Page 9 of Molly Boys
By the time Everett had washed and dressed in the clean clothes Henry had laid out for him, Hugh had given up waiting for him in the parlour and moved to the small dining room, where the cook had served breakfast.
Clicking the door closed quietly behind him, Everett crossed the room slowly and lowered himself into the chair opposite his brother. For several long moments, the air was filled with a weighty silence. He couldn’t read his brother’s expression, given that Hugh’s entire head and upper body were concealed behind the huge unfolded pages of the morning’s newspaper. All that was visible were Hugh’s pale knuckles as he gripped the edges.
Shaking his head and wincing inwardly at the muted throb of pain, Everett reached out and uncovered the teapot. Feeling the china still slightly warm, he lifted it and filled his teacup.
Dropping in a couple of sugar cubes, he glanced up again, frowning at Hugh’s lack of acknowledgement. Still, Everett knew from experience that it was best to leave his brother to calm down before he attempted any further conversation, no matter how tempting it was to continue to ruffle Hugh’s feathers. It was one of the few pleasures he had left when it came to his family.
“You still smell like a distillery,” came a toneless remark from behind the paper.
“There are worse things, I suppose.” Ev shrugged.
Hugh lowered the pages, his gaze cool and assessing. He studied Everett’s pale skin and shadowed eyes before taking the time to fold the newspaper and set it neatly atop the ruthlessly pressed linen covering the table.
“I assume you’ve spoken with Father?” Ev sipped his tea as his head pulsed again.
“Given that we both reside at Hillingdon, conversation with him would be difficult to avoid.” Hugh quirked a brow as he picked up his knife and fork and began to cut his bacon and sausage into small, uniform pieces.
Ev pressed his pained forehead against his palm, bracing his weight on the tabletop.
“Elbows off the table, Everett,” Hugh said primly as he lifted a neatly trimmed bite of bacon to his mouth.
“You sounded exactly like the Pomfrey.” Everett tilted his head, his mouth curving.
Hugh stared at Everett for a long drawn-out moment as he chewed and swallowed. “My god, that woman was terrifying, wasn’t she?” A small answering smile tugged at Hugh’s lips.
“I would hope you’ve chosen a less authoritarian governess for your children than we were subjected to.” Ev leaned back in his chair.
“Mrs Pomfrey may have been strict but we didn’t suffer for it.” Hugh reached for a thick slice of bread and began to butter it before coating it with a generous helping of jam.
“Much,” Ev snorted. “But then again, you were her favourite. The little lord, she used to call you. Always everyone’s favourite.” Ev shook his head as he once again lifted his rapidly cooling tea to his lips. “Never could quite measure up to you,” he murmured.
“Regardless of what you believe, I am not your enemy, Everett.” Hugh let loose a frustrated breath. “Yet you persist in seeing me as such whenever I visit.”
“Because you usually only visit at Father’s instigation, which is rarely a herald of good fortune for me,” Ev muttered with a sullen glower.
“Are you coming home?” Hugh asked with his characteristic directness. “I know that Mary would love to see you back at the estate.” He took a bite of his bread, careful to avoid any jam smearing on his lips.
“Well, that’s one way to try to get me home. How is my dear sister-in-law?”
“With child,” Hugh replied as he sliced another piece of sausage.
“Again?” Ev remarked with quiet surprise. “My goodness, Hugh, you have been busy.”
“I know the boys would love to see you. They’re getting so big now, I taught them to swim in the pond this past summer.” Hugh’s tone softened as it always did when he spoke of his sons. It was a pity, Ev thought, that he didn’t show the same interest when it came to his youngest child, for no other reason than she’d had the misfortune to be born a girl.
“I would like to visit Mary and the children,” Ev replied sincerely. Despite his issues with his father and brother, he did bear genuine affection for his sister-in-law, the boys, and especially his young niece, Georgiana. “But, I am well aware of the reason Father insists on my presence at the estate on the sixth, and I have no intention of subjecting myself to the company of Bishop Goodwin.”
Hugh sighed loudly.
“Would you consciously choose to spend an evening in that man’s company?” Ev’s brows rose.
“I’ll admit the man is… difficult.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“Fine,” Hugh conceded. “I wouldn’t choose the man’s company, no.”
“Then what makes you think I’d make the trip from London to suffer that particular delight?” Ev said dryly. “Especially when I know what he wants to discuss with me?”