Page 36 of Their Brazen Countess
Everyone looked up expectantly.
Arthur stood up and took Linc’s hand in his. “We’ve fallen in love.”
The ladies all grinned as the men looked to Emily, perhaps to gauge her reaction first. Once they saw her grin, they all stepped forward to congratulate them. There were hugs and backslaps all around.
Once everyone settled back down and returned to their tea, Emily spoke up. “So, please tell us all the details.”
Linc deferred to Arthur on this, since it was his sister.
“When we took off to my hunting lodge last year, Linc and I became close. It was an unusual series of events, but we ended up having feelings for each other.”
“Last year!” Theo set her tea down with a clatter. “How are we just hearing about this?”
Arthur turned a bit red. “I was—”
Linc reached over and squeezed his hand in support.
“I was having a difficult time coming to terms with how I felt. Our relationship is not the norm, and it took me some time to accept how I felt. I’m very lucky that Linc was so patient with me.”
“Well, as patient as one can be with an unmovable obstacle,” Linc laughed.
“Yes, it was a trifle difficult for that period where we were not speaking. Frankly, we are both surprised the lot of you missed that rift. But then I suppose you all were so busy falling in love yourselves.” Arthur waved a hand toward the group.
Ros grinned. “Do share these unusual events. I smell a story.”
Linc nodded, resigned to share the more painful part of their story. “Arthur and I…we met a woman. She is an amazing, vivacious spirit who completely bowled us both over. In the course of sharing her, we found ourselves falling in love with both her and each other.”
“But where is she? Did something go wrong?” Julia asked, looking around the room.
Linc cleared his throat. “Unfortunately, her father forced her to marry a lord for his title. We tried to rescue her, but her father moved too quickly. In the end, we lost her.”
Arthur leaned against him for a moment. The pang of Jo’s loss still reverberated through his very soul—through both of them.
“Oh no! That’s awful,” Julia crooned as she popped up and stepped forward to hug the pair of them.
Once she stepped back, Linc nodded and tried to swallow the lump in his throat. “We are doing our best to find happiness together. Telling you all is a big part of that.”
“I just found out today that the townhouse next door is coming up for sale. I plan to buy it so we can be closer to each other. Under the circumstances, it’s the best we can do.” Linc couldn’t help but smile at Arthur. He relished the love and happiness he found there, despite their loss.
Arthur smiled back. “We should probably speak with our respective staffs, as discretion will be a critical attribute in anyone who works for us.”
“An excellent point. But we digress.” Linc looked pointedly at him.
“Indeed. All of this is to say, we’d like you all to come to dinner tomorrow night. A meal to celebrate our finding each other and the love that has blossomed between us.” Arthur’s grin was huge.
Everyone agreed without hesitation, and it felt good to know their friends would support them. Now they had the rest of their lives to enjoy together.
What could possibly go wrong?
Chapter Eighteen
May 1867
Jo’sheartwasaboutto leap from her chest. Her palms were sweaty and her knees weak.Perhaps this was a bad idea?
It had been so long since she’d spoken to either of them. Occasionally she saw one or both from across a ballroom, but never had she dared to speak to them. She feared her husband would see the truth if she had and—though she had not love him—she was loathed to hurt him in such a fashion.
But everything had changed.
