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“She has been patient indeed.”

Miles stepped aside so Henry could enter the glass doors that led into the ballroom. Henry paused just inside the threshold and stared up at the ceilings. He smiled. “Things have not changed one jot.” He looked to Miles. “It seems you are doing a fine job indeed.”

Miles merely lifted his shoulders and followed Henry over to the large fireplace that was rarely lit. Henry paused here, tracing a finger over the carved wood of the surround.

“Henry?” Miles prompted. It was rare to see his brother so introspective or for him to be this damned quiet. He’d half-expected to have to endure endless tales of his adventuring.

Henry glanced at him, his blue eyes filled with a strange sadness that made Miles regret every thought of annoyance or anger directed toward him. He smiled briefly and straightened. “I know I have been remiss in neglecting you all.”

“You said that, Henry, you do not—”

His brother held up a hand. “I was not in the best frame of mind when Father died.” He sighed. “And I know it was a shock to us all. He had always seemed so healthy and vital, as though he might live forever.”

Miles nodded. Their father’s death had come as a shock to them all. He had certainly not been prepared to take on the mantle of viscount and all the responsibilities it had come with. The only thing he could be grateful for is it prevented him from ever sinking back into his old ways.

“It is a terrible excuse, particularly when, from what I hear, you are doing a stellar job of filling his shoes.”

Miles said nothing.

“And, of course, I leaped headlong into proposing to Augusta.”

Clenching his jaw, Miles stared sightlessly into the empty fireplace.

“She certainly deserved better.” Henry rubbed a hand over his face. “But we were always going to be together, were we not? It was what everyone wanted and, well, it’s Augusta...she’s a fine girl and we all knew she’d make a fine wife.”

Miles ground his teeth together, only stopping when his jaw hurt.

“It just seemed the right thing to do,” Henry said. “Life was short and people could vanish at any moment.”

“And the fleeing the country part?”

“Not my finest moment, I’ll admit.”

“You do not seem to have done poorly for it.”

Henry’s brow lifted. “You are angry at me?”

Miles pressed his lips together. “You did leave us all rather in the lurch, Henry.”

“And I left you fending for me with regards to Augusta.” Henry sighed. “I know I have much to make up for.”

“That is why you have returned?” Miles frowned. Though he looked healthier and more worldly, there were creases around his brother’s eyes that had not been there before. It could be that the sun was to blame but something seemed to weigh on his brother’s shoulders and he was not certain it was simply guilt.

“When I was in Hungary, there was a mudslide.” He gave a shudder. “Awful thing it was. Lots of deaths.”

“A mudslide?” Miles echoed.

Henry nodded. “I was lucky. The building in which I had been staying in was washed away. But I had found this woman trapped and was trying to aid her. Because of her, I was not where I should have been.”

“Christ.”

Henry gave a grim smile. “It rather put a damper on all of my travels, and it made me realize—”

“Henry!” Their mother hastened into the ballroom and picked up pace when she spotted Henry. Flinging her arms around him, her weight nearly sent him toppling back against the fireplace. “I heard you were spotted approaching but I did not really believe it.” She drew back and pressed hands to either side of his face.

Miles could not help smile at his mother’s beatific expression. It was no secret that Henry had always been her ‘baby’ and as much his brother had bemoaned his treatment as the youngest, he knew Henry enjoyed the close relationship he had with her.

“Goodness, you do look brown. And older.” She stepped back. “But quite regal because of it. Do you not think, Miles?”