Chapter Three
Anthony slowed his horse next to Philip’s. His brother grinned at him. “I’ve missed this.”
He had as well. Philip, Jon, and he had done everything together when they were young and away from London. “It is good to be back.”
“Does that mean you will stay?”
He shook his head. “I expect it from Mother, but not you as well.”
Their horses stopped by an old hunting cottage on the grounds.
They were meeting Jon there. Both Anthony and Philip dismounted.
His brother swallowed and pressed his lips together.
Eventually, he said, “It has been difficult without you here. I know you needed to leave because you were upset. I want you to know that Lillian and I never intended to cause you harm. I hope at some point we can all start anew.”
Anthony saw that his brother’s eyes were watery.
His heart ached that he’d made Philip endure this much guilt.
Truthfully, his heart hadn't lingered on Lillian as he thought it would.
“I was a foolish young man. I wanted her because everyone else did. She was the lady to wed that Season. You were different; you married her because you loved her. Father would have been proud of you. He wanted that for you. I remember how he loved to tell us how he and Mother were a love match.”
Relief filled Philip’s face. Anthony added, “I was upset, but it was my ego that was hurt, not my heart. Let go of the guilt you are feeling. It isn’t necessary. Let Lillian know that as well.”
His brother smiled softly at him. “Father would want you to find love, too.”
He snorted. “I’m not looking.”
His brother smirked at him. “It won’t be long before everyone discovers you are the King of Garnets.”
His eyes flew to Philip’s face, who was grinning at him. “Come now, you haven’t requested money from me in years. You live in Bohemia and are one of the smartest men I know.”
Anthony could deny it, but he had no desire to lie to his brother. “Most say I’m a rake carousing on the Continent.”
His brother chuckled. “I have no doubt some of that is happening as well.”
He laughed. “I’ve missed you.”
Philip hugged him. “I’ve missed you, brother.”
After they pulled apart, he said, “I’m happy that Lillian is with child. You must be thrilled.”
Philip winced. “It has been difficult. Lillian is so worried that she will lose the babe because it has taken us years to conceive. She blames herself. It upsets me greatly. It could be any number of things, but she is certain it is something wrong with her.”
Sadness clouded his brother’s eyes, and Anthony hated it. “Hopefully, this one will be a boy.”
His brother frowned and shook his head. “Honestly, I couldn't care less if it is a boy or a girl.
I want Lillian to make it through this safely, and I will consider us blessed with any child.
That would probably upset Mother, but I'm content if we never have a son and you remain my heir. There is also cousin Reginald after you.”
“Christ, Reginald can’t be the duke. He can barely string two words together.”
A bark of laughter escaped Philip. “Thank you for that. My point is, Lillian worries too much about it. Had I been told, before we married, that having children would be difficult, I would still choose for us to spend our lives together.”
Anthony smiled at his brother. “I’m glad you found your other half.”
“I am too,” his brother said gruffly.
“Does this mean everything is mended?” Jon said, riding up on his horse.
Philip laughed. “Come give me a hug, friend.”
The two men embraced, and Anthony said, “We are good. My brother is madly in love with his wife. I never had a chance. It appears love always triumphs for the Webster men.”
Jon smirked. “Does that mean Anthony will have a love match soon?”
They all laughed, and Philip said, “My mother hopes so.”
After they rode for a few hours, Anthony and Philip headed back to Webster Hall.
Jon and his family would join them the next day.
He slowed his horse down, frowning as he saw two carriages out front of the estate.
Were they having guests for Christmas? They never did that.
The week around the holiday was usually for family, and on Christmas Eve, they hosted a festival for the locals and staff on the estate grounds.
He glanced at his brother, who looked guilty. Anthony groaned, suspecting this was his mother’s doing. Philip rubbed the back of his neck. “I wasn’t jesting when I said mother hoped you would find a bride soon. She may have invited a few ladies and their families to spend the week here.”
“We never have guests during the holidays,” Anthony said sulkily.
“And we didn’t while you were gone, but I think Mother hopes if you find a bride, you may be reluctant to leave England.”
Two more carriages pulled up, and his brows shot up in alarm.
“Don’t feel bad. Harriet has two potential suitors as well. Abigail has also increased her dowry. The hellion is sure to be furious.”
A man stepped out of a carriage, and jealousy filled Anthony’s chest. The gentleman was attractive. His mouth twisted in annoyance. He wasn’t sure if it was directed at the lord who’d just arrived or at himself for feeling such strong emotions about someone courting Harriet.
***
Harriet paced back and forth in the kitchen, hiding from the guests. She couldn’t believe her mother had invited suitors to Webster Hall.
