Jack nodded. “You do. At least a part of you. But it is not my place to tell you what is within your heart. Only you can know and understand that.”
“You are full of the most unconventional of wisdom. Dare I ask where you got all this insight into the minds and hearts of your brethren?”
Jack’s visage darkened and the jolly manner in which they’d conversed took a sharp, dark turn as Jack sat up straight and stared ahead at the water.
“When I was away in France, one of the soldiers in my regiment became a dear friend. He’d traveled extensively in the Far East. He was a wealth of information when it came to matters philosophical and hypothetical. He made a lasting impression on me.”
Kenneth didn’t have to ask what happened to this friend. It was clear as day.
“You never speak of him, this friend.”
“Charles Wilcox, son of a milliner in Oxford. A stellar young man. He lost his life the day I acquired my scar.”
Silence fell between the friends and Kenneth was once again reminded of just how deep the crevasse between him and Jack was when it came to their life experiences.
Jack wasn’t changed in the way it changed some people. Rather, it had deepened these previously held views and made him more understanding and sensitive to the world around him. Kenneth admired him for it and aspired to be more like him. Just as he was about to tell his friend as much, Jack clapped his hands together.
“Anyhow. Tell me more about how you planted a facer on your cousin. It must be said, I’ve often dreamt of doing just the same. My fist feels naturally drawn to his visage.” He shuddered. “There is just something in his countenance I find unsettling.”
“It is his unabashed desire to succeed my father as Duke. I venture to say, he fell out of the window on purpose, just so he could convalesce here right when the Duke of Twilightfare is in residence with his daughters.”
Jack tapped his finger against his chin. “In order to sabotage your courtship? Whomever you choose to court?”
Kenneth nodded. It would be just like his cousin to do such a thing. He promised himself to assume the best of people, a habit he’d picked up from his father who tended to see the best in everyone he met – until proven otherwise. However, when it came to Lawrence Cragshade, both Kenneth and his father agreed – he was rotten to the core. If ever there was a good heart beating in his chest it had long been poisoned by ambition and greed.
“Would you put it past him?”
Jack shook his head. “I do not know him as you do, but the man I know is so concerned with rising in station and elevating himself in society, I would put nothing at all past him.” Just then, Jack turned and squinted at something in the distance. “Is he departing already? Should we be so fortunate?”
Kenneth looked in the same direction and frowned. Their barouche stopped outside of the manor and the coachman stood at attention, awaiting his passenger.
It was but a few seconds later said passenger emerged –in the form of none other than Lady Ruth.
“Seems we won’t be so lucky just yet, eh wot?” Jack laughed but the sound barely registered as Kenneth once again found himself thinking of the strange dream from the night before.
If Mother has anything to do with it, I will be making an offer of marriage to Lady Sophia shortly – if I like her or not. And yet, here I am fretting over her sister and her feelings. And it is she, Lady Ruth, who appears in my dreams. How very peculiar.
“It seems so.”
Kenneth could not help but wonder just where they might be going in the carriage. He knew his mother was to take Lady Sophia to Lord Haver’s estate and he’d assumed Lady Ruth was to go with them. It seemed he was wrong.
“Rotham!” Jack called. When Kenneth turned to his friend, he found him standing with a grin on his face, shaking his head.
“What is it?”
“Nothing, nothing at all, Rotham. I just marvel at the fact that you seem to be entirely captivated by Lady Ruth’s barouche that you forget everything else around you.”
Kenneth crossed his arms. “What are you implying?”
Jack shrugged. “Nothing. Just what I said. Nothing more. And nothing less.” He winked at him and nodded with his head toward the stable. “Now, if there’s nothing – or rather no one - requiring your attention, what do you say to a quick ale at The Grove? I promise not to tell your dear Mother that you rubbed shoulders with the mere mortals.”
Kenneth chuckled before agreeing. “Very well. The further I can get from my cousin the better, anyhow. And perhaps a pint of ale or two will make his company at dinner tonight more bearable.”
Jack laughed out loud as they made their way back to the stable to retrieve their horses.
“I dare say you’d need at least ten pints to put up with his company! Or perhaps a bottle of brandy or two.”
The two walked side by side, jesting back and forth as they always did. And yet, something was different today. Yes, something was indeed very much changed.
