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Chapter 30
Silas returned home, following his outing with Lucy and her aunt, in a good mood. Everything that he had hoped for was coming true. His life with Lucy was going to be even better than he’d imagined. She was his equal, in every way but one—and that would be changed when they married and she became Lady Thornbridge.
As he thought about it, he could picture her stepping into his mother’s shoes admirably. She was intelligent, bold, and graceful. Her artist’s eye would benefit Thornbridge Manor in ways that he would never have thought of.
She spoke her opinions firmly. She would both challenge him and help him to manage the estate. She would be the best wife and partner that he could ever find.
Michael was in the parlour, reading the paper, and he glanced up when Silas entered. He didn’t smile. Michael had been down in the mouth ever since Silas and Lucy had announced their courtship.
“Where have you been?” he asked.
“I went to the lending library with Lucy and Miss Wilds,” he said, showing his brother the books that he had brought with him. He set them down onto the side table, to read when he had the time.
Michael was silently studying him, his brows furrowed in a manner that reminded Silas of when they were young. Michael often pouted when he didn’t get his way or disapproved of something that had happened. He’d grown out of it, for the most part.
“What’s the matter?” Silas asked, settling into a chair. This would be a long discussion. He wondered what was bothering his brother.
“Are you still attempting to follow through on your bet with Percy?”
Silas’ mood dropped like a glass bowl, shattering on a tile floor.
“I’ve not spoken with Percy since the day that I had him thrown out of our home,” he stated firmly. “As far as I’m concerned, our friendship is over. I have no intention of honouring such a childish thing as his bet.”
“Then, pray tell, why are you playing with Miss Wilds’ affections?” Michael demanded.
“I see her differently,” Silas explained. “She’s my perfect match in every way. That bet that you speak of would have brought serious shame to our father.”
“What bet are you talking of?” Dinah asked from behind him. They both turned toward the doorway, where Dinah was peering inside the room, frowning.
“Nothing that you need worry yourself about, sister. Just something between gentlemen that is, quite frankly, over,” Silas said smoothly, not wanting her to know of it. He cleared his throat. “Is Lord Browning coming over to dine this evening?”
“Yes, he is,” she said.
“Excellent. I’ll go dress for dinner, then.” He shot Michael a look, forbidding his brother from saying another word about it. He left the room as quickly as he could.
His intentions were above reproach. He cursed Percy for ever having started that wretched bet. Silas wished that he had never agreed to it in the first place. However, he believed this would be the last that he’d ever hear of it from his brother. At least, he hoped it was.
The very last thing that Silas wanted was for Lucy to be hurt. Now that Percy was gone, there was no reason to discuss the bet ever again.
