Chapter Nineteen

Blackwell House, the Earl of Tarnwell’s residence in Classige, Pruluce.

 

Colton stared at the cornice around the Earl of Tarnwell’s ballroom without really seeing it. He’d messed up in an epic way. The plan was to get Sebastian to fall hopelessly in love with him, but instead Colton had alienated his consort and destroyed his trust. Against all his wishes it appeared as though he was going to have to settle for a typical ton marriage. He just didn’t see any other choice. Sebastian did not want to open up to him. How could they possibly have a real marriage, a marriage like his parents had, under the circumstances? They couldn’t. Dust, the thought made his heart hurt, but what else could he do?

“Is the wall particularly interesting this evening?” Aiden cocked his head slightly and stared up at the cornice.

“Don’t start.” Colton was not in the mood, and smart-arse remarks from his brother weren’t going to improve his disposition. Aiden couldn’t understand. He had a husband who adored him.

“No less than three people have tried to get your attention in the last thirty minutes.” Aiden looped his arm through Colton’s and started walking. “Come along. You can be antisocial outside as well as you can in here.” They skirted the dance floor, headed for the garden door next to the orchestra. Without breaking stride, Aiden motioned at someone to their left.

“What if I don’t want to go outside?” Colton asked, though he didn’t care where he went. One place was as good as another.

Footfalls hurried behind them, and Colton’s other arm was snagged. “Did you find out what’s eating him?” Nate asked Aiden over Colton’s head.

Aiden shook his head. “Not yet.”

Colton groaned. “Not only are you forcing me to be social, but now the two of you intend to grill me, don’t you?”

“Talking to your family isn’t being social,” Aiden grumbled. “We don’t count, because you’re supposed to talk to us whether you want to or not.”

Nate shrugged. “What are your intentions, boy? Do we need to interrogate him?”

“Absolutely.” Aiden tugged to the right.

Nate tugged to the left. “This way.” To Colton, Nate said, “To answer your question, yes. We intend to get answers from you.”

Aiden groaned. “Why that way? I wanna go to the fountain.”

“It’s too cold out here to be by the overspray.” Nate steered them toward the small garden.

“What if I don’t want to go anywhere with the two of you?” Colton asked.

“Too bad,” they answered in unison.

They passed under a rose trellis and out onto the lawn, just beyond the scope of the veranda torches, before Colton’s brother and brother-in-law released him.

The garden was small and simple, really more of a lawn, but beautiful and serene. They were the only ones out here at the moment. Probably because unlike a lot of the other gardens, this one had no secluded trysting spots. Or perhaps it was because it was chillier than it had been the last several days. The fountain trickled off to their right. All along the stone wall that concealed the alley behind the townhouse, evergreen plants glistened with a little dusting of ice. The grass was completely covered in snow. It too sparkled in the moonlight. Snowfall once again appeared imminent. Things seemed so desolate and…alone out here. It fit Colton’s mood perfectly.

Aiden shivered and hugged his arms to his chest. “What gives? You’ve been unusually quiet all evening. You didn’t even pick at Tarren in the lift on the way over here. And he was really asking for it too with his comment about dogs being smarter than horses.”

Colton frowned. “He said that?”

Aiden looked at his consort as if to say, Are you hearing this?

Nate stepped behind Aiden and began rubbing Aiden’s arms. “I think it was Tarren’s way of trying to find out if you’re okay. When you didn’t react, we all realized you aren’t. We’re worried about you.” He lowered his mouth to Aiden’s ear. “Still cold?”

A stab of jealousy pierced Colton. The two of them were so perfect together. They had a marriage like Father and Cony.

Shaking his head, Aiden relaxed into Nate and leaned on him. “According to servant gossip, Wentworth came by the castle earlier. He called one of the guards and the new bodyguard, Benny, into his office. Stayed for about fifteen minutes and left. Didn’t Benny accompany you, Rexley and Muffin this morning? What’s going on?”

