Looking around the large room that was his office, he studied each piece of furniture he and his mother had collected to furnish it. She’d wanted it to look “comfortable and yet prosperous.” “People need to feel confident you can help them,” she’d said. Daniel hadn’t the heart to tell her that any man of noble blood who entered his office would be far from comfortable.
His, he thought. This was his, just as the rooms he lived in were his. For a man raised in a room with all his siblings, it was something to be proud of. Strange how he felt that, and yet there was also the emptiness. He felt like he was always searching for something that was just out of his reach.
“You are an eejit,” Daniel muttered.
The rumble of male voices told him another client had arrived, or a family member. His door swung open, and there stood his eldest brother, filling the doorframe. It appeared that today had been allocated “visit Daniel day” in his family.
“Good morning, Daniel.”
“Oliver.”
“I just saw Bloomhaven looking a bit green as he climbed onto his horse.”
“The man’s a fool, and because of that his family is about to suffer unless I can perform a miracle.”
“Which you will, as you are the best at what you do,” Oliver said with that unwavering belief that siblings had in each other.
“Thank you. I will try.”
Three years ago, he’d set up this office and started taking on clients who needed financial help. Investments, running their affairs, helping to keep them out of the bankruptcy courts. Lately, his clients had been noblemen. Men who had inherited titles upon the deaths of their fathers, inheritances that were debt-laden.
“And succeed.” Oliver wandered around his office, picking up small objects off shelves and then replacing them. Daniel knew the signs. His brother had something to say and was building up to it. Hell, not him too.
“The Bartholomew project will house many, Daniel, and is close to completion.”
“I will come over later today and take a look.”
Daniel also worked with his brother, oversaw projects, and was Oliver’s extra set of eyes and ears. He loved to work and feel needed. Loved to feel as if he was worthy; it had not been a feeling he experienced often as a child. In fact, he’d simply been another mouth that his parents had struggled to feed.
“We will keep the rents low. There are many in need.”
“Yes.” Daniel waited. Oliver would get around to what was circulating in that large brain of his sooner or later.
“Iris played an entire song on the piano this morning before I left. There were a few wrong notes, but on the whole it was wonderful.” He headed for the chair across from Daniel’s desk. The seat would be worn out by day’s end at this rate.
“I will be sure to drop by and listen.”
Oliver sat.
“And now perhaps you can tell me what is on your mind, brother. While it is nice that you called, I am sure there is a purpose.”
“Do I need one?” The material of Oliver’s jacket stretched across his shoulders as he rested his arms on the desk. Huge shoulders that many had leaned on, him included, in his brother’s lifetime.
Looking at him, Daniel felt that mix of love and desperation tinged with anger that he experienced when Oliver was near. Anger that seemed to be growing inside him, not weakening, as surely it should be.
“Mother and Father are worried for you.”
“And as I have recently told the twins, I am well.”
“Ah. I did wonder if they would confront you.”
“They did, so there is no need for you to, as I’m sure, given time, they will tell you what we discussed.”
Oliver ignored his words. “That woman, Lady Abigail. She has you in your current mood, is my guess.”
“As I told the twins, I was surprised and annoyed over her lies, but I have moved on.”
“Have you?”
Daniel nodded.
“Did you care for her?”
“Why are we having this conversation? It matters not how I feel about that woman; what matters is she’s an earl’s sister and deceitful. Therefore, this discussion has no bearing.”
He looked longingly at the door, hoping that any moment Alan would appear with the tea and a large wedge of cake. Dear lord, let there be cake. He usually enjoyed spending time with his family; today, however, he wanted them anywhere but in his vicinity.
“Other than the deceit, there is no reason to believe