Chapter Twenty-five
Tobias had made a hideous misstep and he did not know how to go about undoing it.
This morning had been perfect; kissing Grace under the shade of the trees as the water from the lake lapped nearby had been as close to heaven as he supposed it was possible to be on Earth.
Then he’d gone and ruined it. He’d known she was not ready to think of marriage.
It had only been in the last week that he had truly considered the idea himself.
Every morning, as he had slowly led Daisy around the training yard, Grace clinging to the reins and pommel as if she were riding at full canter, he had allowed himself to hope that her company was something he could enjoy for the rest of his life.
At first, he had thought that she would only ever want to be his friend, and he told himself to be content with that.
Sebastian was the only person in his life with whom he’d shared anything like this closeness, and there was something wonderful to be given a second chance at finding someone to whom he could talk easily again.
He hadn’t realised how lonely he had been with his words locked in his head.
As the days had passed, he had caught her looking at him, not with calculation like some women did, but with eyes that lingered on his lips.
Every time he lifted her into her saddle, her breath would hitch, a slight catch in her throat.
It hadn’t been enough to convince him that she was beginning to think about him as much as he thought about her, but it had given him reason to hope.
He had been prepared to wait, to not show his hand too soon, to ease her into the idea that marriage to him would not be like with her awful first husband.
He’d thought he would have weeks, if not months, to put his nebulous ideas into action, but the moment her lips had touched his, his mind had gone blank.
His body had taken control and all thoughts and plans for the future had left him.
She was perfect in his arms, just as he had known she would be. The way she had whispered his name had almost brought him to his knees. He’d been sure that it had meant something, that perhaps, despite all the times she had told him otherwise, she was open to marriage after all.
Her offer to lie with her was so unexpected, it had robbed him of all good sense.
Hours later, his body was clamouring with his mind to rectify his mistake in turning her down.
Several times, without thinking, he had gone to search her out, before coming to a screeching stop.
Even if he gave in to his craving, he very much doubted Grace would welcome him.
What should have been a romantic interlude had ended in icy silence and her escaping his company as soon as she was able.
He hadn’t been able to find the words to put right all that had been said, but he should have done.
His anger at her offering her body to him did not make sense to him now.
And yet, he could not find it within himself to be grateful for the small part of herself she had been willing to share either.
He wanted more from Grace than a quick roll between the sheets, or on the hard ground beside the lake if she’d had her way.
He shouldn’t have been angry. If he’d handled the whole situation better, then at least they would still be talking amiably to one another.
She would have spoken more than a few syllables to him during the meal.
Hell, he would have settled for her even looking in his direction, but she had not.
Instead, she had retired early, before sending a note via her maid, informing him that she would not be able to ride with him in the morning.
The situation had to be solvable, because the alternative did not bear thinking about.
After the meal, Tobias had retreated to his study. He would get no sleep tonight, so he might as well get some work done. Staring blankly at a message from an agent whom he had employed to look for Grace’s parents, and who had found no trace of them, was not helping his mood one bit.
To compound his dark mood, Freddie strode into the room without knocking.
Since they had come to Glanmore Park, his brothers were becoming more relaxed around him.
Up until five seconds ago, Tobias had been pleased about that.
But as Edward and Christopher followed Freddie and not one of them seemed at all bothered by the scowl he threw at them, he was less inclined to rejoice at their improved relationships.
‘I told you it was bad,’ said Freddie, to the others. ‘He has reverted to that dark, silent look again.’
His three brothers came to stand before his desk. Arms crossed, they regarded him as if he were an exotic creature in a menagerie. He glowered back at them, hoping that sent the message that he was not going to tolerate their nonsense this evening.
‘The question is,’ continued Freddie, as if Tobias couldn’t hear him speaking, ‘what are we going to do about it?’
‘Do you want to tell us what is wrong, Tobias?’ asked Edward, who was slightly less irritating than Tobias’ other two brothers.
‘I thank you, but no.’
None of them moved.
‘I think it must be to do with Grace,’ said Freddie. ‘She has been equally miserable all day, which is very out of character.’
