He scanned the breakfast room and leaned back in his chair before pouring himself a cup of coffee. The food placed at a side table was still covered. He wasn’t certain he could stomach it just yet.
He had just taken a sip of his coffee and sighed with heavenly delight that the brew just might make him feel better when he heard footsteps drawing near. He quickly flipped the patch down into place before his brother and wife swept into the room. His butler Randall followed close behind. Asher came to sit down next to Gideon at the table as Patience gave him a quick hug before sitting next to her husband.
Patience smiled. “I hope you don’t mind that we barged in on your morning without have Randall announce us,” she said softly, taking Asher’s hand.
Gideon nodded. “Of course not. We’re family,” he declared before addressing his butler. “Please see that Jenny brings in coffee for my brother and tea for the countess.” Then he turned to Patience and Asher. “Would you like something to eat as well?”
“Tea and coffee will be fine. We already ate this morning,” Patience replied with such a bright smile that Gideon tried not to cringe at such happiness in his current state of ill health. Instead, he waved away his butler with a short request. “Just the tea and coffee then, Randall.”
The butler gave a short nod. “I’ll see to it myself, Captain Tyler.”
After Randall left, Asher cocked his head to the side to stare at Gideon. “You look a mess this morning. Are the headaches bothering you again?”
“When do theynotbother me?” Gideon grumbled before reaching for his coffee. “I’m afraid what I’m feeling today is more of my own making, stemming from too much drink.”
Asher sighed. “How much did you lose?”
Gideon raised his brow at the implication. “What makes you think I was gambling?”
“Do you think I am not aware that you were at the Lyon’s Den last night?” Asher asked with what appeared as an amused smirk.
“Do you have nothing better to do than keep tabs on me?” Gideon muttered angrily glancing between Asher and Patience. Before his brother could reply, Jenny entered with a trolly. She placed a tea service and a small plate of tiny cakes on the table in front of Patience then bobbed a curtsy. “Cook thought the countess might enjoy these treats,” she said, before pouring coffee for Asher and then rolling the cart toward the door.
After she left, Gideon continued where they had left off before Jenny’s entrance. “Well? Why are you watching me like I’m a child who needs tending?”
“We worry, Gideon,” Patience answered first as she poured teainto her cup. “There’s nothing wrong with being concerned for your welfare.”
“I am not a child that you need to hover over me like a mother hen, Patience,” Gideon snapped, causing the cup to rattle in the saucer for which the lady had reached.
“That’s enough, brother,” Asher said irritably. “I am the one having you watched. There is no reason to take your frustration out on my lady.”
Gideon raised his hands to his temples and rubbed at them. His brother was right. Patience had been nothing but kind to Gideon and had overseen his recovery when he had returned from France and had been in the care of Dr. Wilbur Thornberry. He had even been blinded by what he thought was love for her, much to his embarrassment, considering how in love she was with his brother. She was a lady beyond reproach.
“My apologies, my lady, and forgive my harsh words,” he said, nodding his head. “Clearly, this hangover has gotten the better of me this morning.”
Patience reached for her teacup. “There’s no reason to apologize, Gideon,” she began, before she noticed Asher’s frown. “Well, there isn’t. Gideon is going through a hard time right now and needs all the assistance we can give him, both emotionally and physically.”
Gideon lifted his own cup and took the last sip of his coffee. “Emotionally, you’ve both done more for me than even I care to admit. Physically, what more can you do? I feel like until I can regain my lost memory, these headaches will continue to plague me.”
He cleared his throat with the understanding that under normal circumstances he wouldn’t be talking about his physical wellbeing with a lady present. But Patience continued to be a nurse with Dr. Thornberry’s private practice. She was different than most women and he applauded Asher for allowing Patience to help the doctor if he needed her. She might have been a countess, but she was alwayswilling to go the extra length to help another who was in need.
Gideon narrowed his eyes when he couldn’t help but observe Patience whisper in Asher’s ear.
His brother gave a short chuckle before taking her hand and raising her free fingertips to his lips. “Persephone… you are indeed a genius,” he murmured when he said the name he had called her upon first meeting her at the Lyon’s Den. Gideon had to admit he had been jealous when he had learned of their first encounter.
Now the lady gave a him a bright smile. “Hades… you flatter me,” she returned in a tone so intimate that Gideon felt as though he should excuse himself.
He cleared his throat again. “I do not know what the two of you are conspiring about for or against me, but please forget whatever plans you two are hatching. My life is fine just the way it is.”
Asher laughed. “Said every man who has come before you.”
Patience set down her cup. “Do not tease him so, husband. Can’t you see your brother is not feeling well this morning?”
Aharrumphleft Asher’s lips. “He’s lucky all he has is a hangover from a night of overindulging at the Lyon’s Den.”
Gideon couldn’t miss the smirk his brother quickly hid behind the cup he raised to his mouth. “Whatever you two were whispering about, forget it. I will not fall into whatever plot you have in store for me, and I plan to do my gambling at White’s from now on.”
Patience nudged her husband, and Gideon knew they were still silently communicating between themselves in that way only a happily married couple might understand.
