Page 63 of Foolish Bride
Everett colored, but Sheldon spoke up. “We could take no more adult talk of nothing, Mike. Really, is that what we have to look forward to, sitting around eating and talking of the weather?”
The description was perfect. Michael laughed. “I am afraid so, Shel. Once you reach the age of majority, you will have to learn to speak of things of little or no importance in order to be accepted into society.”
“Dash that,” Sheldon said. “I had better join the army. I do not think I could take a lifetime of such rubbish.”
Michael frowned. “The army is a very hard life, and one from which I had hoped my fortune would save you.”
Everett said, “But you were in the service, Mike. You are a hero. We heard of little else at school before your injury.”
Sitting on the bank of the pond, Michael took off his boots and let his toes dangle in the cool water. “I had Father buy my commission so that I could stay away from his embarrassing behavior. I could not stand to watch him spend every penny that our grandfather had made over the years. He let the house go into disrepair, and when I commented or offered advice, it would send him into a rage.
“As your guardian, I would like to think that the two of you do not have that same anxiety. I hope that you know that I shall never be publicly drunk or take to the whorehouses.”
“Of course, Mike,” Everett said. “But do you regret your choice?”
The river flowed quietly, and he watched it for a few moments, listening to its soothing sound. “I have no regrets, save for my final mission. It was foolish, with so much to lose, to risk my life. And even though my wounds appear to be healing, I hurt the person who means the most to me, and I do not know if the damage can be repaired.”
“She’ll come around.” Sheldon sounded like a wise old man rather than a boy.
Michael smiled. “What makes you think so?”
Sheldon shrugged. “I see the way she looks at you when she knows you do not see her. She loves you still.”
“Shel, you really should mind your own business,” Everett warned.
He wished he hadn’t let so many years go by without seeing his brothers. He pointed up the creek. “I’ll bet you that I can beat you both swimming up river to that old oak.”
The two younger boys took one look at each other and began stripping off their clothes. Sheldon was the first in the water, followed closely by Michael. Everett took longer, as his concern for the condition of his clothes required him to take more care. Still, he gave Michael a good run and succeeded in a second-place finish.
The following hours were spent splashing around in a way that the three of them had never done together.
Chapter 15
Something was wrong.
Elinor had gone to bed early, claiming a headache. Now the fire dwindled to ash, and she wasn’t alone in the room. She felt eyes on her. She rolled over. A man sat in one of two large chairs by the hearth.
“Michael?”
“How could you be sure it was not Middleton?” He faced the dark fireplace.
She took her wrap from the end of the bed, put it on, and walked toward him. “He would never do something so inappropriate.”
Laughing, he nodded. “That’s true, I suppose.”
“What are you doing here, Michael?”
He looked at her now. The wildness in his eyes reminded her of the man he’d been a year earlier when he’d courted her, but the joy hadn’t returned to his gaze. “Have you accepted an offer from Middleton?”
“That is none of your business.”
He stooped forward and added a log to the fire. With a few pokes of the iron, the log caught and firelight filled the room. “He asked you to marry him, didn’t he?”
“He did, but I do not know what business it is of yours. You should not be here, Michael.” It would have been better if she managed some venom, rather than sounding as if she wanted him there.
“Did you agree?”
“Not yet.”
