Part 36 (1/2)

”There you are, brother mine! Beenelooking all over. Didn't think to see you here.”

Resuming his languid pose, Harry studied Jack's blue eyes; he decided his brother had yet to hear of his preoccupation.

”It pa.s.ses the time. But why are you back in town?”

”The arrangements, of course. All set now.” Jack's blue gaze, which had been idly drifting the room, returned to Harry's face.

”Next Wednesday at eleven at St. George's.”

Jack's slow grin surfaced.

”I'm counting on your support.”

Harry's lips twisted in a reluctant grin.

”I'll be there.” ”Good.

Gerald, too-- I haven't found him yet. ”

Harry looked over the sea of heads.

”He's over there--beside the blonde ringlets.”

”Ah, yes. I'll catch him in a minute.”

Harry noted that his brother's eyes, glowing warmly, rarely left the slender blonde dancing with Lord Harcourt. Their host appeared captivated.

”How's Pater?”

”Fine. He'll live to be eighty. Or at least long enough to see us all wed,”

Harry bit back his instinctive response; Jack had heard him disparage marriage often enough. But not even his brother knew the reason for his vehemence; that had always remained his secret.

Following Jack's gaze, Harry studied his elder brother's chosen bride.

Sophia Winterton was a charming, utterly open and honest woman whom Harry was certain Jack could trust. Harry switched his gaze to Lucinda's dark head; his lips twisted. She might serve him some tricks, as she was presently doing, but her motives would always be transparent. She was open and direct, uncommonly so; she would never seriously lie or cheat--she simply wasn't that sort of woman.

A sudden longing welled within him, followed immediately by the old uncertainty. Harry s.h.i.+fted his gaze, looking once more at Jack. Once he had found his particular Golden Head, Jack had moved very swiftly to claim her.

As usual, his brother had been totally confident, a.s.sured in his decision.

Studying Jack's smile, Harry felt an unexpected twinge of emotion--and recognized it as jealousy.

He straightened from the wall.

”Have you seen Em?” ”No.” Jack glanced about.

”Is she here?”

Harry strolled with him through the crowd until he could point out their aunt, then left Jack to forge his way to her. Then, shackling his temper, he let his feet have their way.

They took him to Lucinda's side.