Glitter - Abbi Glines Page 0,41

so late in the afternoon. Tonight was Lady Witherington’s ball and I was attending.

When Charles, the butler, stepped back to allow entrance to the guest, I froze at the sight of Nicholas, as he took off his hat and his eyes met mine. “Hello, Brother,” he said jovially. “How kind of you to come greet me.”

We both knew that was not the case and his presence in my home so close to Emma made me tense. He wasn’t welcome here and although I had never stated such, it was an understood fact just as I would never appear on his doorstep. Emma’s safety was my ultimate priority. Nicholas was a threat to that.

“Why are you here?” I asked, moving toward him to keep him from coming any farther into the house.

“To see you, of course. We rarely have a moment to talk. We have much to catch up on,” he said as if we were truly brothers who enjoyed one another’s company.

“Then you need not come any further. I do not wish to see you and I have business of which to attend,” I replied then turned my back to walk away. He was not welcome here if for no other reason than to protect Emma. It was not time for him to know of her existence. My staff was loyal. They also adored the child. Their silence wasn’t for my benefit but for Emma’s and I knew it. Charles would understand this and he would make sure Nicholas came no further. I was the Earl now and there was no claim on this house for Nicholas.

“I’ve just been visiting with Miss Miriam Bathurst and her aunt. She is a rather charming lady, is she not?” Nicholas asked, stopping me from my retreat which was indeed what he had intended to do.

Turning back around, I looked at my brother. He thought I didn’t know what he was doing, what his plans were, but I was older. I understood his hatred for me. His need for revenge. I had humiliated his mother and the fact not once in my life had she shown me one small token of kindness even as a child made no difference to him. He expected me to treat her with respect. He would forever be sorely disappointed. That woman was inherently evil but then there were times I was sure my father had been equally so.

“I do not care where you spend your time, Nicholas. It is of no consequence to me. If a lady cannot see through the mask of falsity you wear then she isn’t fit to be my countess,” I replied.

Nicholas was not one to show any emotion. He was the master at appearing jovial at all times, even when he was at his lowest. Our father had not condoned weakness and this had been the way Nicholas had learned to mask his own. I understood him more than I believed he understood himself.

“Very well, Brother. If you have no time to visit with me, I will be on my way. Do have a lovely evening. I presume I will see you again at this evening’s festivities,” he replied.

I did not reply. It would mean I was playing along with his games and I was not participating. Nicholas was damaged and although I had tried to protect him at a young age, I had failed. I couldn’t protect either of us. Turning, I left him there for Charles to see out. The sooner her left, the safer Emma would be. Although she was meant to be resting that did not mean at any moment she wouldn’t come flying down those stairs, creating another mischievous deed in her wake.

Chapter Eighteen

Miriam Bathurst

Were they all so much the same? I was growing low on adjectives to describe the balls of the season. Soon Whitney would be in London with me, but even then, how would I find more creative ways to give her the details of yet another ball much like the last?

Gowns seemed to become grander and more elaborate as the ladies wanted to outshine the others. Favorite ladies had become very clear; some never sat out a single dance and others stood off to the side with lemonade and the gossip of the matrons to keep them occupied. Mothers had become even more aggressive as it became quite obvious that many gentlemen were openly seeking the hand of a particular lady.

My feet ached from the dancing and my mouth was so very tired of