Good galaxy, was anything a secret? Apparently not in the Townsend household. Colton groaned. He supposed he might as well tell them. The state of his marriage was going to become obvious eventually. “After my meeting with the race commissioner, I went to—” Colton winced. Put into words, it sounded really bad. “I spied on Sebastian.”

Nate’s eyebrows rose.

“Doing what exactly? And why did you find it necessary to do that?” Aiden’s nose wrinkled.

“I thought he might have a paramour, and I read a missive he got at Wentworth Park yesterday. I couldn’t tell who it was from, but I sort of manipulated things where Rexley, Muffin and I would be in that area at the time of the meeting by suggesting Muffin’s favorite toy shop. It wasn’t a romantic meeting.” He didn’t feel right telling them who the meeting was with—Sebastian seemed really agitated that even Colton knew—so Colton rushed on, hoping they’d let that piece of information pass. “I apologized. I was wrong, and I feel terrible.”

“I swear. Every one of you Townsends has enough curiosity and sneakiness for three men,” Nate grumbled and ran a finger along the edge of Aiden’s cravat.

Aiden grinned and turned his face up to Nate. “I haven’t the slightest idea what you mean, sir.”

“Of course you don’t, boy.” Nate’s shoulders shook, but his laughter was silent.

Glancing back at Colton, Aiden frowned. “What’s the problem if you apologized?”

“He didn’t accept my apology. He stormed off.” Colton’s gorge rose. What if Sebastian never forgave him? He’d tried to convince himself he didn’t love Sebastian once. Maybe he could do so again.

Nate gave Colton a sad smile. “He’ll come around. He’s not going to stay mad forever. Just because he’s angry doesn’t mean he doesn’t care.”

That was the crux of the problem. Colton wasn’t sure Sebastian did care. Oh, sure, he cared a little or he wouldn’t have married Colton, but Sebastian didn’t have any deep abiding love. Not like Colton did.

“What’d you just think?” Aiden asked. “You looked so sad.”

Colton glanced up at his older brother. “I was thinking Sebastian doesn’t care for me. I guess I’m foolish. I always assumed I’d have a relationship like Father and Cony. Like you two.” He shrugged. “It’s okay. I’m going to be so busy with the stables that I don’t really have time for all that anyway.” Right? Oh bloody hell, he was going to have to come to terms with his future.

“Stuff and nonsense,” Aiden protested. “And you don’t sound the least bit convincing.”

“I think you’re wrong, Colton.” Nate slid his arm around Aiden’s middle and pulled him closer. “And if Sebastian doesn’t care, he doesn’t know what he’s missing.”

“I’ll tell him,” Aiden growled.

“Stand down, killer. Beating the man to a bloody pulp isn’t going to help this situation any.” Nate met Colton’s gaze. “You need to go talk to him. Give him time to calm down and tell him why you did what you did. And I don’t mean this whole jealousy thing. It stems from something much deeper than that. Sometimes you have to make yourself vulnerable to get what you want.”

But what if Sebastian didn’t love him? What if Sebastian didn’t even want to stay married? A pang of fear hit Colton. A numbness settled over him. “You make it sound so easy. It’s not.” Could it be? He wanted— Colton shook his head. “You’re a romantic, Nate.”

“I’ve never claimed otherwise.” Nate chuckled. “And it is that easy. I speak from experience when I tell you it’s worth the risk.”

Aiden glanced up at his consort with an adoring expression. “So much for pride?”

Nate nodded. “Exactly.”

Maybe—? Something cold touched Colton’s wrist. He glanced down and noticed the drop of water. He raised his head. Snowflakes fluttering around them. It was mystical. He watched the flurries for several moments, and it occurred to Colton what he needed to do.

“Thanks.” Colton hugged them both and jogged into the townhouse. He had to get back to Wentworth Park and wait for Sebastian.

 

 

“Was that Colton?” Steven glanced over his shoulder. His children had lost their minds. Colton walked right past him like he wasn’t there, even after he’d tried to hail him and now— He faced Aiden and Nate again. “What are you two doing out here in the snow?”

