“She has no reason to be.”
John came to stand next to him. “You have hardly said a word to anyone since last night.”
“I am talking to you now,” Colin pointed out.
“That you are, but you haven’t explained why you left the dinner party and walked home.”
“I didn’t realize I answered to you,” Colin remarked dryly.
“You don’t, but we are concerned about you.”
Colin extended the pistol towards the footman as he said, “Let me save you some breath; I am fine.”
“Are you?”
“I am.”
John frowned. “Then pray tell, why did you leave the dinner party last night?”
“Didn’t Arabella explain my absence?”
“She only said that you needed some time to think. I’m glad she had the foresight to send a footman after you with your coat.”
Colin nodded in approval. “She wasn’t wrong.”
“What did you need to think about?” John asked.
“Why is it so important for you to know?”
“Because we are family.”
“That we are, but sometimes it is best to leave things unsaid.”
John walked over to the footman and held his hand out for the pistol. He weighed it in his hand for a few moments before he brought it up. The pistol discharged, and the bullet hit the outer ring of the target.
“Impressive shot,” Colin praised.
John grinned. “We both know that isn’t true.”
“You hit the target.”
“I did, but you managed to hit the center every time.”
“That is because my aim was the difference between life or death for me.”
John gave the pistol to the footman. “You must have seen some terrible things while you were fighting in the war.”
Colin’s jaw clenched. “I did.”
“I couldn’t help but notice your demeanor changed last night when we were talking about the army, as it has right now.”
“I do not like discussing the war.”
John’s gaze left his to roam over the east lawn. “I can’t even pretend to imagine what you must have endured over there, but you are home now.”
“Not by choice.”
“What do you mean by that?”
