Part 25 (1/2)
Chapter 17.
”Dare we ask what vile crime you committed?” Hugh asked casually after the ladies had left the gentlemen to their brandy.
”Why do you think I have committed a vile crime?” Adrian said.
”You do understand ...” Sebastian chose his words with care. ”Mother told us you and your wife have had some kind of falling-out.”
”And that she is now living in that house of hers,” James added.
”So, as Evelyn has always struck us as most level-headed and not at all the type of woman to blow things out of all proportion ...” Hugh studied his older brother over the rim of his gla.s.s. ”It's only natural to a.s.sume the crime you committed was most vile.”
”However,” James added quickly, ”as she attended dinner tonight and we noticed no overt rancor between you-”
”Although there were a few harsh looks,” Hugh said under his breath.
”We also a.s.sume your crime was not so vile as to involve another woman.”
”I would never be involved with another woman.” Indignation sounded in Adrian's voice. ”I gave up other women when I married.”
”Most men do.” James nodded. ”Or they say they do.”
Adrian narrowed his eyes.
”However,” James added quickly, ”a man whose wife has three protective brothers and who values his life would never stray.” James's firm gaze slid from one brother to the next. ”Nor would a man who is more in love with his wife now than on the day they wed.”
Sebastian chuckled. ”Excellent answer.”
James shrugged. ”Nothing but the truth.” He grinned. ”But it was good, wasn't it?”
Hugh raised his gla.s.s to his brother-in-law. ”You, James, are a lucky man.” He turned to his brothers. ”As are the two of you.”
”No argument there,” Sebastian said with a smug smile.
Adrian sipped his brandy and wished his sister allowed cigars in her dining room.
”So ...” Hugh studied his brother with what Adrian had always thought of as his a.s.sessing barrister look. ”Are you going to tell us what you did or shall our imaginations run amok?”
Adrian forced a cool smile. The last thing he wanted was to share his idiocy with his brothers. ”Run away.”
James shook his head. ”My imagination is not up to a challenge like this. I shall leave that in the hands of the author among us.”
Sebastian chuckled. ”And while I can think of any number of sins that are significant but not unforgivable, it's probably best to keep them to myself.”
”You are wiser than you look,” Adrian said.
”He would have to be.” Hugh laughed.
”Perhaps, as we are discussing my wisdom,” Sebastian began, ”I might be of some a.s.sistance. In regards to the handling of wives, that is.”
Adrian scoffed. ”You've been married, what? Scarcely a month?”
”And yet ...” Sebastian's eyes narrowed in a crafty manner. ”I have already learned a great deal.”
”If I were to solicit advice from any of you it would be James.” Adrian nodded at his brother-in-law. ”He's been married forever.”
”Not forever.” James scoffed and sipped his brandy. ”On occasion it may feel like forever ...”
Hugh chuckled.
”But well worth it all in all.” James thought for a moment. ”It hasn't been entirely perfect but then what is in life? What it has been is good and it continues to be good.”
”Our life is good,” Adrian said staunchly.
”No doubt.” Hugh paused. ”Then this difficulty of yours-”
”A momentary aberration,” Adrian said firmly. ”I expect it to be resolved in no more than another day or two.”
”I see.” James studied him. ”Then you have apologized, vowed never to do whatever it is you did again, groveled-”
”I do not grovel,” Adrian said sharply. ”I'm not sure I even know how to grovel. But I have apologized, more than once.”
”Then all you can do is continue to apologize,” James said. ”And wait.”
Sebastian nodded. ”For her to come to her senses.”
Hugh snorted. ”You really haven't been married very long.”
”The last thing you want to do is tell a wife to come to her senses,” James said firmly. ”Especially when you are in the wrong, as I a.s.sume Adrian is.”
”So it would appear,” Adrian muttered.
”Nothing infuriates a wife more than the implication that she is irrational, even if she is.” Warning sounded in James's voice. ”You may trust me on this. I am speaking from experience.”
”But you're suggesting I wait?” Adrian shook his head. ”I would much prefer to take some sort of action.”
”Perhaps you should reconsider groveling,” Hugh murmured.
Adrian ignored him. ”I was quite optimistic before dinner. We spoke when she arrived and I believe she was very close to forgiving me.” He glanced around the table. ”I was quite charming.”
”No doubt. However, it might have been wise, all things considered,” Hugh said, ”if you had refrained from coming to the defense of the outraged husband in the tale Bianca told.”
”Oh, she did not like that.” Sebastian grimaced.
”Nor did any of them.” James sipped his brandy. ”They are much like herding beasts in that respect, banding together to protect one of their own.”
”If I recall correctly, you were once quite skilled at seduction,” Hugh said. ”Of course, you might well have lost those skills.”