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Mia went silent in thought. Did she want revenge for what happened to her? A part of her did. But another part of her didn’t want her former friend to feel the pain she felt. No one should have to suffer a beating like that. She also didn’t want Simon to have to hurt his brother for her. “I don’t know,” she finally answered.
“If he gives me no choice, I will have to fight him.”
She nodded against his chest. “I know. Are there any other choices?”
“Perhaps.”
“Oh?”
He tweaked her hair. “Do I have to give away all my secrets?”
“There shouldn’t be any secrets between a husband and wife. Unless they involve gifts, then it’s all right.”
He chuckled. “I shall remember that.”
“Now, back to the situation at hand,” Mia said.
“Yes. I could have him arrested but I fear he might hang.”
She certainly didn’t want Charlie to hang for what he did. “So the lesser of two evils may be the beating?”
“I wish I knew what was the right thing to do here, Mia. But I don’t. I won’t know until the moment I confront him.”
“I understand. But perhaps I should be there with you. You wouldn’t be so hard on him if I was there.”
“No. Then I would be distracted. He could use that as an opportunity to either hurt me or you.”
Why did he make so much sense? If she couldn’t be there, she intended that James was there. He might be able to get the two men talking. “As you wish.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Trusting me. Believing in me. And mostly for understanding about my condition.”
She moved up on the bed so she could look into his eyes. “A person can’t help how they are born. I have seen a few horrible births, club feet, cleft lips, and so much worse. You have difficulty performing mathematical equations.” She smiled at him as she caressed his jaw. “That is why you have me.”
“Thank God,” he said. “I will be happy to let someone I trust do the books for me.”
Slowly, she drifted off to sleep content for the moment but worried about what tomorrow might bring.
The next morning, she awoke alone and cold. She scrambled out of bed to find Simon before he confronted Charlie. She dressed quickly in one of her old gowns that needed no one to help her. She raced to the top of the stairs and listened for angry shouts. There was only the sounds of the household, footmen cleaning, the clattering of a dish from the morning room and the soft voices of the maids.
She walked down the stairs and headed for the morning room. Simon and James were both sitting at the table with a newspaper in their hands. For
a moment she said nothing, just watched the two men who looked so similar.
“Anything in that one about him?” Simon asked.
“Just the usual round of gossip. Nothing about Charlie being back in town,” James replied.
“What are you two doing? Isn’t Charlie here?” she asked as she took a seat across from James.
“No, he still hasn’t returned. We thought we’d try the papers and see if there was any mention of him,” Simon said as he folded his paper and placed it on the table.
Harris entered the room with a slight cough. “My lady, you have a caller.”
“At nine in the morning?” Mia said.
