Page 17

“How are you enjoying the country, Brother?” Adam dismounted his horse and hastened up the steps to the house with his usual energy. They were close in age, having been born scarcely a year apart and so similar in looks that sometimes people mistook them for twins but, in truth, Leo had not seen Adam in over a year. Whilst Leo enjoyed balls and dinner parties, Adam could more often than not be found in the gaming hells of London.

He could usually be found winning too. His brother had turned taking money from unsuspecting men into an art form.

Leo debated telling him of Rebecca, but he had a good several reasons not to. Firstly, Rebecca had no desire for her presence to be known, and after the encounter with that old lady a few days ago, he was beginning to understand why. Secondly, if anyone knew how bruised and battered she had left his heart, it was his brother. The last thing he wanted to do was recount his heartbreak or potentially listen to some lecture on why he should send her away.

Especially, when Adam might be right.

“You know how it is. Sheep here, a few hills there,” he said. “Though a darned sight more women.”

Adam handed his hat over to the butler and ran his hands through his hair. It had grown longer since Leo had seen him last, so at least they’d be less likely to be mistaken for each other during their stay here. “I noticed that. What the devil is going on?”

“Someone wrote about the place in a book. Apparently they declared it good for one’s health or some such.” He waved a dismissive hand. “I have yet to read it.”

His brother smirked. “Mother would not be happy to know she sent us away to a place that is now more populated with women than ever. Some quite fine ones too. How will you resist temptation, Leo?”

Leo rolled his eyes. “Worry about yourself.”

Despite their more simplified social lives, both of his brothers had reputations as rakes. Which was precisely why they had been implicated in this blasted scandal. He wondered if Rebecca was going to ask why they were all here before long and he rather dreaded explaining it all, though he supposed it would ensure Rebecca maintained her distance from him and he wouldn’t find himself at risk of being heartbroken all over again.

“I didn’t know you were going to be here until I spoke to the gatekeeper,” Adam admitted, peeling off his gloves and finally his jacket. “Seems Alexander is on his way too.”

Leo nodded. “Mrs. Jones received word that he is due any day, though, I had little idea either, but I won’t complain about being stuck here if I do not have to do it alone.”

“Seems to me Mother has been scheming.”

“Or she wants all of her sons out of London and confined to one place. So we do not embarrass her anymore.”

“Iam not the embarrassment, Leo. After all, I had nothing to do with Miss Kingsley’s unfortunate situation.”

“Well, I did not get her with child.” Leo scowled. “Surely you know me better than that?”

Adam lifted his shoulders. “You hardly have the reputation of an angel.”

“Good Lord, Adam, I might indulge in pleasure where I can but not with a damned innocent and I would never abandon a woman to her fate. Hell, for all I know, it was you.”

“It was not me,” he said firmly.

“Then it must have been Alexander.”

Leo made a face. “You really believe so?” He shook his head. “I cannot see him doing such a thing either though, Lord knows, it’s been that long since I’ve seen him.”

“Last I heard he had climbed Scafell, Snowdon, and Ben Nevis all in two months.”

“Rather him than me.”

“Indeed,” Adam agreed. He stretched his arms. “I need to do something active after that tiresome journey. Are the targets set up?”

Leo smirked. Of course the first thing his brother wanted to do was archery. The last time they played, Leo had beaten him. It was a sport they always played together and there never seemed to be a clear winner, but Leo would happily beat him again if he so wanted and prove his prowess once and for all.

“Are you certain you want to do that?”

Adam’s brow lifted. “Beat you? Most certainly.”

“Unlikely,” he muttered.

They headed out of the rear doors while Quigley ensured all was set up for them and around the side of the house, toward the large stretch of land that faced the lake. When they were younger they had taken turns trying to fire arrows into the lake, never succeeding but most certainly losing enough arrows that Follet, the groundskeeper, would scold them.

He glanced at the window of Rebecca’s room and spied no sign of movement. He’d seen her when he brought her food for lunch, but she had grown melancholy after not being able to find this bloody diamond and the encounter with the old lady. Despite himself, he wanted to comfort her. This older Rebecca was more serious than the one he had known and slightly...harder, he supposed. He rather regretted life had done that to her.