The door opened, but he didn’t look away from the fire at the echo of Tristan’s resounding footsteps. As soon as Sebastian had arrived home, he sent his carriage back to Lady Ivers’s residence so Tristan would have transportation.
His brother settled into the chair across from him, reached for a glass, and filled it with whiskey. “You should have simply tossed down the card, made light of it.”
“Do you not think it would have embarrassed the girl?”
“No more so than she was already. It was a game, Sebastian. It meant nothing.”
He knew that, but he was not yet to the point where he could laugh about his disfigurement. He didn’t know if he ever would be.
“What did you think of Fitzwilliam?” he asked, to direct the conversation away from his poor handling of the situation.
“Don’t like him.”
Sebastian studied his brother who was studying his glass of whiskey as though he could read the future in it. “Why not?”
Tristan lifted his gaze over the rim of the glass. “Do I require a reason?”
“Opinions are usually based on some foundation.”
“My gut.”
“Surely there was more than that.”
“I don’t need more. I trust my instincts.”
“Do you think he will make Mary happy?”
“I think you would make her happier.” He tossed back his whiskey as Sebastian grunted.
“We hardly know each other any longer.”
“Yet you seemed incapable of taking your gaze from her.” He held up a hand. “Not that I blame you. She is quite fetching.”
“She’s more than that. She’s beautiful.”
“You noticed.”
“I’m only half-blind.”
“There you are,” Tristan said with a grin. “Exactly what you should have said during that wretched game. ‘I’m only half-handsome.’ People might have laughed.”
Sebastian scowled. “I don’t enjoy people laughing at me.”
“Which is why we must laugh at ourselves first. But then you were always the more serious.”
“I had heavier burdens to bear.”
“That you did.” With a sigh, he rose. “I’m off to Rafe’s for a bit of sport. Care to join me?”
“No.”
Tristan glanced around. “The place doesn’t smell as much like Uncle tonight.”
No, it didn’t. “The servants worked hard to achieve that end. Perhaps they disliked his stench as much as we do.”
“I rather think it’s more that you terrify them. Which is not always a bad thing.” Before Sebastian could comment, Tristan said, “Was your man able to follow him?”
“Yes. He moved into a room at a boarding house on the outskirts of London.”
