely. She didn't like it when they fought, but always found a way to excuse Trenton's behavior.

"I do, as it happens, Brother. I wanted to offer you my congratulations and hope that I am the first invited to the wedding." His eyes dazzled, connecting their meaning.

From the back of the room, Will felt his mother having a minor conniption.

"Or the christening. Whichever's first. You can never tell with a lively chit like that, ding, ding!"

Starting to get aggrieved, he snapped at Trenton, "Stint thy clapper, Trenton! There are ladies present!"

By ladies, he meant his mother and the one or two serving wenches scurrying soundlessly about the hall. But Will's eyes made clear his displeasure. But still, it was fast becoming clear from the snigger of the serving maidens that news of his and Lissie's impromptu games was all about town.

This was not something Will had been anticipating, but perhaps he should have.

"You shouldn't listen to tell-tales, Trenton. They have half-truths and nothing more. So what if some old gossips' bottom lips are wagging? They should mind their own," he announced. "No respectable person would repeat anything like this!"

However, Will's discomfort served only to make his brother laugh more.

"Ah-ha! You have fallen into my trap, Brother," exclaimed Trenton mirthfully.

At this point, Will had a good mind to lunge upon Trenton with the upturned fork in his hand. It took him all his willpower not to.

"What trap? The only trap I see here is yours, permanently agape!" scoffed Will. He looked at Trenton, feeling rather pleased with that line.

But Trenton continued, unfazed.

"Well, it seems perchance that you think the young lady is not good enough for you, in which case, I would be more than happy to take her off your hands." Trenton delivered a smirk to the passing serving girl, who tried desperately not to understand.

The poor girl pursed her lips up and cast her head down. A familiar pose, Will noted, when his brother was around. Irritably, Will turned to Trenton.