The cook, Mrs. Green, said, “Lady Harriet, if you plan to hide out, you may as well enjoy some tea and a tart. Sit, and I will prepare them.”
She did as the older woman asked. Mrs. Green had fed the Webster and Barstow children whenever they were all at the hall. Harriet had learned long ago that you didn’t refuse anything she asked or suggested.
Lillian popped into the room, and the staff all curtsied. She smiled kindly. “Please continue what you are doing.”
Harriet stared at her sister, feeling betrayed. “You knew about this.”
Her sister sighed. “You know when Mother gets something in her head that there is no stopping her. At least you aren’t alone. There are ladies here for Anthony as well.”
A sourness filled her stomach, and she wrinkled her nose. It shouldn’t annoy her that Anthony would be flirting with other ladies. It was none of her concern. Lillian laughed, thinking her face was about her own suitors. “Come now, it isn’t so bad to be wooed.”
“You have no idea. You married for love and were only forced to endure one Season. Next Mother will increase my dowry.”
Lillian looked away guiltily. Harriet gasped. “She already did.”
Mrs. Green set the tea and tarts down. “You have been on the marriage mart for some time now.”
Annoyance flared in Harriet. “I’m not some farm animal to get rid of. Mother can’t just fatten the purse like you would fatten an animal.”
Mrs. Green and Lillian both laughed. Lillian said, “She isn’t doing that.”
“Why would I marry someone who didn’t want to pursue me when my dowry was less?”
Neither the cook nor her sister could provide an answer. She sighed, hating that she would have to behave and pretend to be interested in the gentlemen who were here with their families. And she couldn’t believe Sarah had done the same thing to Anthony.
“It is awful that Anthony’s own mother would try to find him a bride. What if he wasn’t over you?”
Lillian shook her head. “Anthony never cared for me in that way. He wanted to court me because the papers said I was the lady of the Season to wed.”
That was what Anthony had told her, but she couldn’t reveal that. “What makes you think his feelings weren’t real?”
Her sister shot her an exasperated look. “You, me, Philip, him, and Jon spent all our time together out here. He never once acted as if he romantically cared for me.”
“Neither did Philip.”
Her sister flushed, and Harriet added, “You would have told me.”
Mrs. Green chuckled. “I remember, Your Grace, catching you and His Grace kissing in this very kitchen more than once.”
Harriet’s brows shot up in surprise. Lillian smiled at the cook and then looked at Harriet. “Not all of us are so expressive in front of others. Philip always held my heart. Anthony, I don’t think he even looked at me like a member of the opposite sex until those papers started writing about me.”
“He was young,” Harriet said, surprised to be defending him.
Lillian smiled and patted her belly. “It all worked out right.”
Her sister had despaired that she and Philip would never have a child. It was good to see her so happy. “Are you still having the sickness in the morning?”
Lillian shook her head. “No, the doctor said that it should subside after a few months, and it has.”
“How much longer do you have?”
A great big smile broke across her sister’s face. “Three months.”
“It will be lovely to have a little one running around,” Mrs. Green said.
Lillian nodded. “Yes, possibly the heir, though Philip said he doesn’t care if it is a boy or a girl.”
“He doesn’t. The duke loves you,” Harriet said adamantly.
Her sister’s eyes watered. “I know. It is just supposed to be the one thing I’m good at.”
“You can’t control some things. Philip loves you and your life together. If you add a little girl to it, he will be delighted. And I think, honestly, you would love one as well.”
Lillian grinned. “I would.”
“If Philip truly needs an heir, Anthony can step in. He seems to be very popular with the ladies.”
A giggle erupted from her sister. “He is not happy at all to have ladies here as potential matches.”
“I’m sure he isn’t. The ladies' families are probably assessing everything about him. Again, we are cattle to be sold.”
Mrs. Green clucked her tongue. “Nonsense, Lady Harriet, you have a lovely life. Your mother and the dowager duchess only want you and Anthony to be happy.”
A realization shot through Harriet that something crazy may be afoot. She glanced suspiciously at her sister, who looked back at her innocently. “You aren’t trying to match me with Anthony, are you?”
Her sister laughed as if she were horrified by the idea. “Goodness no. And it isn’t me. Mother and Sarah are the ones who concocted this scheme.”
Reassured, Harriet said, “I wish Father were alive. He’d never let her do this.”
Mrs. Green demanded, “Eat your tarts.”
She and Lillian did as she asked, but shockingly, Harriet’s mind kept going back to why her sister found her and Anthony such a preposterous match. Of course, they were, but something about her laughter riled Harriet.