“He has had enough,” Algernon growled.
The manservant grew pale and scurried away without a word.
“Killjoy,” Henry muttered then swiped Algernon’s glass, draining the rest of its contents in a second.
“Maybe so,” Algernon begrudged, “but that doesn’t mean my insistence on having a little more social protection is any less important.”
“Protection?” Henry chortled. “How does me having a wife give me protection? I am not going stop living my life if I have a wife. I will not desist going to parties or functions. Unlike you, I am a social creature, brother, and I thrive in attention.”
“If you have a wife by your side, it will stop you from giving into your whims in public,” retorted Algernon gruffly. “You will remember to limit your… ‘cravings’ to the privacy of your home.”
Henry tsked his tongue.
“And pray tell, how would such a wife feel if she knew I was imbibing in such ‘cravings’ in our home?” Henry asked.
“That depends on how you treat her,” Algernon explained. “Do well by her, and she may be kind enough to turn a blind eye. Making her a friend could do wonders.”
“I see,” Henry stated, his tone bitter as his eyes once more roamed the sea of men surrounding them. “And what sort of lady would prefer having a ‘friend’ to a true husband?”
“The one I found for you,” Algernon growled, growing impatient with the conversation.
He reached out with quickness and captured his brother’s jaw, forcing Henry to look at him.
“Youwillgive this a chance, brother,” Algernon commanded.
Henry roughly pulled out of his grasp.
“Or what?” he bit out.
“Or I will remove your name from our accounts,” Algernon threatened.
Henry bristled but did not retort.
“You want to keep living your lavish lifestyle? Be dressed in all the latest fashions? You need money for that. Money that, up until now, I have provided. Might I remind you, brother, that you have not sat in on an investor’s meeting in ages. You have no idea how I am making money anymore, nor do you have the education to participate in the work required to gain it for yourself.”
Henry stared at him for a long time though, eventually, some of his hatred faded from his sage green eyes.
“You can be so cruel sometimes, Auggie,” Henry finally stated in a defeated tone, sinking back into his chair.
“Maybe so,” Algernon admitted. “But it is only for your best interest that I am. Meet with Lady Beatrice again. Get to know her better. Then you may start to see the kind of opportunities she can provide you.”
Henry drew in a deep breath through his nostrils as he continued to stare coldly at Algernon.
“Very well,” he agreed at last. “Set the meeting.”
Algernon exhaled his held breath, relieved, then stood up.
“I shall host another dinner,” Algernon explained. “I shall invite some other people, so it does not feel as intimate as before.”
“I cannot wait,” Henry muttered.
“I am taking my leave now,” Algernon stated. “This place is far too crowded for me. Are you coming? Come back with me to the house, and we can have a drink there.”
Henry remained in his seat, even made a show of settling in more.
“I am afraid I shall have to decline your invitation, brother,” Henry stated bitterly, lifting his empty glass into the air again. “If you are going to soon strip me of my freedom, I shall need to revel in whatever I have left.”
Algernon looked, really looked, at his little brother. He might be acting a fool and straining against his will, but Algernon knew him. Knew that he was a good person. He was not as irresponsible as he wanted everyone to think him be—but he was flailing. Drawing dangerously close to an irrevocable mistake. A mistake that could get him killed.