Nathanial opened his mouth to protest against this, only to sigh and nod his head, admitting that his brother was quite correct. “I suppose that I have always done as you say,” he said, quietly. “But that is no longer the case. I would encourage you, my dear brother, to come in to speak with me whenever you wish it. I would be glad of your company.”
William nodded and came to sit down in the overstuffed chair, though Nathanial noticed that his limp was a little more pronounced. Frowning, he looked to his brother just as William noticed the way Nathanial’s gaze had settled on his leg.
“Do not think that I am in any great pain,” William said, going to sit down a little more stiffly. “I am quite contented. It isonly because I have been waltzing and dancing last evening that I find my limp a little heavier.”
Nathanial nodded but scowled. “If I had been a better brother to you, then this would never have happened.”
“You are an exceptional brother,” William replied, quietly. “You have cared for me, made certain that I had the very best of everything and, in that, made sure that I was well taken care of when the accident happened. I do not think I would have recovered the strength I now have, had it not been for your insistence that I get the very best doctor that money could buy!” He smiled, his eyes holding no hint of anger. “Besides, it has not seemed to alter the opinion of any young lady.”
“Oh?” Nathanial lifted one eyebrow, suddenly pulled from his morose thoughts. “What do you mean?”
“I mean that your sudden connection to Lady Amelia has made many a young lady suddenly eager for my company,” his brother replied, his eyes twinkling suddenly. “You see, last evening, I spoke to not less than twenty young ladies who all came to ask me whether or not it was true that you were courting Lady Amelia.”
Nathanial’s heart leapt with a sudden, fierce relief as he looked into his brother’s grinning face. “Is that so?”
“It is! And I managed to dance every dance last evening with a different young lady because of it.”
The triumph on William’s expression made Nathanial chuckle as he looked into his brother’s face, glad now that what Lady Amelia had suggested seemed to be working for William, at the very least.
“I am going to take tea with Lady Emily and her mother this very afternoon,” William continued, tilting his head at Nathanial. “But there was something I wanted to ask you first.”
“Oh?” Nathanial lifted an eyebrow. “And what is that?”
“I wanted to ask you if you were having any particular feelings for Lady Amelia.”
Nathanial’s mouth dropped open.
“I know that this is not something that you or I have ever spoken of together,” William continued, quickly, “but if you are courting the lady, I must wonder if you have a genuine affection for her.”
Blinking quickly, Nathanial tried to think of what to say, of how to respond but nothing came to his mind. Swallowing hard, he shook his head and then rubbed one hand over his eyes. “I think very well of Lady Amelia.”
“But that is all?” His brother frowned. “You have always been a gentleman who likes his own company. After all, you were called, ‘the Beastly Duke’ but now, I see you have altered significantly. I believe I saw you laughing and smiling with Lady Amelia last evening, which appeared to be genuine.”
“It was genuine.” Nathanial spoke quickly, then caught the way his brother’s eyes flared. “I – I do not know what I feel.Thatis the truth.” Frowning, he squeezed his eyes closed. “Why do you ask me such a thing?”
“Because,” his brother said, a good deal more gently now, “had you these feelings when I first spoke of considering Lady Amelia, I do wish you had told them to me. I would have been glad to have stepped aside. Indeed, I must admit that I am a little astonished that you would not have spoken to me about this all before if your intention was to court the lady.”
“I did not know – ” Nathanial came up short, his feelings within him mounting so hastily, he struggled to make sense of them. “The truth is, Highcroft, this has all come upon me rather suddenly.”
“Then youdocare for her.”
“Yes, I do.”
Stunned at his own admission, at his own words, Nathanial blinked rapidly, seeing his brother’s broad smile spreading right across his face while he himself fought shock and astonishment at what he had said. That was the truth, then. He did care for Lady Amelia, cared for her in a way that demanded he not let her go. Was that what he wanted? That even though this courtship was a sham, even though it was meant to be used simply as a way to encourage him back into society’s good graces, he wanted it to continue, to grow and to build into something all the more wonderful?
He caught his breath, his stomach twisting.
“That is good.” Getting out of his chair with a little difficulty, William made for the door. “I am glad to hear it, Ashbourne. After all, it is good if your heart is warm towards her when she is clearly just as inclined towards you!”
“Wait a moment.” Nathanial was half out of his chair as his brother turned from the door, which was already pulled half open. “Wait, do you mean to say that you think Lady Amelia… ” He could hardly bring himself to say it, could hardly let those words come from his mouth and yet, as he did so, his brother only smiled and nodded, evidently aware of all that Nathanial was trying to say.
“Yes, my dear brother. I believe that Lady Amelia cares for you just as you care for her.”
“How can you know that?”
William chuckled, shaking his head lightly. “Because of the way she gazed into your eyes as you waltzed together,” he said, quietly. “Because of the way she looked up at you, that gentle smile on her face as you walked together. Because of the passionate way she defended your character to those who asked about you. Oh yes, you may not have heard her speak that way but I certainly did! I was nearby when one of the ladies asked her if she was fearful in accepting your courtship and the words ofdefence from her mouth made my heart sing. I am surprised you have not heard those things yourself! I was sure that one of the gentlemen of your acquaintance would have spoken to you of it.”
“And yet, they did not.” Nathanial sat down heavily, his eyes fixed on the wall opposite though he did not really see it. The shock, the wonder, the amazement of what his brother had said was too great to take in – and yet, even as he considered it, Nathanial was entirely uncertain as to what he ought to do next.
