Page 100 of Aurelia

“Aurelia?” His forehead furrowed. “What is it, darling? Why are you—”

The door opened and Arthur strode into the room. “It is good to see you, Crewe!” he said, his blue eyes appearing almost purple in his red face as he strode into the room.

Roland’s eye bulged when he saw his cousin. “Good Lord, Arthur—you look terrible! What ails you? Should you be up and about?”

Arthur made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “I am on the mend. Tell me, how were your travels?”

For a moment Aurelia thought Roland would insist on discussing Arthur’s health, but he must have decided to wait until they could be private.

“The trip was overlong and I found nothing at the end of it.” Roland’s expression was harsh as he strode back toward the fire.

“So, there was no news of, er—”

“No, there was nothing,” Roland snapped. “And it is not a subject that gives me any pleasure, Arthur.”

Arthur nodded cautiously. “Of course, Crewe.”

“Beekman said Guustin has been gone for almost three weeks. Did he happen to say when he is returning?”

“Your son did not deign to inform me of his plans,” Arthur said stiffly.

Roland scowled. “And I daresay you didn’t bother to ask him, did you?” he shot back. “Your jealousy of him is childish and tedious, Arthur.”

Arthur gasped. “I am most certainly not—”

“Lady Celsa and I visited Mrs. Walker just yesterday and she expects him back any day now, my lord,” Aurelia said loudly, hoping to deescalate the uncharacteristic tension between the two men before they came to blows.

Before the earl could respond, Celsa came hurrying into the room. “Welcome back, Papa,” she said, her voice breathy and adoring.

The earl gave his daughter an appraising look. “You are looking very well, Celsa,” he said after a long moment, his gaze lingering on her hair, which she had begun to wear up just before Guustin left. “Your hair suits you.”

Celsa blushed to the roots of her coiffure at her father’s kind words. “Thank you, Papa.”

The earl nodded at Beekman. “You may serve.”

His lordship and Arthur discussed several issues that had come up at the guano mine while the earl had been away, but Aurelia could see Roland had no interest in talking business. His gaze, over and over, slid to meet hers while Arthur raised one topic after another, evidently searching for something to capture the other man’s attention.

“—which is what Sir Gideon said when he was here visiting Aurelia last Thursday.”

Roland turned to her, his pupil shrinking to the size of a pin. “Talbot was here?” he asked in a quiet, almost menacing, voice. Aurelia suddenly understood why Celsa always appeared terrified when her father eyed her so coldly.

Aurelia opened her mouth, but Arthur spoke first. “Yes, he has been calling on Aurelia almost weekly. Isn’t that right, my dear?”

“Er—”

“And what business is it that brings him to Crewe so often?” the earl demanded, his imperious tone enough to shake Aurelia from her daze.

“He does not appraise me of his business pursuits, my lord,” she retorted just as imperiously.

Roland smiled thinly.

Arthur, evidently unaware of the tiger he was taunting, chuckled and said, “His business is pleasure, Crewe. Indeed, Sir Gideon makes no secret of the fact that he is in love with Aurelia. The young ladies in the neighborhood—and their fond mamas—have all gone into mourning knowing he will soon be off the marriage market.”

Aurelia pulled her attention from Roland just long enough to give Arthur a look of outraged disbelief. Just what in the world was he on about?

“Is that so?” Roland asked coolly, his gaze brooding and hooded.

Aurelia told herself that she did not enjoy the jealousy that flared in his icy blue gaze as he glared at her.