happened next. Annabelle Gold was a talented author.
Well over an hour had passed when Thomas heard voices in the entrance. He looked up to see Hugh in the doorway.
“Staying in this evening?” his brother asked as he walked forward. “I looked for you at the club without success.”
“I decided to do a little reading this evening.” Thomas lifted the volume, a finger holding his place. Though it was on the tip of his tongue to tell his brother exactly who had written the book, he held back. He knew how important it was to Annabelle to keep her identity a secret. He trusted his brother, but the fewer people who discovered the truth the better. Yet it felt odd to not share the information with Hugh.
He and Hugh formed a bond in childhood that continued to this day. They’d shared their father’s wrath on more than one occasion. Much like Graham, Hugh had been a protective older brother and often did whatever he could to save Thomas from the earl’s anger.
Hugh tended to be the peacekeeper of the family, good at calming troubled waters despite his cynicism. Their father had forbidden all three of his sons from joining the military and refused to buy them a commission. He insisted there was work to be done at home. Thomas didn’t have a particular urge to go to war, but he knew Hugh had resented his father’s order.
“Care for a drink?” Thomas asked as he set aside the volume.
“Certainly.” Hugh moved to stand before the fire, holding his hands closer to its warmth as Thomas moved to the sideboard where an array of crystal decanters stood. “A bit chilly out there tonight.”
“All the more reason to stay in.” Thomas poured his brother a generous glass of claret and handed it to him. They sat in the wingback chairs before the fire.
“What are you reading?” Hugh reached for the book. “You’ve always liked to read far more than I do.”
“A murder mystery by A. Golden. Have you read any of the author’s work?”
“Isn’t that the same author who has the serial in the broadsheet?”
“Yes. He has a book out as well.” Thomas hesitated. He’d already almost slipped and said “she” instead of “he.” Not that such a misstep would give away Annabelle’s identity but why risk it? He needed to practice keeping her name hidden when he spoke of the books.
“I didn’t know that.” Hugh paged to the first chapter and read several sentences. “That is an excellent beginning. Can I borrow it when you’re done?”
“Certainly.”
He frowned as he turned several pages back to look at the copyright. “Is this one Father published?”
“Yes. It’s the only book he released that is making a tidy profit. I’ve been doing what I can to help spread the word to increase sales. It truly is a good book.”
“I wonder if you could convince the editor that publishes the serial to mention it at the end of the next chapter.”
“That’s an excellent idea. The author suggested placing an advertisement to me just this morning. Putting it at the end of the chapter would be an even better way to gain more attention.” Thomas frowned at his brother. “I told Graham you’d be better at this job than me.”
“Nonsense. I’m not as much of a reader as you are. I would have no idea how to decide which stories to publish.”
Thomas ran his hand over the back of his neck. “I’m not certain I do either. But to my good fortune, this author has another book nearly ready, so we’ll be releasing that one for certain. Graham insists I do all I can to make Artemis Press profitable. Do you truly think funds are that tight?”
“Based on what little I know, yes. Graham has been whispering in my ear about marrying a lady with a substantial fortune.” He shook his head. “I’m not even certain I want to get married, but I suppose I shall consider it.”
Thomas felt much the same way. He wasn’t in any hurry to marry nor did he have a title or wealth to attract anyone. Hugh didn’t either, but Thomas had no doubt Hugh would marry well if and when he chose to do so. Women adored him.
Hugh handed him the book. “I heard the strangest thing last night at the club.”
“Oh?” The odd look on his brother’s face had Thomas listening closer.
“Someone told me you danced with Miss Gold at the Stannus ball the other evening.”
“What of it?”
“I thought you had sworn