answered for her so often that eventually his mother just stared at her bowl.
“I requested you to dinner to discuss some family matters.” He’d captured their attention now.
Thomas leaned back in his chair, looking bored and irritated.
Melanie glanced in Sullivan’s direction, but her eyes seemed glassy and unfocused.
Tilly had stopped eating, but had yet to look up to meet his gaze.
“As much as I appreciate all of Thomas’s hard work.” Sullivan paused to take a sip of his wine. There was no way he could get through that false compliment without assistance. “I know he stepped in while I was at war, and everything he has done has not gone unnoticed.” Sullivan met his brother’s gaze, quirked a brow, and held up his glass in a silent toast.
Confronting Thomas wouldn’t work. Sullivan knew that. But he also wanted his brother to know that he knew the truth. I know what you did to our brother. I know what you’ve done—or rather haven’t done—with our family’s coffers.
“It is past time for me to take on the responsibilities and duties as viscount. Starting tomorrow, I shall be taking over control of all of the family finances and properties.”
Thomas leaned forward. His lips tilted up in a forced grin. “That won’t be necessary, brother. I know you must be busy with your new bride.”
“Actually, this was my new bride’s idea.”
Tilly released a squeak of a noise and her lips parted. Thomas glanced over at her, a frown weighing his brow, his eyes narrowing.
“She reminded me I should not be taking advantage of your generosity and continue ignoring the duties that actually belong to me,” Sullivan continued. “That is why you spoke to her about all of your burdens, wasn’t it?” The last thing Sullivan wanted to do was to subject Tilly to Thomas’s darker side. So he would simply remind his brother that he was the one who had complained to Tilly about his plight.
Thomas’s jaw tightened.
Sullivan hadn’t risked another glance at his wife. He suspected she would be quite unhappy with him at the moment. No matter, he wasn’t particularly happy with her at the moment, either. She’d lied to him about her reasons for wanting to return home, that much was obvious. Ever since the day at the beach, she’d been distant.
“It is the right thing to do,” Sullivan said, hoping this would end any potential arguments. “Especially since it seems you’ve been rather overwhelmed with the number of duties.”
Thomas scoffed. “What the devil does that mean?”
“You are obviously too busy with other things to see to the needs of our seaside village. The roads there are deplorable. It has made transportation nearly impossible. I’ve already been in communication with someone regarding railroad expansion in the area as well as immediate road repair. The rail from London to Brighton has been running for nearly a decade, and that seaside town has seen an increase in holiday tourists. There’s no reason why Southend-on-Sea could not enjoy the same.”
Sullivan dared a glance at his wife and found Tilly staring at him with wide eyes. He wanted to ask her what she thought. If she agreed with this assessment, if she was proud of his efforts. He had become a complete fool for this woman.
Thomas slammed his drink back, and then demanded a refill, which he swallowed in one loud gulp.
Sullivan looked at their mother, her eyes locked on Thomas. He knew this would be difficult for her. She loved all of her boys, but she lived with Thomas because, as she explained it, he needed her more than the rest of her sons.
Thomas stood abruptly, the heavy wooden chair falling backward behind him. A footman scurried over to right it. Thomas ambled over to Sullivan. “You have taken everything I have ever wanted. You might as well take my wife.”
Their mother gasped.
“Thomas,” Melanie hissed.
But Thomas had left the room, stormed out and into some other area of the house.
“Tilly, why would you try to come between these two brothers?” her mother asked. It was the first time the woman had spoken the entire meal.
“Begging your pardon,” Sullivan said, “this has nothing to do with Tilly. She has done nothing wrong. Unlike that brother of mine.”
“Sullivan, please,” his mother said, squeezing her eyes shut. “It has been so difficult for your brother that they have been unable to have a child.”
Melanie tossed her napkin onto the table and stood. “Thomas would not be happy if I had given him a dozen heirs.” She left