‘Oh yes, she is always smiling,’ said Christopher unhelpfully. ‘Tobias must have done something to upset her, but we can remedy that if he tells us what he has done.’
Hell would freeze over before he recounted a single word about what had passed between him and Grace. Tobias did not want to add utter humiliation to his misery.
‘I am not hopeful he is going to tell us,’ said Edward. ‘He has that steely look on his face, which always bodes ill.’
Maybe if Tobias pretended they were not here, they would go away. In a futile attempt to block them out, he put his head face down on his desk, his forehead resting against the report he had been attempting to read.
‘I think we should try anyway,’ said Freddie. ‘The sooner they make up, the sooner he stops acting like a man who has lost his wits. Besides, she is good for him. I have never seen him so happy.’
‘Really? Look at him,’ said Edward. ‘I have never seen him this depressed.’
Tobias did not raise his head from where it was slumped on his desk.
‘He is showing emotion.’ Freddie was valiantly sticking to his opinion.
‘We cannot see his face,’ said Edward.
Tobias groaned. ‘Why did I think us living together again would be a good thing?’
‘It is lucky for you that we are, because we are here to advise you on what to do next.’ Freddie’s voice was getting quieter as he moved away from the desk, presumably towards where Tobias kept his brandy.
His brothers were inordinately fond of drinking through Tobias’ cellar, despite claiming not to be all that keen on alcohol or adding anything to it themselves in order to bolster it.
Tobias knew them to be wealthy men in their own right, but they appeared to forget all about their own coffers when his were more readily available.
‘What makes any of you qualified to give advice?’ he asked, finally lifting his head. Sure enough, Freddie was at the drinks cabinet, lifting out a fine bottle of brandy, which Tobias had been saving for a special occasion.
‘We are wise married men.’
‘Can you go and be wise elsewhere?’ Tobias asked, hoping, rather than expecting, they would agree.
‘No,’ said Christopher. ‘We are quite happy where we are and, at the risk of incurring your wrath, we will follow you should you decide you need to take yourself away from our wisdom.’
‘Is it Grace?’ asked Edward. ‘Of course it is. I do not know why I asked. You have upset her and now you need to make amends. It is easily done. We have all been there with our own women. I am sure we can come up with a solution between the three of us.’
Freddie poured four large glasses of brandy and handed them out to each of the brothers. ‘You could try wooing her,’ he said, placing one in front of Tobias.
Tobias groaned again. This was the worst conversation since speech had been invented.
‘How do you suggest he do that, Freddie?’ said Edward. ‘Take his shirt off and wait somewhere she is likely to find him?’
Despite himself, Tobias smirked at that. Finding Freddie half-naked kissing the woman he had loved for many, many years would never not be amusing. Only, Tobias considered, because it had ended happily and they were now married.
‘That is a low blow, Edward, considering you wooed your wife by cutting fruit cake to look like a fish,’ said Freddie.
‘You told me you would not tell anyone about that.’ Edward glared at Christopher, who tried and failed to look innocent.
‘None of you are helping,’ Tobias pointed out, before this descended into a brawl.
Three heads swivelled towards him. ‘Do you actually want our help?’ Freddie couldn’t have sounded more shocked if Tobias had asked him to help him rob the Bank of England.
‘As much as it pains me to admit it, yes.’ His fingers curled around his glass, but he did not take a sip from it.
It was possible his three married brothers might be able to provide some guidance.
It couldn’t hurt to at least have their perspective.
In turning down Grace’s suggestion and offering her marriage instead, he thought he had done the right thing, and yet, he clearly hadn’t.
There was a long silence after his pronouncement. All three of his brothers stood stock still before sharing glances.
‘Actually, forget it,’ said Tobias, pushing himself to his feet. If they were going to insult one another and then not help him, he would take himself elsewhere.
‘No.’ Freddie dived across his desk to grab his arm.
‘No. Stay. You took us by surprise, that is all. You have never admitted to needing help before. We want to, though.’ He looked to the other two, who nodded vigorously.
‘We will even call a truce. No getting at one another for the duration of this meeting. Agreed?’