A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,65

her before going around the table and sitting opposite her.

“I can sense your unease.” She placed her folded hands on the table, a sign that she wanted to proceed without any awkwardness.

He reclined in the chair with an insouciance she might have believed if it hadn’t been for him kicking her in the shin with his boot as he tried to settle. “Pardon me.” He pulled a satchel toward him.

“Don’t worry over it,” she answered.

“I wish I didn’t have to do this,” he murmured, then shook his head. “I’m afraid I’ll open this satchel and there’ll be another Meri-created catastrophe for me to sort through.”

“I’ll help you,” she offered.

“That’s very kind, but I couldn’t ask that. He’s already caused you enough heartache to last a lifetime.” Businesslike, he reached inside and retrieved more papers and placed them next to the ones already neatly arranged on the tabletop. “Meri had two satchels. I thought we’d start with this one first as it contained the majority of his possessions.”

“Wait.” She reached across the table and placed her hand over his. “I’d like to talk about your brother.” He immediately stilled, but she didn’t remove her hand. “He admired and wanted to emulate you. You’re aware of that?”

His attention never left the papers before him. Slowly, he slid his hand from hers.

“What nonsense.” The gentle exasperation in his deep voice was in direct contrast to the way he thinned his lips. Pain radiated from his dark brown eyes. It was all the more reason to continue.

“He wanted to win your admiration. He confided in me several times.”

“Of course he confided in you. He confided in everyone. Everyone felt close to Meri. He had a way of wooing one over.” Christian pulled several loose pieces of foolscap and three packets of papers toward him, then straightened several letters that sat to his right. “All play-acting on his part.”

Katherine sat completely quiet, ready to listen to him rant, but she was determined to help him through his unacknowledged grief, a dangerous emotion that appeared to be festering inside him. The anger, then the contrived disinterest, had to be taking a toll on him.

From the looks of it, the papers Christian had in hand were old racing sheets and correspondence. No matter how he tried to organize his brother’s belongings, it wouldn’t straighten out the chaos that had befallen Constance and Beth, let alone Christian and herself.

“Not that I’m interested or care about Meriwether, but it appears you want to talk about him.” Christian feigned a nonchalance that wasn’t convincing. With a contrived sigh, he continued, “Go on, then. What did he say?” He never lifted his gaze.

She took a breath for courage, then began, “Well, Meri repeatedly told me that no matter what mischief he found as a lad, you had infinite patience with him. He said that his mother and father wasted little time on him, but you were always there when trouble found him.” She softened her voice. “He was proud of you, Christian. He said you would make your mark in this world, just as you’d done on the battlefield. He wanted to host a welcome party for you when you returned.” She reached across the table and took his hand in hers, then squeezed it gently, hoping he’d react in kind. With his head bent, he didn’t return the gesture. She hadn’t a clue how he was reacting to what she was sharing. “I wanted that too.”

“Indeed?” His voice was cold when he finally lifted his gaze to hers. The blast of brilliance in his brown eyes could have easily been mistaken for annoyance, but she recognized the longing that glimmered there. It was a grim reminder of all he’d lost.

“I’m so very glad you’re home safe and sound,” she added softly.

“Thank you. It’s … I’m weary of all of this.” He waved a hand in the direction of the papers, then leaned back in his chair and drummed his fingers ever so slightly on the table. “I have so many other things I want to concentrate my energies on.”

A gentle smile fell across his lips, and in that moment, she imagined it was her he was referring to instead of his charity.

“Meri was a magnet for trouble. If there was anyone or anything illicit, illegitimate, or ill-advised, he found and welcomed it with open arms.”

Katherine kept her face still as her stomach tightened at the word “illegitimate.”

Completely oblivious to her turmoil, Christian continued, “As a result of my good deeds