"As to what?"
"As to how you have managed to marry without anyone anticipating it."
"It did not require anticipation. Thetontruly does overcomplicate it all. A marriage, when you think about it, it little more than an agreement, which in this case has been made."
"And now must be lived with," Charles replied lightly.
Julian did not answer that.
"Walk with me," he said instead.
Charles’s expression shifted, the faint amusement returning more clearly now.
"I thought you might suggest that," he said. "You are not inclined to remain indoors when you have something on your mind."
"I have nothing on my mind," Julian replied.
"Of course not."
"Are you coming?"
Charles followed without hesitation.
"I would not miss it."
They stepped out into the corridor together, the quiet of the house giving way to the cooler air beyond as they made their wayoutside, the conversation not ended, merely postponed. And, as Julian knew well, it would not remain so for long.
The morning was clear, the air cool enough to keep the grounds quiet. Julian did not slow his pace as they walked, taking a familiar path along the edge of the estate. Charles kept easily beside him, unbothered by the direction or the lack thereof.
"You have acquired a wife," he said at last, as though the subject had only just occurred to him. "And you speak of it as though you have acquired a piece of land."
"It is a comparable arrangement in some respects. Papers were signed, and now legally I am responsible for her."
Charles glanced at him.
"I should be concerned by that."
"Are you not?"
"No," Charles admitted. "But I might pretend to be, for the sake of propriety. The truth is, I have never expected you to be any different as a husband, so I can hardly say I expect anything else of you now."
Julian did not respond. There was a brief silence before Charles continued.
"I am told she has made an impression here already."
"That is unsurprising. We went to dinner, and they were thrilled with her there."
"I mean on the household," Charles clarified. "And more particularly on your sister."
"I see," he replied. "She has certainly formed an attachment to Lily, which of course can only be a good thing, though it is unusual."
Charles looked at him more closely now.
"In what way?"
"My sister does not form attachments easily," he said. "Her behavior is generally more contained."
"And now it is not?"