Chapter Four − Trust Given & Received

The moment he heard the front door close, Griffin felt himself explode.

“How dare you!” he growled, glaring at his sister with never felt outrage. “Have I not made it clear that I have no interest in Miss Abbott whatsoever? She is not the kind of woman I wish to marry, and I demand that you respect that!” Gritting his teeth against the string of words that threatened to spill from his mouth−words he had never thought he would say in his sister’s presence, let alone to her!−Griffin silently counted to ten, clenching and unclenching his fists, hoping to relieve some of the anger that surged through his veins.

“You demand?” Gawking at him, Winifred shook her head, clearly oblivious to the rage that held him in its clutches. “Do you remember what you promised me, dear brother? Or shall I help you refresh your memory?”

“I know very well what I promised you!” Griffin hissed, casting a glance at his friend, who stood silent as a pillar of salt, observing the siblings’ exchange with rapt attention. “However, I doubt that you do. I never forced you to socialise with a man you disliked. Why would you force Miss Abbott on me when I’ve made it unmistakably clear that−no matter what!−I will not marry her?”

Chuckling as though all of this was a terribly amusing misunderstanding, Winifred stepped forward, her gaze focusing on his, and he got the distinct feeling that she was about to catch him in a lie. “Are you certain?” she asked, a clear challenge in her dark brown eyes.

Griffin swallowed, wrecking his brain. Was he? “Of course, I am.”

Shaking her head in what he assumed to be disbelief, Winifred laughed. “Your memory is faulty indeed, dear brother. Well, then allow me to enlighten you because you did force on me the company of a man I disliked. Not even you can deny that?”

Frowning, Griffin stared at her, unable to make sense of what she was saying. “How can you say that? Lord Haverton was a perfect gentleman in every regard, and you cannot deny that you liked him.”

Winifred shrugged. “I do not deny it.”

A low growl rose from Trent’s throat, and Winifred glanced at him, a teasing smile coming to her lips.

“Then who do you speak of?” Griffin demanded, feeling his pulse speed up once more. “After all, he’s the only gentleman you spent a considerable amount of time with. Yes, I made other suggestions here and there, but they never led anywhere, and I never forced you to pursue them, did I?”

“You did not. At least not with these gentlemen.”

“Then who?” Griffin snapped, raking his fingers through his hair. “Who on earth do you speak of?”

Her brows drew down into a frown as a soft chuckle escaped her. “You really don’t understand, do you?” Then she glanced at her husband, whose gaze grew dark as though promising retribution. But for what?

“I’m talking about my husband,” Winifred finally said, a touch of annoyance in her voice.

Griffin’s eyes bulged. “What? You cannot be serious? I never−”

“Yes, you did,” she insisted, her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed into slits. “I told you that I disliked his company−”

“But−”

“No! I did, didn’t I?” Winifred demanded.

Gritting his teeth, Griffin nodded.

“And still, you kept forcing him on me−”

Trent chuckled, but a dark glare from his wife shut him up instantly.

“Don’t even for a moment believe that I didn’t see what you were doing, leaving us alone together, always coming up with these last-minute excuses for why you couldn’t stay.” Her lips twisted into an angry snarl. “Do you have any idea how angry I was with you for that? Did you even notice?”

“But you liked him!” Griffin insisted, unable to understand what his sister was saying. “You even loved him.” Shaking his head, he pointed at his best friend. “You married him! How can you say−?”

“I told you I did not want to see him, didn’t I?” his sister demanded, growing more annoyed when he stared at her blankly. “Didn’t I?”

“Yes, you did, but−”

“No but!” Winifred snapped before she drew in a slow breath and her features began to soften, her voice calm again. “I told you then just as you are telling me now. And just like you, I feel as though I see something you don’t seem to be aware of.” She nodded. “Yes, you were right. I loved Trent, and I’m glad you did what you did.” Stepping forward, she took his hand in hers, her soft eyes looking into his, asking him to trust her. “Now, let me do the same for you.”

“But I don’t love her,” Griffin objected, wondering what his sister had seen that had eluded him.

Winifred scoffed, “Of course not, how could you? You’ve barely spoken a word to her.” Sighing, she squeezed his hand. “I’m not asking you to go and ask for her hand right now. All I’m saying is that I want you to give her a chance. She is not the woman you think she is, and I truly believe that you would be a good match for each other.” A soft smile curled up the corners of her mouth. “As much as I love teasing you, I would never jeopardise your happiness. I can only hope you know that.”

Griffin nodded, remembering when their roles had been reversed, when he had asked her to trust him, promising that he would do what he could to ensure that she would not end up with the wrong man. Fortunately, she had not. But what about him? Could his sister be right? What had she seen in Miss Abbott that would make her believe that they would be a good match?

“I admit that night at the ball,” Winifred continued, “when I asked to be introduced to Miss Abbott, I wanted to see you squirm.” The left corner of her mouth twitched. “But that is all. I would never make you unhappy. I would never want you to be with someone who would make you unhappy.”

“I know,” Griffin whispered, pulling his sister into a warm embrace. “I know you wouldn’t.” Stepping back, he looked into her eyes, drawing a slow and somewhat agonising breath into his lungs. “Fine. I trust you. I will give her a chance.”

“That’s all I ask.”

Griffin nodded, hoping that that was true.