Chapter Three
Gideon sat at his breakfast table, rubbing his temples, as if this simple gesture would relieve the hangover he had.
The remnants of last night’s indulgence at the Lyon’s Den only amplified the headaches he continued to have.
You would have thought after all these years they might subside.
And yet, they continued, especially if he tried to concentrate too much on exactly how he had lost his memory in the war after being hit over the head while in battle.
Now, he felt the back of his scalp and his fingertips lingered on the scar beneath his hair.
It was a constant reminder of what had befallen him on the battlefield even though the scar running from forehead to cheek was more visible to others.
In truth, unless he looked into a mirror or a young lady recoiled in horror with a blanched face, it was easy to forget it was even there.
When the footman pushed the curtains aside, Gideon squinted at the light beaming into the breakfast room.
Bloody hell! What had made him drink so excessively with Leopold last night that he barely remembered the evening or how much he had lost at the Black Widow of Whitehall’s tables?
He’d checked his purse when he’d awakened, and its empty state was a clear indication that the house was in her favor, as if he could ever forget such a lesson.
He could afford the loss from one night but if he continued his losing streak at the Lyon’s Den, that wouldn’t be the case.
Perhaps he should stay away from the place for a while. White’s would be far safer!
A kitchen servant entered the breakfast room.
The aroma of coffee filled the air and he inhaled deeply as if the drink would fix all that ailed him.
The girl placed the tray in front of him, and he waved her off before voicing his objection to the bright light streaming into the room.
“Please close the drapes, Jenny. The light hurts my eye this morning.”
The girl bobbed a curtsy. “Yes, Captain Tyler.”
Once she had closed the drapes and left him, he flipped the patch up over his right eye and began to rub his fingers along his scar.
His brother Asher and his wife Patience continued to ask why he wore the protection for an eye that could see perfectly well.
But Gideon knew that the puckered scar over the lid was far worse than the one running down the entire right side of his face.
Call it vanity, but the eyelid hadn’t healed well and was a constant reminder that he could have lost his sight.
He scanned the breakfast room and leaned back in his chair before pouring himself a cup of coffee. The food placed at a side table was still covered. He wasn’t certain he could stomach it just yet.
He had just taken a sip of his coffee and sighed with heavenly delight that the brew just might make him feel better when he heard footsteps drawing near.
He quickly flipped the patch down into place before his brother and wife swept into the room.
His butler Randall followed close behind.
Asher came to sit down next to Gideon at the table as Patience gave him a quick hug before sitting next to her husband.
Patience smiled. “I hope you don’t mind that we barged in on your morning without have Randall announce us,” she said softly, taking Asher’s hand.
Gideon nodded. “Of course not. We’re family,” he declared before addressing his butler. “Please see that Jenny brings in coffee for my brother and tea for the countess.” Then he turned to Patience and Asher. “Would you like something to eat as well?”
“Tea and coffee will be fine. We already ate this morning,” Patience replied with such a bright smile that Gideon tried not to cringe at such happiness in his current state of ill health. Instead, he waved away his butler with a short request. “Just the tea and coffee then, Randall.”
The butler gave a short nod. “I’ll see to it myself, Captain Tyler.”
After Randall left, Asher cocked his head to the side to stare at Gideon. “You look a mess this morning. Are the headaches bothering you again?”
“When do they not bother me?” Gideon grumbled before reaching for his coffee. “I’m afraid what I’m feeling today is more of my own making, stemming from too much drink.”
Asher sighed. “How much did you lose?”
Gideon raised his brow at the implication. “What makes you think I was gambling?”
“Do you think I am not aware that you were at the Lyon’s Den last night?” Asher asked with what appeared as an amused smirk.
“Do you have nothing better to do than keep tabs on me?” Gideon muttered angrily glancing between Asher and Patience.
Before his brother could reply, Jenny entered with a trolly.
She placed a tea service and a small plate of tiny cakes on the table in front of Patience then bobbed a curtsy.
“Cook thought the countess might enjoy these treats,” she said, before pouring coffee for Asher and then rolling the cart toward the door.