They stepped up onto the veranda, and Nate brushed the dusting of white off his arms. “Yes, that was Colton. And we were—”

“Wait.” Steven held up a hand. “Does it have anything to do with why Colton was in such a hurry to get away from the two of you? Never mind. I’m not sure I want to know.” Steven helped sweep off the back of Aiden’s black evening coat. The snow was really coming down.

Craning his neck over his shoulder, Aiden gaped at Steven. “Exactly what do you think we were doing, Father?”

“I thought we already established that I don’t want to know. Do either of you know what’s wrong with Colton? Did he give an explanation as to why Wentworth didn’t accompany us as planned?”

Nate leaned against the railing. “Just a difference of opinion. I suspect they’ll work it out. Unless I miss my guess, Colton is headed back to Wentworth Park now.”

“Rourke will take him. Rourke’s been shadowing Colton all night. Sadly, I don’t think Colton has even noticed.” Aiden gripped the rail and hopped up, sitting on it next to where Nate stood.

Steven glanced out at the garden. Rather plain compared to most, but quite pretty. The snow too was a sight to behold. It brought back happy memories. He and Raleigh used to have snowball fights every winter when they first married. Oh how he wanted that sort of fun, loving relationship for his boys. He hoped Aiden and Nate were correct about Colton and Sebastian working things out. “I hate to see them fighting already. They haven’t even been married a week. Perhaps I should send them on a wedding trip.” That might be just the thing to push them closer together.

“Wentworth won’t go. Not right now while things are so…” Aiden waved his hand, trying to find the word. “You know how serious he takes guarding all of us.”

“He’d have a problem with us being out here, no doubt,” Nate agreed. “Although I daresay I’m quite capable of taking care of us,” he grumbled.

The music blared for a moment then silenced. Footsteps clicked across the porch, coming closer.

Nate grinned and rolled his eyes upward.

Aiden sighed and whispered, “We’re in trouble now.”

Turning around was not necessary. Steven knew without a doubt who had joined them. And Aiden was right, they were about to get a lecture.

“Would you like to explain to me why the three of you are out here in the cold? Without a guard, I might add.” Raleigh set his hand on Steven’s shoulder to get his attention. Which was ridiculous since he had Steven’s undivided attention the moment he’d opened the door.

“We were talking to Colton.” Nate perched himself on the rail he’d been leaning against.

“Yes, well, Colton has gone home, and Knighton has accompanied him.” Raleigh slid his hand casually down Steven’s back, raising goose bumps, before he settled it at Steven’s waist.

“Ah, so His Grace tattled on us,” Steven grumbled. He was going to have to have a word with Rourke about that.

Raleigh rubbed soft, sensual circles on Steven’s back, contradicting the annoyed tone in his words. “Yes, he did. He’s an excellent bodyguard, and furthermore…”

Steven grinned and tuned the sermon out. It was quite easy to do with Raleigh so near. Steven may have even leaned closer. The slight hint of cedar, bergamot and mint in Raleigh’s soap teased Steven’s senses. Mmmm… Perhaps they should all take Colton’s lead and retire back to the castle.

The low dulcet tones of Raleigh’s voice made Steven’s heart race. He closed his eyes for a moment then stared out into the garden. It was so quiet. Like they were the only people in the city tonight. But they weren’t…

An odd sense assailed Steven. They were no longer alone here in the garden. He peered around, wondering where the strange feeling came from. He tuned Raleigh out completely and closed his eyes. There was a crack, like the break of a stick, and a crunch of snow. Steven snapped his eyes open.

At the far corner of the garden a man strolled toward the house. He seemed oblivious to them. Why wasn’t he dressed in evening finery? Oh! It was him. The man who’d been spying on him.

In his peripheral, Steven caught Nate staring at him.

Abruptly, Nate turned and searched the area, spotting the man too.

“Ho there!” Lifting his arm to flag the man down, Steven hurried to the steps.

