Chapter Ten

Chapter Ten

Reuben set the lost wax cast of Amelia's face on the table in a large room. He had just started the sculpture of her, but he was excited by how fast the process was going. He smiled. He hoped Amelia liked this when it was done. It would remain at this estate for many years to come as a testimony of his love for her.

A maid came into the room. "Lord Durrant has come to the estate, Mr. St. George."

Surprised, he turned to her. Corin was here? Why? He hadn't written anything that should have made Corin come out here. He was in good health, and he'd made sure Corin understood that.

Besides, didn't Corin need to be in London because his wife was in a delicate condition? Corin should have waited until after the baby was born before even thinking of coming out here. His eyebrows furrowed. Had Corin promised to return before then? So much had happened in the three months that Amelia had been here. It was impossible to remember the small details.

"The coachman and butler are bringing in your brother's trunks," the maid said.

Oh my. This was really happening. Reuben turned from the work he was doing for the bronze statue and wiped his hands on his apron. Then he untied the apron and pulled it over his head. He put the apron aside as the maid left. He took a deep breath and held it for several seconds before releasing it. He wasn't sure what to say to Corin. Corin had expected him to be all alone when he brought him back out here. He hadn't expected Reuben to get married. But then, Reuben hadn't expected it, either. At least Reuben had explained the situation in the missive. That meant Corin wouldn't be in shock when he saw that Amelia was here.

Amelia! Reuben hurried out of the room and ran down the hall. He ought to be there when she met Corin. It wouldn't be right to let her be all by herself when Corin started asking questions. And Reuben was sure that Corin was bound to ask questions. Unlike their mother, Corin didn't accept things easily.

Reuben made it to the drawing room in time to hear Amelia telling Corin that her brother had brought her out here. Reuben's heartbeat picked up in apprehension. While he had already explained the elopement to Corin in the missive, he wasn't sure if Corin was prepared for the news.

"Yes, my brother brought me out here so I could marry Reuben," Amelia was telling Corin.

Reuben stepped into the room, and Corin turned in his direction. Amelia followed Corin's gaze to him. The butler, who was setting a tray of refreshments on the table, also looked over in Reuben's direction. Sometimes it was spooky how Corin seemed to be aware of him before anyone else was.

Corin marched over to him. "We need to talk in private."

Before Reuben could respond, Corin told Amelia, "We'll be back in a moment," then took Reuben by the arm and led him out of the room.

Reuben frowned as Corin forced him down the hall. Corin wasn't always the most gracious gentleman around, but Reuben didn't care for the curt way he was handling things. "Corin, we don't have to leave," he whispered. "Amelia is a part of the family."

"What I have to discuss is with you, not her."

Reuben's stomach tensed. Corin was upset that Amelia was here. "Didn't you read my missive?"

"Yes, and that's why I came here even though Candace is stuck in bed."

Candace was stuck in bed? "What happened? Did she lose the baby?"

Corin waited until they were in the library before he shut the door and answered him. "She didn't lose the baby, but the doctor suggested she not take her chances after the bleeding started."

Knowing nothing about what happened when ladies were expecting a child, Reuben didn't know what to make of that.

"I wanted to come out here sooner," Corin told him.

"I know. You wrote that in the missive. That's why I wrote back and let you know everything is fine here. As you can see, I'm doing well. You don't need to be here. You should be with your wife."

"How could I be in London after learning you married someone?" Corin let out a heavy sigh and went to the decanter.

Reuben turned toward the shelf where Corin retrieved a glass. "I wrote you good news. Amelia knows why I left London, and she understands that I can't go back there."

Corin grimaced as he poured brandy into the glass.

Reuben put his hand over his stomach and took a deep breath. He figured Corin wouldn't be happy by the news, but he'd been hoping that Corin wouldn't be this unhappy about it.

Corin set the cap back on the decanter and paused for a long moment before saying, "All of your life, I've done everything I could to protect you. I know you get lonely here. When this past Season started, I thought you were old enough to come to London. I didn't realize that being around all of those people would make you sick."

"It's all right. I'm not around all of those people anymore. It's just me and Amelia."

"And how long will she be satisfied out here in the country where nothing exciting ever happens?"

"We haven't had any trouble with boredom."

"When I arrived, she was reading a book while you were…" His eyebrows furrowed. "Where were you?"

