knowing the time had come for him to pay the piper.
Giving her a rakish smile, he said, “I always have time for my favorite sister.” He brought the brandy to his mouth and downed what was left.
“Considering I’m your only sister, I have to wonder about that statement.” She took a deep breath. “Weston, why did you abandon me?”
“What? I don’t know what you mean.” He reached for the bottle and poured himself three fingers, hoping if he drank enough he could forget the past.
“You do know exactly what I’m speaking of. Put that drink down,” she commanded.
He did as asked and settled back into the chair, knowing from the moment he’d learned that she was at the house party that this showdown was inevitable.
“I want to understand what happened to you. To us.”
He shrugged, keeping a tight rein on his feelings. “You wed. I didn’t. You moved to the north with your husband. I remained in London, a bachelor sowing his wild oats. You’re a woman, which means you came out of the womb writing letters. I’m a man and can’t be bothered to write them.”
She shook her head. “You have an answer for everything. Not ones I’m pleased with, though.”
He studied her a moment. He loved her so much, despite the wide gulf between them. “Accept my apology, Sam. I know I’ve been a terrible brother. I’m not a very good person and haven’t been for some time. I thought you’d washed your hands of me after wedding Haskett. You never gave me the cut direct but you ignored me at ton events. I did try and write a time or two but I had little to say.” He ran a hand through his hair. “How do you tell the little sister who worshipped you that you’ve become a scoundrel of the worst kind?”
“I suppose you dip the quill into the ink and move it across the page,” she snapped.
Weston frowned. Sam had been a sunny child and had grown into a young woman full of optimism. He took her hand. “What’s wrong? Where is all of this anger coming from? Yes, I didn’t write to you much. I’m sorry I lost contact with you. But you had a husband, Sam. A new life. A new family. I was the idle, worthless brother you’d left behind. I know you’re ashamed of me and what I’ve become.”
“You never checked on me,” she accused. “I was miserable in my marriage. Lady Rockaway ruined every day I spent at Rockwell. Haskett was under her thumb and wouldn’t take a step without her. The sweet, sincere, awkward gentleman I thought I’d married became a stranger once we returned to Rockwell. His mother was unhappy he’d wed me and bullied me to no end.”
Samantha jerked her hand from his. Even with the contact broken between them, her pain radiated from her. “Then I lost my baby. You don’t know how devastating that was. My husband rarely visited me in my bedchamber before that occurred. He barely spoke to me after it happened and never touched me again.”
She stood and began pacing the room.
Weston came to his feet and hurried to her as she gripped the mantel and stared into the fire.
“I was so lonely,” she said, her voice small. “So alone. No one comforted me. No one cared if I lived or died. I wanted my big brother to come rescue me, especially after Haskett’s death. To take me away and bring me home, where I would be safe.”
“What do mean—safe?” he asked, wanting to get to the heart of the change he sensed within her.
She remained silent. He wondered if her secrets were as ugly and deep as his.
“Why didn’t you just leave after Haskett’s death? I would have welcomed you.”
“Because I . . .” Her voice trailed off.
Weston placed his hand on her shoulder, wanting to offer her comfort. She jerked away.
“You let me down,” she accused, her tone harsh. “You disappointed me. You abandoned me.” Her eyes narrowed. “I don’t know if I will ever forgive you.”
“Sam.” He pulled her into his arms and stroked her hair. He didn’t know how to make it up to her. How to be the brother she wanted. She was broken, almost as much as he was. He knew in that moment that she could heal. With George’s help. His friend loved Sam. He would take care of her much better than Weston ever could.
He released her and she stepped back, crossing her arms