A fire burned in the depths of his gaze. His brother lacked that fire, which wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. If she had to guess, she’d say Hector was the fighter while Robert was the diplomat. Although she wouldn’t want to be at the receiving end of the duke’s angry gaze when he’d glowered at his brother. The duke and Hector were going to have a loud conversation tonight.
Mother shifted her weight, her lips pressing together. A chill shuddered through Maddie. She knew her mother too well. Mother was plotting something. To her credit, Mother always did her best to turn a terrible situation to her advantage. The problem was she didn’t care if someone got hurt in the process.
“Your Grace,” Mother said, smiling too sweetly for the smile to be real. “Perhaps we should discuss a solution in private tomorrow.” She put a hand on Maddie’s shoulder. “It’s late and my daughter is tired.”
Maddie pushed her mother’s hand away, earning a pointed glare from her. The last thing Mother was concerned about was Maddie’s fatigue. She needed time to plot.
“I understand.” The duke bowed. Hector copied him. “As my brother said, we’ll be happy to help. I’m sure we’ll find an arrangement that will satisfy Miss Madeline and compensate her for her loss.”
Hector shot her a pleading glance, and some of her anger petered out. Maybe she was too tired and sad, but she couldn’t find in her heart to be angry with him anymore. She still thought the whole incident could have been avoided if he’d been more considered and less reckless. But he showed sincere concern and regret. She had to take that into account. Besides, she was too tired to stay angry.
She wanted to curl up in her bed—after she removed the glass shards from it—and forget the world for a few hours.
four
HECTOR BRACED HIMSELF for his brother’s wrath once they were alone in their sitting room. But the onslaught of fury—fury he deserved—never came.
Robert dropped himself onto the plush Italian sofa Mother was fond of and sighed. He’d dispensed with his jacket, and his silk waistcoat stretched over his tense body.
Hector shifted his weight from one foot to another next to the fireplace that was so large he could stand in it. He almost wished to be sucked into the dark chimney and come out when the nightmare was over. Yes, it’d be a cowardly thing to do.
Still clenching his hat, he took a tentative step forward after his brother didn’t utter a word. “Robert, I didn’t mean for any of this to happen.”
Robert rubbed the bridge of his nose and the wrinkled spot between his eyebrows. “Didn’t I ask you to wait?” His tone was calm. In a way, it would have been better if he’d shouted.
“You did.”
“Why didn’t you listen?” Exasperation radiated from Robert in waves.
Hector went through all the possible answers but couldn’t find one strong enough to make an argument with. All the answers were true—he was too eager; he needed the plant immediately; he was running out of time—but they sounded hollow now.
So, he simply said, “I made a huge mistake.”
“No. That’s not the point.” Robert rose, and even though Hector was taller, his figure demanded obedience. “The point is, you have no respect for the work I do.”
“That’s not true.”
“You mock the duties of a duke, considering them beneath your obsessive pursuit of science and knowledge.” Robert’s voice remained low but sharp. “You don’t trust my word and don’t respect me because you think you’re better than I am.”
“For God’s sake.” Hector was the first to lose his temper and tossed his hat on the sofa. “This is rubbish. I have only respect for what you do.”
“No. If you had, you would have listened to me.” Robert bared his teeth. “The lives of many people depend on my work.” He thumped a fist against his chest. “Entire families count on me doing my job and protecting their interests from greedy politicians, to have a job and food on their tables. I must take care of my tenants, their houses, the land, and their trades while arguing at the House of Lords with old barons who are too scared of losing their privileges to change anything.” Passion burned in his voice. “I’m not complaining. I gladly accepted the burden of the dukedom. But it’s a job full of responsibilities, and if I make one mistake, someone might starve or lose their home.”
Hector ground his teeth. There was some truth in Robert’s words. Hector wasn’t fond of his brother’s important documents and meetings, the endless chatter about the law or the necessity to be on friendly terms with the people in power, even with those he despised. Hypocrisy and double standards weren’t Hector’s idea of a good life. And yes, dammit, science was more important to him than signing papers.
“I never asked to be a duke.” Robert loosened the knot of his cravat. “I’d rather have a simple job and take care only of our shipment company. But no. The title and the damn responsibility are all mine.”
“It’s not my fault, though.”
“I didn’t mean that.” Robert fired him a glare that shook him. “I’ve never forced you to get involved. I left you free to follow your interests, and you repay me with mistrust and deceit.”
Hellfire. Put like that, Hector sounded like the worst scoundrel of the century.
“Never sneak behind my back, especially after I explicitly told you to let me do my work.” Even Robert shook now.
“I’m sorry,” Hector said again, aware of how useless those words sounded.
Robert pointed at the door. “Get out now. I’m glad you have your plant. I hope it’s worth it.”