Aiden and Raleigh, who’d been conversing, quieted.

Nate stood, reaching inside his evening coat.

The man, now close enough the light from the veranda touched his face, froze. His eyes widened, and he took off toward the back of the garden and the brick wall with his frock coat flapping behind him.

“Bloody hell.” Steven leapt down the stairs and gave chase. His boots sank in the snow with a crunch.

The man vaulted the wall in one smooth, graceful leap. His feet hit the ground on the other side with a slapping sound, and the staccato of footfalls followed.

“Steven!” Raleigh yelled.

No way was Steven stopping. It was time to get some answers, damn it.

Only seconds behind the man, Steven jumped and gripped the top of the wall. He heaved himself up and caught a brick with the toe of his left boot. He used the foothold to propel himself over the wall and hit the ground running.

The peeping Tom’s shadow stretched across the buildings backed up to the alley. He turned the corner, and Steven pushed himself faster.

The loud rattle of metal clanked and echoed through the passageway.

A garbage can rolled in front of Steven. A couple of rats scattered across the way. The rancid odor of rotten food permeated the air.

The man looked back over his shoulder.

Shouting came from behind Steven, but he ignored it. He could not lose the man this time. Steven jumped the turned-over can but slipped on some of the garbage and had to throw his arms out and slow down to regain his balance. Damn it! Catching his footing, he rounded the corner in pursuit.

The lane was empty. Dust, navigating around that trash can had cost him precious time. Where the hell had the man gone? Steven slowed again and listened.

The pounding of feet on pavement came from behind him and…to his left.

Ignoring the burning in his lungs, he took off again down the left alleyway. He ran to the end of the lane where it opened up on to Grosvenor Street and looked both ways.

To the right, the street was practically empty, only a lone lift at the end. To the left, streetlamps illuminated the fluttering snow. At the edge of the streetlamps’ light, a silhouette disappeared.

“Stop.” Raleigh grabbed Steven’s arm. “Steven, we can’t catch him now. Stop.” Raleigh breathed heavily.

Reluctantly, Steven gave in as he watched the figure emerge in the next lamp glow some twenty yards away. He inhaled deeply, fogging the air around them.

Footfalls pounded behind them, and Aiden zipped past them.

Nate drew to a stop next to them. He dropped his hands on his knees. One hand held a fragger.

“Aiden!” Raleigh shouted.

Aiden continued to follow the man at breakneck speed. He’d gained ground and was closing in on him. In another few moments, he could probably catch him. And then what?

An icy chill swept over Steven’s body, and it had nothing to do with the weather. What if the man hurt Aiden? Oh no. The man was much bigger than Aiden. “Aiden, stop!”

Raleigh dashed after their son only a split second before Steven.

Nate was right with them.

“Aiden,” Steven yelled, but it came out as a hoarse cry. He didn’t have enough lung capacity to yell and run at the same time. He stopped and cupped his hands over his mouth. “Aiden.”

Still Aiden ran. He was close to the man now.

Raleigh was too far behind to be of assistance if Aiden should catch the man.

“Boy! Freeze!” Nate’s voice boomed beside Steven.

Aiden skidded to a halt, whirling to face them. He put his hands on his hips.

Steven strode forward. The terror that had gripped him slowly began to recede. His chest hurt, but his child was no longer in danger. Thank galaxy.

Raleigh stopped next to Aiden. Something shiny gleamed in the hand he held by his side. His boot knife.

Aiden’s posture shouted irritation, but Raleigh grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him, then hugged him. No doubt the lecture would start in a moment. And if Raleigh didn’t give it, Steven would. The boy had scared ten years off his life with that stunt.

Putting a hand to his burning chest, Steven tried to slow his breathing. To Nate who was walking beside him, Steven said, “That’s the man who’s been following me. Now that he knows I’m not going to take being spied on, we may never know who he is or what he wants.”

“I know him,” Nate croaked out. “That was Lieutenant Robert Jenkins. Admiral Jenkins’s son.”