He let out a breath. “Do you like the fan?”
She reminded herself he was nervous about her. “I do.” She smiled, wanting him to know she would welcome his attentions. “It’s perfect.”
“Thank you. I did hope it would be.” His lovely blue eyes reflected his words.
He placed her hand on his arm and escorted her to the drawing room as he’d done so many times before. Yet to-night was different somehow. She gave thanks to fate and the Deity. She was finally making progress.
Theo and Titus were in the drawing room awaiting their guests, when her butler, Reed, knocked and entered. His voice held a breathless note. “My lady.”
“Is something wrong?”
“No, my lady. You have another visitor . . .”
Simon strode into the room, and all the air left in his wake. “I think I may have startled your butler.”
Oh my God!She held her hand to her mouth, unable to speak.
“Theo.” He grinned roguishly. “At least say you’ll welcome your prodigal brother.”
She flew into his arms. “Oh, good Lord, Simon. Could you not have given me some warning? I’m getting up in years, I might have had apoplexy. Does Papa know you’ve returned?”
His arms came around her, hugging her as he used to. “You can’t give me more than seven years, and I’m quite certain that’s not on death’s door. Whether Father knows depends on whether he reads his mail.”
Titus was next to her, hugging both of them and slapping her brother on his back. “Welcome home, young’un. I can’t tell you how glad we are to see you.”
Tears filled Theo’s eyes, and she was so happy she didn’t care if he’d not written. “We are just about to dine.”
Simon held her back. “And going to a ball afterward, if I’m not mistaken.”
“Yes, but you’ll want to rest.”
“Devil a bit.” He sobered. “Is she here?”
She waited. Debating whether to tell him or not. It didn’t matter. He’d discover any lies soon enough. “Yes. With her son and daughter.”
He paled. “Daughter. A girl.”
“That is what a girl is normally called,” Theo replied more tartly than she’d meant to, then gentled her tone. “Her name is Finella.”
He nodded twice. “Give me time to change, send dinner on a tray, and I’ll accompany you this evening.”
What was he thinking of doing? “Simon, are you sure?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.” He turned to go, then stopped. “I heard the old man is dead.”
“Yes, going on two years now. It is amazing he lasted that long, but her father is still alive.”
“You let me worry about him,” he said in a grim tone.
For the first time since Morna married, Theo wondered what had actually occurred between Simon and the woman he claimed to love.
The door opened and her guests strolled in, laughing and talking. She made the introductions, then left Simon to his own devices. He’dchanged from the happy-go-lucky boy she’d known. Still, perhaps that was not surprising considering what he had gone through. It was time to see what kind of man he was now.
She signaled to her butler. “Send a tray up for Lord Simon, and tell him we leave in two hours.”
Kit raised his brows for a moment as Lord Simon left the room, then whispered to Mary, “Do you know anything of the brother?”
She kept her voice equally low. “Yes. I’ll tell you what happened to-day as soon as I can.” After accepting glasses of sherry from Lord Titus, Kit and Mary moved away from the rest of the group. She gazed at him as if she were particularly pleased. “I must say, I’m glad you enjoy innocent gossip.”
