Judith was pleased to hear her stepmother had stood up to Oliver already.
“And it will not, I assure you. I am very grateful you were here to look after him. I’ll visit him next week,” Oliver said.
Judith smiled as she listened to her brother. She hadn’t realized how much she had missed him until she heard his voice. Theirs had been a complicated relationship, but he was her family, and Aaron’s words regarding Oliver’s reluctance to be a marquess and his fears of not being as well regarded as their father had softened her toward him.
Excitement bubbled up inside her, and she rushed down the remaining steps, her slippers barely making a sound on the polished wood.
She burst into the drawing room, her eyes wide with joy. “Oliver!”
Oliver turned, a broad smile spreading across his face. “Judith!” he exclaimed, opening his arms wide.
She threw herself into his embrace, feeling the familiar comfort and warmth. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, her voice muffled against his shoulder.
He chuckled, holding her tightly. “And I’ve missed you too. Truly, I never thought I would, but I did.”
She would have been offended by his less-than-praising words, but she knew exactly what he’d meant. In the past, she’d never missed him when he was away nor dreaded his departure, but this time, she had missed him. Perhaps it was because they no longer had parents to look out for them, forcing them to rely on one another and Matilda, their stepmother.
Judith pulled back, her cheeks flushed with happiness. “How was your trip?” she asked eagerly.
Oliver’s eyes sparkled with amusement. “It was quite the adventure, but I’ll tell you all about it over breakfast.” Heglanced at Matilda, who was watching the reunion with a fond smile. “Shall we?”
Matilda nodded. “Of course. Let’s move to the breakfast room.”
As they walked together, Judith couldn’t help but feel a sense of relief and contentment. Having Oliver back felt like a missing piece of her life had been restored. The house seemed brighter, the air lighter.
Once seated around the breakfast table, Oliver began recounting his travels.
“The Continent is as lively as ever,” he started, buttering a slice of toast. “I had some successful meetings with suppliers about new imports. And I met a young woman, Elizabeta, in Florence. She’s the daughter of a merchant I was dealing with.”
“Elizabeta?” Judith echoed, intrigued. “Tell me more about her.”
“She’s intelligent, charming, and quite lovely,” Oliver said with a smile. “I’m considering bringing her back to England.”
Judith’s eyes widened. “Really? That sounds wonderful, Oliver. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Oliver nodded, but his expression grew serious. “And how have you been, Judith? I heard you’re courting Lord Leeds.”
Judith felt a strange mix of emotions at the mention of Graham. “Yes, we’ve been courting for a few weeks now. He’s very kind and respectable.”
Oliver studied her for a moment. “And are you happy?”
Judith hesitated, then nodded. “I think so. It’s all been very pleasant.”
There was that wretched word again.Pleasant. Could she not think of a better way to think of her suitor or at least to talk about him with more enthusiasm?
“Pleasant?” Oliver repeated, raising an eyebrow. “You deserve more than just pleasant, Judith.”
She cringed, for she’d hoped her brother would not have noticed. Although, why did he care? He was the one who’d pushed her into all of this.
She looked down at her plate, feeling a bit unsettled. “I know. But it’s still early days.”
“Oliver, we ought to be happy that Judith likes him. Besides, you wanted her to wed, did you not?” Matilda chimed in and winked at Judith, who felt a rush of warmth flood her. She had an ally at this table, at least.
Oliver reached across the table and took his sister’s hand in his own. “Well, yes. I do want you to get married. Can’t have youturn into an ape leader, after all, eh wot?” he said with a laugh, and for a second, Judith saw the old Oliver again. “But I do think it is important that you find him agreeable.”
Judith looked up and met his gaze, feeling the sincerity in his words. “I do. And do not worry, I shall not become an ape leader.”
As they continued their meal, the conversation shifted to lighter topics, and Judith found herself laughing and smiling more than she had in weeks. Having Oliver back had lifted her spirits, and for the first time in a long while, she felt genuinely hopeful about the future.
