“Stephen…”
“Well, she is. I’m pointing it out matter-of-factly. She will get many offers, despite her unbidden nature, and I fear that Lord Chilmond’s advances are not trustworthy.” Stephen leveled his gaze at Allan. “I tell you this to put you on your guard. It is possible that Lord Chilmond is only pursuing her for her dowry.”
“All right, calm yourself, my friend.” Allan reached toward him and clapped him on the shoulder comfortingly. “Then you and I shall do what we can. We shall watch over my sister over the next few weeks. We’ll be sure to watch Lord Chilmond and gauge his true motives.” He grimaced. “For all my demanding that my sister comes here, I do not want to see her married to any man who would not appreciate her either.” He sighed deeply and leaned back in the chair. “But as you once said, love is not common in marriage.”
“No. It is not.” Stephen knew his own parents’ marriage had had little to do with love. It had been arranged between his father and grandfather.
From what Stephen had seen, his father had had little respect for his mother. When she had died, he had stood by her grave and worn black as he should, but Stephen could not remember seeing him crying. In contrast, Stephen had cried.
He was ten years old when his mother died. He had bawled as if he was still a baby at her graveside.
His father that day had taken care of him. He had taken his shoulder and steered him away from her grave, even being so bold as to embrace him, something he had done rarely. By the end of the day, his father had talked repeatedly of duty, how they did not show their grief as dukes, but tucked it deep down.
He was a confusing man.
On the one hand, his father had offered understanding and a distant sort of love. On the other hand, he had put forward formality and duty above everything else.
“Who is that?” Allan sat up in his seat, pointing out the window. “The lady with Dorothy.”
“Which one?” Stephen asked with interest. “The one on the left is Lady Charlotte. The one on the right is Lady Frederica.”
Allan didn’t answer, though he seemed to stare out the window for a minute longer before he tore his gaze away.
“You are right, Stephen. We should take care, and we shall both watch over my sister. In the meantime, how does your hunt for a wife go?”
Stephen thought it best not to tell Allan about the wager he and Dorothy had made. That news could wait for another day.
“Slowly.” It was the only word he could offer as he saw Dorothy and the two ladies make their way back to the house.
“Would you introduce me to the ladies?” Allan asked, jumping to his feet with sudden energy. “I haven’t met them yet.”
“Of course.”
Stephen stood, too. He thought he was done with his dizziness, but he must have been tired after all the running around he had done after Dorothy earlier in the day, for he staggered to the side.
Allan caught him. “Woah. Are you well, my friend?”
“Yes, just tired.”
“Dorothy really put you in a pickle on that hunt, didn’t she?” Allan asked as they walked out of the room.
“Not really. It was my fault. I was so determined not to see her go in the water, I went in myself.”
“Reminds me of the day you saved her from that dog.”
Allan’s words drew Stephen’s attention. He came to a halt in the corridor and turned to face Allan, frowning.
“Do you not remember it? Oh, must have been about three years ago now. The three of us went walking with my father across the estate. One of the groundskeeper’s dogs was wild, intent on hunting something. He seemed to pick Dorothy for his prey, and you hit him with a stick and sent him running in the other direction. My father could not thank you enough that day.”
Stephen blinked, the memory suddenly strong. He remembered the surge of protection that had shot through him as he had thrown the stick at the dog, seeing the fear in Dorothy’s eyes. Rather than hiding behind her father or her brother, she had hidden behind him.
“Ah, there you are, Sister.” Allan’s words drew Stephen back to the present moment.
They met Dorothy along with the other ladies in the corridor.
“This is my brother, the Marquess of Padleigh,” Dorothy said, gesturing to her brother. Stephen noticed that she seemed to avoid looking at him entirely.
“This is Lady Charlotte and Lady Frederica, Allan,” Stephen finished the introduction.
