“I would like that,” he replied, glancing uneasily at Robert, who seemed to be ignoring their talk. “What is Lord Bradford like?”
“Decent enough,” she said. “Around thirtyish, I believe, and married. His wife was in London, so no trying to play matchmaker with him, Freddie.”
He chuckled. “Had he been single, I might have considered it. But I doubt Father would have approved.”
“An excellent way to end a feud, however.”
At last, seeing Robert all but slump over and tumble face first into his plate, Freddie signaled a pair of footmen. As they stepped to him and bowed, he said, his voice low, “Help the Baron to his chambers.”
Robert, waking from his fugue state with a snort, went with the servants willingly enough. He staggered greatly, however, causing the footmen to put their hands under his arms to support him as they escorted him from the dining room. Thea blew out a deep gust, which seemed to him both disgust and relief.
“Freddie,” she said, her voice pitched low as though Robert could still hear her speak. “His behavior is abominable. It is shameful to have that man dine with us in such a state.”
“I know, Thea,” Freddie replied wearily. “I do apologize for him. He came to visit, and simply kept on drinking.”
“Then perhaps you should have sent him to his bed before supper.”
“He is a guest under our roof.”
“Even guests should have manners.”
Shaking his head, knowing she was right, Freddie merely toyed with his own drink. “He loves you deeply.”
Thea rolled her eyes, huffing. “Do not start with that again.”
“I cannot help but believe he is the best man, the most suitable husband for you.”
“Of course you would think that, Freddie,” she snapped. “He is your friend and has been spilling those words into your ear for weeks now. The Baron is manipulating you, why can you not see that?”
“Because I do not believe he is. He is merely pointing out the truth.”
“What truth? The truth as he sees it? What about the truth as I see it? That he makes my skin crawl?”
“I will never understand why you feel that way toward him.”
Thea sipped her wine, her eyes shunted to the side. “Did you not just tell me that you can trust my instincts for people?”
With a sigh, Freddie nodded. “I did.”
“My instincts tell me the Baron is not what he seems on the outside. That on the inside, he is worse than vermin that creep in the shadows.”
Freddie frowned slightly. “You seem so sure that he has a rotten core deep within him. Did something happen between you two? Something you are refusing to tell me?”
Thea met his gaze. “Yes. Unfortunately, I cannot remember what it was.”
“What do you mean? I find this interesting because he denies anything ever happened.”
“When did he say that?”
“When we went hunting, not long before I was shot.” Freddie gazed absently at the spot Robert had just vacated. “I cannot understand why you despise him so, thus I asked him. He said nothing at all ever happened between you.”
Twirling the stem of her wine glass, Thea studied the liquid sloshing inside. “It happened when we were all children. I believe I blocked the incident from my mind even then, for I cannot remember. All I am left with is a feeling of horror and disgust, and I never told Mother or Father about it. Do you recall when Robert was badly beaten by another boy?”
Startled, Freddie straightened. “I had not remembered that until you just mentioned it. Yes, someone beat him to a pulp and he never would say who.”
“The beating came right after – whatever happened between the Baron and me.”
“As in, someone punished him for it?”
