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“Carrington!”

Miss Trent caught her breath and stepped back as the shout cleaved the air and shattered the moment. Julian turned sharply to find his younger brother striding toward him, a thunderous look on his face, his hat clutched in one white-knuckled hand.

“Goodness.” Lady Manion came back to them. “Is something the matter?”

“I do not know,” Julian murmured, troubled by Brookmire’s expression. “I cannot imagine why he would be so improper as to shout across the grounds.”

“Carrington.” Brookmire reached him, his eyes blazing. “What is the meaning of this?”

Julian blinked. “I do not know what you mean, Brookmire. I cannot understand — ”

“What in heaven’s name have you done?” Brookmire threw up his hands. “Had you only spoken to me of your interest, I should not now look such a fool!”

Embarrassed, both by his brother’s loud manner and that he displayed it before the ladies, Julian frowned hard, hoping the look would remind Brookmire where he stood.

It did not.

“I was walking with Miss Galbraith when I heard it!” Brookmire jabbed a finger into Julian’s chest. “You knew very well I was considering courtship, that I thought her a most desirable young lady, and now — ”

“Do you mean to say that Lord Carrington is courting Miss Galbraith?” Lady Manion’s voice cut through. “Is that your meaning, Lord Brookmire?”

A small, barely perceptible sound came from Miss Trent, and Julian’s chest pulled tight with horror as he stared at his brother — who, to his shock, was nodding fervently.

“Lady Henderson is telling every acquaintance present that you are courting her daughter.”

Julian swallowed. “C — courting?”

“Yes. With every implication of serious intent to wed. How could you keep this from me, brother?” Anger gave way to sorrow in Brookmire’s voice. “How am I to bear it?”

The grief in it went deep, and Julian curled his fingers tight. One glance at Miss Trent showed her overcome — torn, no doubt, with confusion after all they had only just begun to share. He had to make it plain to them all. There was only one person his heart was drawn to.

“I do not know what you are speaking of, Brookmire.” He set a hand on his brother’s shoulder and looked into his eyes. “I have never shown the smallest interest in Miss Galbraith. I have certainly never spoken to her mother or her father of courtship.”

Brookmire’s jaw worked, his eyes assessing. Julian said no more, waiting for his brother to trust him or to doubt him.

At last Brookmire’s gaze flicked to Miss Trent, then back. He exhaled, his shoulders dropping, and Julian took his hand away.

“Then why does she say it?” Brookmire asked. “Why would Lady Henderson claim you are courting her daughter when you are not?”

Julian spread his hands. “I do not know. She wants a connection between us, plainly, but I knew nothing of the wish until this moment.”

His brother’s shoulders rounded. “Evidently I am not the choice she wants for her daughter.”

“It may be that the lady herself does not know what her mother has done.”

To Julian’s surprise, it was Miss Trent who spoke, offering comfort to Brookmire, who lifted his head and looked at her as if she alone had brought water to a man dying of thirst.

“If Lady Henderson long hoped Lord Carrington would court her daughter, and saw at last there was no prospect of it, she may have acted without discretion — out of desperation.” Lady Manion agreed, with a long look at Julian that said she knew full well why the lady thought there was no hope of a match. “It is manipulative and unreasonable. But such things have, on occasion, brought about the very end they sought.”

Miss Trent stepped close and laid a hand on Julian’s arm, as if they were about to walk on together — a small action that roared with meaning, and set his heart beating wildly.

“I think,” she said, still looking at Brookmire, “that clarity will now be needed, for all of you. You may yet have hope, Lord Brookmire. If Miss Galbraith does not know what her mother has done, or had no choice but to go along with it, that does not mean her own affections are engaged.”

“Then I must go to her at once.” Brookmire shoved a hand through his hair. “When I heard Lady Henderson speak of the courtship, I dropped Miss Galbraith’s hand and came striding off to find you.” His eyes squeezed shut, his face reddening. “I see now I should not have. I should have remembered you are a gentleman of honor, Carrington, and that your interest lies elsewhere.” He jammed his hat back on. “I will return to you soon.”

Julian watched him go, still standing beside Miss Trent, his thoughts whirling. When Brookmire had first spoken of his supposed interest in Miss Galbraith, all Julian had been able to think of was that Miss Trent would want no more closeness with him, and the thought had near paralysed him.

“Miss Trent.” He looked down into her eyes and saw the doubt flickering there. “I think it best I speak with Lady Henderson directly, even before others. I must understand what she is saying, and why.”