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Chapter 53
Silas was sitting in his father’s room at Thornbridge Manor again. He knew that, someday, he was going to have to start moving his father’s things out of it. As the master of Thornbridge Manor, he should be using the master suite. He couldn’t yet bring himself to do so.
When Silas had returned from finding nothing but an empty hole where his father had buried his last gift to his children, he had ordered the butler to bring him a bottle of wine. He sat, drinking and wishing that his father was there. The sweet taste of the wine permeated his tongue and slowly dulled the pain. That was where Levi found him, hours later.
“I thought the butler was supposed to be my gatekeeper,” Silas mused glumly.
“Well, I have a very sternly-worded letter from Michael on me, informing the servants to let me inside immediately,” Levi replied. He handed the paper in question over to Silas. The seal had been broken, and the letter unfolded. Silas scanned it, seeing his brother’s hand, instructing the person to whom it was presented to allow Levi in, to check on Silas’ wellbeing.
It sounds like my brother is concerned for me. Not, in fact, angry at all, he thought in surprise.
“My brother sent you?” Silas said, perking up a little bit. Someone still cared. That was a revelation. Despite what Silas had done, Michael still had concern for his welfare. And Levi, too.
“He has,” Levi replied. “Someone needed to come. Since I was only at my grandfather’s estate, I was happy to come at once. You have everyone concerned about you, you know.”
“I wasn’t sure that anyone would be, after...” Not after what he’d done to Lucy. He recalled Dinah’s face, twisted in cold fury. He supposed, since Lucy was her friend, it had been warranted. She had never been so angry before. Not in all of Silas’ memory. “After what I did to Lucy,” he said at last.
“Tell me what happened.” Levi sat down on the bed. He waited for Silas to explain, folding his hands in his lap. Silas was grateful to his friend for riding all of the way from his grandfather’s estate to check on him. It meant the world that he was there.
“I should never have agreed to that bet,” he said at last. “I should have never lied about not being attracted to her.”
“You were? Always?” Levi asked. His brows were furrowed, though his lips smiled.
“From the moment I laid eyes on her.” He remembered—Lucy, standing beside Dinah in the garden. “She was in the garden, when I arrived back from town. It was the day before the party started. I had the briefest thought that she was very pretty, and that I didn’t know who she was, but was determined to find out.”
“Why haven’t you told her that?” Levi wondered aloud.
Silas sighed heavily. “She refuses to see me. Her aunt won’t even let me inside to see her.”
“Miss Joan Wilds?” Levi’s brows shot upward in surprise. Silas nodded. Miss Joan Wilds was one of the kindest people in all of their acquaintance. To have lost her good opinion was a fall from grace from which Silas might never recover.
“Yes. She’s quite fierce when provoked,” he said with a bitter laugh.
“Well, from the sound of it, Miss Lucy has been like a daughter to her. She would certainly act like any other mother figure would in that same situation.”
“Yes. I can’t blame her. I am a scoundrel at best.” He took a deep drink of his wine. He was starting to feel warm, fuzzy at the edges. The wine was working its magic.
“What exactly are you planning to do, Silas?” Levi asked. Silas’ gaze met his friend’s. Levi was deeply concerned. Silas considered the question at length. He wanted to remain there, in the silence and stillness of Thornbridge Manor.
“I know that I need to return to London,” he said. “I just don’t want to.”
“I’ll ride back with you,” Levi suggested. Silas’ eyes met Levi’s. Slowly, he smiled.
“That would be much appreciated, my friend.”
“Good. Good.” Levi clapped his hands. “Now, are you going to share that wine, or are you planning on keeping it to yourself?”
“Let’s go and find you a glass,” Silas suggested, grabbing the bottle in one hand and his glass in the other. He downed his drink in one go.
The two friends both stood up and then walked out of the room. Silas was glad to have a plan of action. He was also very happy to not be alone. Levi always anticipated the needs of others. Silas was very lucky to have him.
