Page 18 of Vanquished by a Viscount (Tales from the Brotherhood #3)
He pulled away, sitting back against his seat once more. Their deal was done, and now? Now they had nothing to do but to sit there, water dripping down from splits in the carriage ceiling, staring at each other and knowing they would be naked and horizontal within twelve hours.
It was the longest hour of Gray’s life. The first ten minutes were spent in awkward silence, but when that became too painful, they fell into reluctant conversation about railroads, advances in steam power, and their opinions of Robert and Barbara’s marriage.
Under any other circumstances, Gray might have considered it a morning well spent.
When Jimmy, their driver, finally returned with saddled horses, Gray was so relieved he could have cried.
“There’s no one to come collect this carriage at the moment,” Jimmy called to them over the din of the rain as Gray and Charlie mounted the horses.
“The other carriages turned back before they could reach Maidstone. They took the west road instead of this one. Now we’re all up to our necks in repairs and cleaning. ”
“What about Lady Felcourt?” Charlie asked, his concern for his sister clear. “Has she returned to Hawthorne House?”
“Yes, my lord,” Jimmy said. “Her and the rest of the guests. There was some concern about the two of you before I arrived. Lord Felcourt sent the horses so you can ride back to the house. I was told to inform you hot baths are waiting for both of you, and that your valet, Olivier, has warm clothes at the ready, my lord.”
Part of Gray felt guilty for being so glad that Olivier, who had arrived the day before, had everything arranged for him when poor Jimmy would likely have to trudge a mile back to Hawthorne House in the rain, or spending his day finding a way to take the dilapidated carriage somewhere for repairs.
He did not feel so guilty that he would stay behind to help this time, however.
He told himself he would make certain there was a bath for Jimmy when he returned home as well, along with a few extra coins in this month’s pay packet.
Once he and Charlie were secure on their mounts, they headed back to Hawthorne House as quickly as they dared for the safety of their horses in the rain and mud.
Any efforts Gray might have made to prevent his clothing and boots from being ruined were in vain, and by the time they dismounted in front of Hawthorne House and handed their mounts over to the waiting groom, both Gray and Charlie resembled sodden vagabonds more than a viscount and younger brother of an earl.
“There you are at last!” Barbara greeted them as soon as they stepped into the front hall, dripping muddy water everywhere. “You have no idea how glad I am that you are home.”
Despite Charlie’s messy state, Barbara ran forward and threw her arms around him.
“All is well,” Charlie said.
“Barbara!” Robert snapped from the other side of the front hall, where he’d just come forward from the hall off to the left. “What in the devil’s name are you doing?”
Gray knew his brother well enough to know the man was in a terrible temper.
The situation was not helped when Barbara spun to face her husband, still clinging to her brother’s arm, and snapped, “I have been sick with worry that something might have happened to my one and only, beloved brother. Are you so heartless that you would deny me my feelings?”
Gray exchanged a look with Charlie over Barbara’s head. He could see reflected in Charlie’s eyes their shared suspicion that all was not right with the newlyweds.
“I am deeply appreciative of your familial feelings toward Lord Broxbourne, my dear,” Robert said, his voice tight with impatience. “But as you can see, he is in no fit state to be embraced at present.”
“I care nothing for rain or mud,” Barbara threw back at him. “This has been a truly miserable morning, and I want nothing more than the care of the one person I am certain beyond any doubt cares for me.”
Robert huffed and pressed his fingers to his temples. “I am sorry that the morning has not gone to plan.”
Barbara barked a laugh.
Gray arched one eyebrow at his brother.
Robert sent him a look that said there was much for the two of them to discuss, and that Gray and Charlie were not the only ones who experienced disaster in the last few hours.
“Why do you not come upstairs and assist me to the extent that is possible, Barbara?” Charlie suggested, his tone particularly gentle for his sister. He looked at Robert and said, “Perhaps there is something I could say, or at least I could listen.”
“Oh, yes,” Barbara said, stepping back and taking Charlie’s hand. “I could tell you much.”
She marched forward, dragging a soaking Charlie toward the stairs with her. On the way, she sent Robert a spiteful look, tilted her chin up with a sniff as she passed him, then continued on up the stairs. Charlie left a soggy trail of dirty water behind him.
“I need to clean up and get out of these wet things myself,” Gray said, approaching his brother. “But I suggest we wait a moment, since your impish wife gave her brother the room directly across the hall from mine.”
It was a sign of just how out of sorts Robert was that he made no comment about him and Charlie, both in terms of room arrangements or what they had been doing for the past few hours. “She has her nose out of joint because her outing to Maidstone was a failure,” he said instead.
Gray was certain there was more to the story than that, but he asked, “How far did you all go before turning back?”
“Halfway there,” Robert said, rubbing his forehead again as if he had a headache coming on.
“We were unfortunate enough to be sharing a carriage with Lady Eudora, her mother, and Pettigrew. Not only did we witness that silly young woman’s embarrassing efforts to create a fire where there is nothing but damp wood, but Barbara was also forced to endure Lady Sandridge’s questions about when the heir to the Earldom of Felcourt might be making his appearance. ”
Gray sucked in a breath as several things became apparent. “Is Barbara with child? Is that why she has been in such high spirits?”
“No!” Robert said with a bit too much force. “The very reverse of that is the problem. Barbara is decidedly not with child, as she was reminded just the day before yesterday, and I am beginning to think she blames me for her lack of conception.”
As much as Gray loved his brother, he very much did not want to know the particulars of how he might or might not end up with nephews and nieces. “You, er, you are making the attempt, are you not?”
Robert stared so flatly at Gray that he was tempted to back up, hands raised defensively, apologizing profusely as he did. What was worse, Robert answered, “We are as active in our attempts as you and Broxbourne were in your Cambridge days.”
Gray’s entire face and neck heated. He knew he never should have told Robert how enthusiastic he and Charlie had been in the first flush of their now shattered romance.
“I am certain all will be well, then,” Gray said, squirming as his clothing became increasingly uncomfortable. He figured it was safe to proceed upstairs, so he moved, gesturing for Robert to follow him.
Robert laughed bitterly and shook his head. “All will not be well if Barbara determines that her first attempt at leading a social event is a failure, or that it is somehow my doing. As I explained to her, I cannot control the rain and the sunshine.”
“It is likely that she feels a great deal of pressure to make you proud,” Gray said, hoping he could both appease his brother and support a sister-in-law that he actually quite liked.
Robert snorted. “I would like to think so,” he said, “but sometimes I wonder whether I married the woman too hastily, or if she is too young for a countess’s duties.”
“Give her some time,” Gray told him. “No one thinks clearly about anything in the rain.” He had just proved that to be true for himself as well.
Robert grunted, but said nothing. They continued up the stairs and down the family corridor. As they neared the door to Charlie’s room, they could hear Barbara speaking on the other side. Robert kept his eyes straight forward and continued down the hall to his own room, though.
Gray sighed and shook his head before going into his room. At least he would be able to discuss the matter with Charlie that night when the two of them?—
He stopped himself with a frown as he shut his bedroom door behind him.
No, his arrangement with Charlie was not one of friendship or even alliance.
It was purely for physical satisfaction.
He would be mad if he saw it as anything else and mad if he opened his heart again to the man who had cut it straight out of his chest all those years ago.