After she left, Gideon continued where they had left off before Jenny’s entrance. “Well? Why are you watching me like I’m a child who needs tending?”
“We worry, Gideon,” Patience answered first as she poured tea into her cup. “There’s nothing wrong with being concerned for your welfare.”
“I am not a child that you need to hover over me like a mother hen, Patience,” Gideon snapped, causing the cup to rattle in the saucer for which the lady had reached.
“That’s enough, brother,” Asher said irritably. “I am the one having you watched. There is no reason to take your frustration out on my lady.”
Gideon raised his hands to his temples and rubbed at them.
His brother was right. Patience had been nothing but kind to Gideon and had overseen his recovery when he had returned from France and had been in the care of Dr. Wilbur Thornberry.
He had even been blinded by what he thought was love for her, much to his embarrassment, considering how in love she was with his brother. She was a lady beyond reproach.
“My apologies, my lady, and forgive my harsh words,” he said, nodding his head. “Clearly, this hangover has gotten the better of me this morning.”
Patience reached for her teacup. “There’s no reason to apologize, Gideon,” she began, before she noticed Asher’s frown. “Well, there isn’t. Gideon is going through a hard time right now and needs all the assistance we can give him, both emotionally and physically.”
Gideon lifted his own cup and took the last sip of his coffee. “Emotionally, you’ve both done more for me than even I care to admit. Physically, what more can you do? I feel like until I can regain my lost memory, these headaches will continue to plague me.”
He cleared his throat with the understanding that under normal circumstances he wouldn’t be talking about his physical wellbeing with a lady present.
But Patience continued to be a nurse with Dr. Thornberry’s private practice.
She was different than most women and he applauded Asher for allowing Patience to help the doctor if he needed her.
She might have been a countess, but she was always willing to go the extra length to help another who was in need.
Gideon narrowed his eyes when he couldn’t help but observe Patience whisper in Asher’s ear.
His brother gave a short chuckle before taking her hand and raising her free fingertips to his lips.
“Persephone… you are indeed a genius,” he murmured when he said the name he had called her upon first meeting her at the Lyon’s Den.
Gideon had to admit he had been jealous when he had learned of their first encounter.
Now the lady gave a him a bright smile. “Hades… you flatter me,” she returned in a tone so intimate that Gideon felt as though he should excuse himself.
He cleared his throat again. “I do not know what the two of you are conspiring about for or against me, but please forget whatever plans you two are hatching. My life is fine just the way it is.”
Asher laughed. “Said every man who has come before you.”
Patience set down her cup. “Do not tease him so, husband. Can’t you see your brother is not feeling well this morning?”
A harrumph left Asher’s lips. “He’s lucky all he has is a hangover from a night of overindulging at the Lyon’s Den.”
Gideon couldn’t miss the smirk his brother quickly hid behind the cup he raised to his mouth. “Whatever you two were whispering about, forget it. I will not fall into whatever plot you have in store for me, and I plan to do my gambling at White’s from now on.”
Patience nudged her husband, and Gideon knew they were still silently communicating between themselves in that way only a happily married couple might understand.
Gideon wagged a finger at them. “Absolutely not! Forget whatever you two are hatching. If we cannot have a normal conversation with each other this morning, then please take your leave. My head is pounding enough as it is without the extra turmoil my poor brain might encounter figuring out what you think might be in my best interest.”
Patience gave a light laugh. “My poor brother-in-law. I will send someone over to Dr. Thornberry’s to see if he might have something to soothe your pain this morning.
” She reached again for her tea. “Now tell me if you plan to attend the Colville affair in three weeks. I understand the masquerade is already the talk of the Season.”
“I had not thought to attend, although an invitation arrived last week,” he muttered, thinking of how his mother had already been pestering him about getting out more and finding a wife.
“You should,” Asher encouraged. “You never know who you might meet.”
Gideon frowned again as he peered at the couple. God help him if the two of them continued to conspire against him. He wouldn’t stand a chance for whatever plans for his future they might come up with.