might help to add that you mean him no harm.” Father mumbled that last part under his breath.
Simon thought that went without question when someone showed up on the front stoop. But, considering that Simon and Giles hadn’t exchanged too many civil words, he could understand Giles’ hesitation.
“All right,” Simon said. “What message do you have for him?”
Father’s eyebrows rose. “You’re actually going to go see him?”
“Yes.” Simon sighed. “For as much as you and Mother think I hate him, I don’t ,and if we’ll be seeing each other every Michaelmas, I’d better go start making amends now.”
The same was true for Rae. The two of them had no less than three decades to live out together; he needed to clear things up there, too.
Simon quickly tidied up his desk while his father scrolled out a message for Giles. He folded it, then grabbed a candle from Simon’s desk, and dripped wax on the edge before removing his ring and sealing it.
“If it’s important enough you needed to seal it, are you sure you’d rather not take this yourself?” Simon asked.
“And take away your excuse to go visit?” Father shook his head and stood. He strolled to the door. “But were I you, I’d say what you planned to say before giving that to him.” Then without another word, Father quit the room.
Fifteen minutes later Simon was standing in the very spot he’d been only a week ago, feeling just as anxious. Splendid.
Also just as before, Giles opened the door.
“Do you always open your own door?” Simon asked before he could think better of it.
“When it’s the servants’ day off, yes.”
“They all take the same day?” Simon’s parents had only ever employed a cook and a coachman and had never given thought to how a large staff took their days.
“When there are only three, then yes,” Giles said matter-of-factly. He took a step back. “Would you like to come in?”
Hesitantly, Simon walked inside. Giles’ house was larger than Father and Mother’s, but had very few decorations and furnishings. In fact, all he could see from where he stood was only a minimal amount of wall sconces dotting the walls in the hall. No portraits. No statues. No tables with vases. Nothing.
“Why are you here?” Giles asked suddenly and without a hint of ceremony.
“Because I was passing by and thought I should stop by.” Simon fisted his hands in his pockets. “Perhaps offer an apology.”
“Drawing room.”
“Pardon?”
“You’re not here on official business, we should go to the drawing room.” Giles strode over to the closest door and pulled it open. He gestured inside. “After you.”
Simon entered the minimally furnished drawing room, thankful there were two chairs available. They might be brothers who shared more than just a mother, but that’s as far as it went.
Giles wordlessly plopped down in the other chair.
Were Simon a fly buzzing about, he’d have found the scene comical.
As a human, and most notably the one who’d been an arse since their first meeting, it wasn’t quite so comical. “Giles, my behavior toward you has been…er…”
“Understandable,” Giles finished for him.
Simon snapped his head to look at the strange man seated beside him.
“I wouldn’t like to be in your position as much as I am in my own,” Giles said solemnly. “I always thought you knew.”
Simon shook his head. “I think in her own way, Mother was trying to do what she thought was best. If I’d known, I’d have asked questions.” He chuckled. “That’s what little boys do.”
“Especially Seth,” Giles murmured.
“He isn’t the only one,” Simon said. “It’s all children, I’m afraid.” Frowning, Simon looked around the room. “Say, where is the imp? He came by my office yesterday to play cards for a spell.”
“He and Lucy went to help Mother at the library.”
“I’m surprised you didn’t go, too,” Simon said.
“I would have, but I assumed your new wife would be there and I didn’t want to steal her from you.” Giles flat tone coupled with his stoic expression gave Simon pause.
“She’s taken,” he said around the gravel in his throat.
Giles grinned wildly and clapped Simon on the shoulder. “Apology accepted.”
Simon chuckled. “Rae isn’t down there if you wanted to go join your wife.”
“I was waiting for a visit,” Giles said.
“From my—” Simon coughed— “business partner?”
Giles nodded.
“As it’d happen, he sent me by with something to bring to you.”
Giles stiffened.
“Perhaps we should go to your study,” Simon said lightly, hoping to ease the tension.
It did not.
“All right,” Giles clipped, standing.
Simon gritted his teeth. Had his father known this