Page 58 of Burning Secrets of a Lady's Pen
How could he stand idly by why his brother fought?
How could he not?
“That is not a question you need even ask of me,” Corin muttered, finishing his drink off and standing.
“I didn’t think that it would be,” Romeo admitted, relief tinging his words, nonetheless. “But…I do have need of one more thing.”
Corin grimaced.
“And that is?”
“A pistol.”
Corin’s laughter that time was at least tinged with a hint of amusement.
He grabbed the neck of the bottle of liquor as he passed the drink tray, gesturing for Romeo to follow him.
“That, also, I can do,” he assured Romeo.
Their walk from Corin’s study was silent, the both of them lost in their own thoughts.
Their steps echoed through the silent hallways like thunder, and Corin thought it oddly fitting.
“I did not want to ask this of you,” Romeo admitted hollowly as they entered Corin’s room.
He hesitated only momentarily by the door before Corin gestured him over, pouring sloppily into his cup before filling his own again.
“I would be irate if you had not.” Corin tried not to think about what that would have meant. Again, that bloody imagery flashed in his head, and again, Corin was forced to dismiss it.
“I do not think Sybille will take this so calmly as you have.” Romeo rummaged through the trunks that Corin had lining a wardrobe, his glance furtive as he sought reassurance.
“I don’t imagine she’d be much of a wife if she did.” Corin tried not to make his tone too biting. “Is this what she was so upset over the other morning at breakfast?”
Romeo paused, looking over at where Corin was digging through drawers. “She had only learned of the affair,” he admitted haltingly. “Not of…”
“Well, no, I imagine not of the rest, seeing as it only just occurred.” Corin snorted, pulling an unmarked box out and flipping the lid open. “I—”
All of his words dried up in his throat as he saw the items nestled within, though.
White satin gloves were folded in the bottom of the small box, a diamond necklace and matching set of earrings placed carefully atop it. But it was the matching wedding ring that really caught Corin’s attention.
Hadn’t he just been thinking about that ring? About his intentions for it?
He lifted it carefully from the box, turning it over in his fingers as Romeo peered over to see what had stopped Corin so abruptly.
“Isn’t that mama’s wedding ring?”
Corin, the lump in his throat too large to answer aloud, only nodded.
“You look queer, Brother.”
He felt odd.
Corin wanted to laugh and cry at the same time.
He’d kissed Imelda. Really kissed her. He’d declared himself to her and told her that they needed to talk. And now…
“Imelda Merrit.” Her name was like an aggrieved prayer on his lips. “I wanted to give this ring to her. I had every plan to. She’s in love with another man. Or, if not in love with him, steadily on the path to becoming so. And God knows I’ve hurt her more than enough over the years.”
