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Corbyn tipped his head and said, “If you will excuse me, I have a meeting that I must attend to on the other side of town.”
Jane watched Corbyn leave the room before she turned and gave Baldwin an irritated look.
“I would like to compliment you on the job that you did overlooking our investments while I was gone,” Baldwin said, picking up one of the ledgers on the desk. “You did an impressive job.”
“Thank you,” she replied. “If that will be all…” Her voice trailed off.
Baldwin stared at her for a moment. “Are you angry with me?”
Jane blinked. “Why would I be angry with you, Brother?” she asked dryly. “Could it be that I have spent the past three years wondering if you were dead or alive?”
“I know that must have been hard—”
Her mouth dropped. “Hard?” she repeated, cutting him off. “No, what was hard was hearing Mother crying down the hall because she missed her son, or watching her stare out the window, wondering if he would ever return.”
Baldwin let out a deep sigh. This is not how he intended this conversation to go. “I would like to apologize—”
Jane put her hand up, stilling his words. “Don’t you dare apologize,” she stated. “Father died, and instead of staying with your family, who needed you during our time of grief, you abandoned us.” Her voice hitched. “You willingly left us.”
“I did.”
Jane pursed her lips before asking, “Where did you go?”
“I’m afraid I can’t say,” Baldwin answered regretfully.
Taking a step closer to him, Jane met his gaze unflinchingly. “You show up after three years, with no explanation of where you have been, and you expect me to just accept your apology and move on?”
“I understand that it may take time, but I am hoping we can return to the way we used to be,” Baldwin remarked as he placed his hand gently on her shoulder.
“I used to adore you,” she said, shaking his hand off. “I would follow you around and bask in any attention you gave me. Now I can’t even stand to be around you.”
Baldwin let his hand drop, unsure of what to say. He hadn’t anticipated Jane would hold such animosity towards him.
Jane took another step closer towards him. “You will not disappoint Mother again,” she asserted. “You will go to the ball in your honor and you will pretend to enjoy yourself.”
Putting his hand up in front of him, Baldwin replied, “I will do so, assuming you do not invite Miss Dowding to the ball.”
“But I have already sent her invitation.”
“Rescind it, then,” Baldwin said firmly.
Jane tilted her head as her words came out slowly, deliberately. “We both know that you have no real power here. If you fail to attend the ball, then you would intentionally embarrass Mother in front of her friends and Society.” She lifted her brow. “And you wouldn’t be as cold and unfeeling as that, now would you?”
Baldwin frowned, knowing that she had called his bluff. “No, I would not.”
“I am glad to hear that. Madalene will come to your ball, whether you like it or not,” Jane announced as she turned to leave.
Staring at her retreating figure in disbelief, Baldwin couldn’t help but admire the woman his sister had become. Unfortunately, she hated him quite profusely, and he wasn’t sure how he could fix that.
Dressed in apale green muslin gown with a square neckline, Madalene descended the stairs of her townhouse with light steps, being mindful to avoid anyone’s notice, especially Mrs. Foster’s.
Her butler met her at the base of the stairs with a frown on his face. “I don’t like this, Miss.”
“Please do not fret over my decision,” she said.
“How can I not?” Graham asked. “Are you sure I cannot accompany you?”
Madalene shook her head. “There is no need. Besides, I believe I already explained my reasons for visiting the Queen’s Gambling Hall.”
