“You are kind, Beatrice,” Henry acknowledged, “but I am afraid you do not know what you are speaking about. It was nice to meet you.”
Algernon stepped back just in time to see Beatrice drop into a curtsey toward them both, and without another word, she turned and left the dining room. For a long moment, the two brothers just stood there, staring at one another in distrust as the sound of her footsteps faded.
“Who is she, brother?” Henry asked again.
Algernon shook his head once.
“Someone who is clearly willing to help you,” he replied. “Why do you not let her?”
Henry shook his head and took another step back.
“When are you going to understand, brother? I am not a child anymore. We are not young boys orphaned by our parents and left with their mistakes. You do not have to look after me anymore. I can make my own decisions.”
Algernon frowned as he took a step toward Henry and poked his pointer finger into his chest.
“I willalwayslook after you,” Algernon stated, his tone gruff with desperation. “I have always kept you from harm and will not stop. Even from yourself. You are playing with fire, little brother, and if you keep it up, you will get burned.”
Henry swatted Algernon’s hand and took another step back.
“And if I do, it shall be the sweetest fire I have ever felt,” Henry retorted, straightening his jacket. “I will not be like you, brother, or any other miserable member of this pompous society. I will live my life the way I wish to or die trying. That is my decision to make.”
Henry turned and began to walk out of the dining room, but despite his decree, Algernon went after him. He could not give up. Not yet.
“It is horrible enough that we lost our father the way we did,” Algernon said, following Henry as he made his way to the door, “It was even more so when we lost our mother. It took years torecover and build up our family name and fortune after that was nearly lost as well. Now, you are asking me to accept losing you? You are the only family I have left, Henry!”
Henry’s hand paused on the knob of the front door. He bowed his head as shoulders sagged, and for a moment, Algernon thought he was finally getting through to him.
“I know you think I am controlling,” Algernon went on, “but I am this way to protect us. Please, Henry. Let me handle this!”
Henry drew in a deep breath and let out a weary sigh.
“You cannot control everything, brother,” Henry said quietly, turning the knob. “At some time, some place, you will lose it, and you will have to accept it. That time is now.”
Algernon stepped forward, ready to grab at Henry’s shoulder, but before he could make purchase, Henry rushed out the door, slamming it shut behind him. Algernon’s hand slammed into the door with a loudbangjust as it was drawn shut, sealing him off from his brother.
For a long moment he simply stood there, stunned and enraged over how poorly his plan had gone. The rage he’d been trying to keep inside bubbled over, and with a savage growl, he slammed his hand into the closed door once again. Turning on his heel, he stormed away and headed for his private boxing room, determined to not stop hitting the bag until it burst.
Henry was wrong. Algernon would take care of the situation Henry had found himself in. He was not giving up yet. Not ever. He would keep his brother safe.
CHAPTER SEVEN
“Oh, no thank you, Mira,” Beatrice said, waving off the tray her maid held up.
Mira frowned as she looked down at the tray.
“Beg your pardon, My Lady, but it has been three days now that you have passed up your meals,” Mira said, her tone respectful but firm. “It is not good for the body to be without sustenance for so long.”
Beatrice gave Mira a small smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes.
“I am aware,” she replied then shrugged her shoulders. “I am simply not hungry.”
Except it was not that simple. Her stomach had been in knots ever since the chaotic dinner with Algernon and Henry. What was worse was that she had not seen either since. It was not so much that she pined for either’s presence, but the lack ofknowing what was going on—the lack of knowing what she was supposed to do—was wreaking havoc on her nerves.
“Might I just leave the tray here for you?” Mira suggested, placing it on the table. “Just in case you might feel like having a nibble later.”
“Yes, Mira, that is fine, thank you,” Beatrice said with a dismissive sigh. “I shall take it down later when I go to visit Alice and the other kitchen staff.”
Mira tsked her tongue and shook her head.