“How is he?” he whispered.
Selina blinked, as if she were fighting uncharacteristic tears. “He’s…better. There’s still danger to his life, and pain. But every day his chance of survival increases.”
Guilt ripped through Morgan. The last time he’d gone to see Nicholas was weeks ago. “W-Well,” he stammered, fighting to retain some distance from the painful subject. “What does Nicholas have to do with the subject of my punishment for crimes against propriety?”
Selina hesitated and her voice trembled as she said, “I was at Donville Masquerade last night, Morgan. I saw you falling apart and it…it frightened me. I don’t have many people in my life. I nearly lost one brother, I won’t lose another.”
Morgan swallowed. “Selina…”
“It can’t hurt, can it? I mean, it isn’t in either of our natures to—to try. But there may be something to it.”
Robert rejoined them from across the room. “What do you say, Morgan?”
Morgan let out a sigh. In truth, his siblings weren’t far off the mark. He was tired of London. Tired of gaming and whoring. Tired of looking over his shoulder for whoever he’d lied to or schemed against. Now he’d have to add the watchful, judging eyes of Roseford if he said no to this offer.
But if he said yes…well, then when he failed, at least he could say he tried, and perhaps that would appease Robert enough to keep Morgan’s settlement coming each year.
“Fine,” he ground out. “If this Brighthollow toff wishes to speak to me about the matter, I won’t refuse.”
To his surprise, Roseford’s eyes lit up. As if he really cared what Morgan did. He clasped Morgan’s arm and gave a gentle squeeze. “Very good. Now, Jenner should have your bath prepared. Why don’t you take that, and I’ll arrange for someone to go and fetch some clothing for you better suited for this sort of meeting. Then we’ll go talk to my friend.”
Morgan’s eyes went wide. “Right now?”
“I know you, Morgan,” Roseford said with a chuckle as he moved to call for his butler and get the ball rolling. “It’s always now or never when it comes to you.”
Morgan wished to argue that point, but how could he? Much as he hated to admit it, his brother was right. So now he had to find out if this situation was going to be now…or never. And if it was never, what would that mean for his future?
Chapter 2
“But why must our plans change?” Lizzie gasped as she rushed across the parlor toward her brother, Hugh, and his wife, Amelia.
They exchanged a worried glance, something they often did when they spoke with her. She loved them for it, but also struggled with it. She hated to cause trouble and sometimes it seemed that was all she did.
Still, Hugh took Lizzie’s hands in his. “The plans aren’t changing, not in truth,” he said gently. “We are all still going to Brighthollow for the month. I will merely be delayed by a few days in joining you. Roseford has asked a favor of me, that is all. It will take a little time if it plays out as my friend hopes it will.”
Lizzie worried her lip. She liked her brother’s club of close friends. They were all wonderful men with even more wonderful wives. But though the Duke of Roseford was no exception and was never anything but kind to Lizzie, he’d once had a certain kind of reputation. She shivered.
“What kind of favor?” she asked softly, fearing the answer.
“Oh, nothing of concern, I assure you,” Hugh said, waving his hand as if to dismiss the entire subject. “Trouble with his half-brother, Morgan Banfield. It seems the young man is a bit wild.”
Amelia chuckled as she slipped an arm around Lizzie’s waist to comfort her. “Serves Robert right to have a wild sibling to manage after what he put all of you through all those years.”
Hugh joined in her laughter, but Lizzie couldn’t. Wild. She didn’t like that word or all the ugly things that often came along with it.
“Do you think you’ll hire Banfield, then?” Amelia asked, drawing Lizzie back to their conversation.
Hugh shrugged. “I’ve looked into his background a bit since Robert first mentioned this weeks ago. He’s clever, that’s for certain, and I think he could do the job if he applied himself. I suppose I’ll decide once I get a feel for him when they arrive shortly. If I do take him on, he’ll come with me to Brighthollow to get his start, so perhaps you can have an arrangement ready for him there just in case.”
“Or course,” Amelia said. “I’ll ask Masters to—”
Lizzie shook her head at how casually they were discussing this. “What do you mean you’re considering hiring some…some rake to work for you in Brighthollow?” she asked, even though she knew she had no right to interfere in her brother’s hiring of any employee.
Hugh’s brow wrinkled at the passion of her response, and Amelia’s arm tightened at her waist as if to hold her up. Lizzie almost felt as if she needed it.
“You needn’t be so concerned,” Hugh soothed her as he leaned in to kiss her brow, just as he’d done all her life when he wished to comfort her. “Banfield will work for me and he’ll know his place. He won’t trouble you if he does come. You’ll be busy at any rate, won’t you? With the garden?”
Lizzie tensed. The garden back in Brighthollow was the reason she’d given to Amelia and Hugh about why she wished to depart London in the middle of the Season and go to the countryside. Her late mother had designed but never finished it, and it was a project she did care deeply about.
But it also served as an excuse she could offer so that no one would badger her about how much she despised London and the expectation that she would be wooed and wed. The Season was only weeks old and she already wished to flee it.
“Yes,” she said slowly. “I suppose all my time will be taken up with the garden.”
Hugh nodded. “Now, the carriage is likely on the drive and loaded, so it is time for you and Amelia to depart.” He leaned down to kiss her cheek and she returned the same to him.
“Be careful,” she said softly, meaning the road and his meeting with this stranger she already did not like.
Hugh smiled with indulgence and motioned them to the door. Lizzie exited the parlor first, to give her brother and his wife a little more time for a private farewell. She adored them both, but sometimes seeing their close bond was…difficult. It was something Lizzie knew she would never have. Perhaps didn’t deserve thanks to the mistakes of her past.
She smiled at her brother’s London butler as she passed him in the foyer. “Thank you for everything, Murphy.”
“We hope to see you very soon, Lady Elizabeth,” Murphy said with a warm and genuine smile. “Safe travels.”
Lizzie kept her own false smile on her face until she had been helped into her brother’s fine carriage for the long ride back to Brighthollow. Murphy’s words made her cringe even though they were meant kindly.
See her again soon?
She didn’t want to be in London. She didn’t want to return soon. She just wanted to stay in Brighthollow and play the pianoforte and take walks on the grounds she loved so much and read all the books from the library over and over again, even though she knew them all by heart.