“All truly is well,” Beatrice attempted to say, but even as she tried to smooth over the exchange, Algernon stepped between herself and Henry, withdrawing his own kerchief in the process and tearing it in half. With a great tenderness that had heat soaring through her veins, Algernon wrapped the black silk around first one wounded palm then the other.
“It certainly is not,” Algernon retorted, tying the kerchief securely to her hand. “A lady must never be in discomfort because of a gentleman, especially in the physical sense.”
“I apologized, brother,” Henry gritted out as Algernon stepped to the side once again. As he did so, Beatrice saw the embarrassment in Henry’s face, and her heart broke for him.
“It is a lesson learned,” she gently insisted, “and the sentiment was incredibly thoughtful. Please do not let us forget that.”
Henry looked up at her with a small, appreciative smile, and she quickly returned it, wanting him to know that with her, he was already forgiven.
“Let us move on,” she encouraged, glancing from Henry to Algernon. “Algernon, since you are already with us, will you not join us for the rest of our walk?”
“Yes, brother,” Henry encouraged, seemingly willing to move past the tense moment. “Stretch your legs with us. Take part in this beautiful day.”
Beatrice found herself holding her breath as she waited for his answer, realizing that she very much wanted him to say yes. Algernon glanced from Henry to her, his features still most serious as he studied them both. Then finally the left side of his lips lifted up into a half smile, and he put his hands into his pockets.
“I suppose I could stroll with you two a bit,” he agreed. “Besides, I came to bring you both something.”
Beatrice couldn’t help but look towards Algernon’s pockets, and as he pulled what he brought out, she let out a laugh when Henry gave off an annoyed groan.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
“You and food, brother,” Henry huffed in annoyance as Algernon held out two ripe, purple plums to him.
“I was made aware that Beatrice was not in the house to receive her lunch because you had escorted her for a walk,” Algernon explained, pushing the plums toward his brother. “I did not want either of you to miss the meal entirely, so I brought you both a little something.”
Henry rolled his eyes, but he took the two plums and made a show of taking a bite out of one of them.
“Happy?” Henry asked, his brow raised as he spoke with his mouthful.
Algernon grunted and turned away from his brother toward Beatrice Despite her attempt to soothe things between him and Henry, he was still angry at his little brother for letting her get hurt, no matter how inadvertently.
Something light fluttered in his chest as he faced Beatrice, and he found himself adoring the way a soft blush stole over her cheeks as she looked up at him.
“Are you going to break these in half with your hands as well?” she asked in a teasing tone.
He could not help it. He smiled. Even chuckled as he drew a small knife from his pocket and cut off a quarter of the small fruit.
“Afraid not,” he murmured, juice dripping down his fingertips as he held the slice of fruit out to her. “The flesh is far too sensitive. I would merely smash it in my attempt.”
Satisfaction surged through him as he did not even have to ask her to part her lips. When he brought the fruit closer, she did so on her own and allowed him to place it delicately in her mouth.
“She is not a baby bird, brother,” Henry testily stated from behind him, speaking with his mouth full.
At once Beatrice’s blush deepened, and Algernon’s anger ticked higher toward Henry for making her feel abashed.
“True,” Algernon remarked stiffly as he pared another slice away from the plum. “Perhaps if someone had not injured her hands, she could do so on her own. Do you have any idea what sort of terrible sting would settle into her cuts if the juice of the plums dripped on them?”
Henry did not retort, and if Algernon knew his brother as he thought he did, he was sure that Henry was sulking behind his back. Algernon was fine with that. Let him sulk.
“Go on,” he gently urged, turning his full attention back to Beatrice.
“Be nice,” she whispered, after swallowing her last bite.
Algernon rolled his eyes as he fed her another small slice of fruit. At this moment, he did not care to be nice to Henry. It was indeed his fault she was injured, and besides, Algernon was experiencing far too much enjoyment from feeling her soft lips brush against his fingertips every time she accepted his offering.
They finished their snack in silence. Then without thought, after wiping his fingers on his trousers, Algernon placed his hand on Beatrice’s lower back, leading her once more into a walk.
“What are you doing?” Henry murmured into Algernon’s ear on the other side. “I thought you wished formeto court her?”