"I was in one of the rooms on the other side of the manor. I'm making a bronze statue."

Holding the glass, Corin went back over to him. "I think it's good you're finally making a statue. You've been talking about doing that for a long time now. That's the kind of thing you should focus on. You didn't have to get married." He took a sip of his drink and shook his head. "This is all my fault. I never should have taken you to London."

"Don't say that," Reuben argued. "I wanted to go to London. I wanted to get married, and I want to have children. I can't understand why you don't want this for me. Do you want me to be all alone for the rest of my life?"

"Of course not, Reuben. You're my brother. I know that being out here has been difficult for you since Mother died. You need company. Everyone needs company." He paused then sighed. "I just wish I had thought to bring my family here before Candace expected another child. If her situation wasn't serious, we would have all come out here when I brought you back here to be safe. Now I don't know what to do. If I bring Candace out here, she'll lose the baby for sure."

"I don't expect you to bring Candace and your children out here. Amelia and I have been having a wonderful time. We're happy."

Corin took another sip of his brandy. "She doesn't understand how delicate your situation is. She's only known you for a short time. I've known you all of your life. You aren't like other people." He placed the glass on the desk. With his hands on his hips, he added, "I should have known better. Our parents kept you here because they knew it was for the best. I was healthy enough to go to London. That's why they let me go there. Reuben, you were too young to remember this, but you almost died two times before you were three. You don't remember how scared Mother was." He lowered his gaze and closed his eyes. "The doctor even suggested digging a grave that second time. He didn't think you would ever grow up." He opened his eyes. "But he was wrong because we were diligent. We made sure you were safe."

Corin was right. Reuben didn't remember it. He'd been too young. And up to now, he hadn't even learned about this part of his past. He recalled getting sick several times a year and needing more time to recover than his mother and the servants ever needed when they were sick. But that was as far back as his memories went.

The knot in Reuben's stomach tightened, so he rubbed it in hopes it would ease. "I understand your concern, and I appreciate it. I explained how easily I get sick to Amelia. She hasn't tried to make me go out in the rain, and she patiently waits for me to put extra layers of clothes on so I don't catch a chill when I go outside."

"How do you know she won't eventually get tired of all of this and go back to London? Reuben, if you go with her, you might die."

"I told you she knows I can't go back to London."

"But that doesn't mean she won't leave you here and go back there herself. Who knows if she won't find someone else? Not all wives are faithful. I happen to know that some gentlemen have wives who seek out lovers because they're bored with their husbands."

Reuben couldn't believe Amelia would ever find a lover. They had a love match. When someone had the kind of love they did, they stayed true to each other forever.

Corin rubbed his forehead and groaned. "I don't know how to fix this."

"Who says you have to fix this?"

"You don't understand the severity of the situation. You're in a lot of trouble. Marriage is permanent. If this involved anything else, I could correct things, but I can't correct this. Except… Maybe I could talk her into living comfortably in a townhouse with the stipulation she must never be unfaithful to you. Then no one will gossip about your marriage."

"No! You can't do that. I want her here." He swallowed the lump in his throat. If he wasn't careful, he might lose his lunch.

"Why? Is she with child?" Corin asked.

Reuben thought about not answering the question—or letting Corin think she was—but he could never avoid answering something when Corin gave him that expectant stare. He released his breath. "No, she's not with child. But that doesn't change anything. I want her here, and she wants to be here with me. Can't you accept that?"

Corin balked as if Reuben had punched him. "I'm not trying to hurt you, Reuben. You're my little brother. I love you. All I've ever done for you has been for your best interest." He took a good look at the brandy still left in his glass. After a long moment, he finally continued, "It's been a long trip out here, and it'll be dark soon. We should come back to this conversation later. I need time to think."

What was there to think about? Reuben was already married to Amelia. Her brother had agreed to the union. As far as Reuben understood, things were final.

"I'm going to retire to my bedchamber," Corin said. "I'll have Cook bring me dinner. Then I'll get a good night's sleep. There's a lot going on. I'm sure I'll think better in the morning."

Yes, that was probably it. Corin needed time to settle down after the long trip here. When he did, he would realize that there was nothing to worry about. He would even agree that it was good for Reuben to have Amelia out here with him.

The knot in Reuben's stomach eased. Corin had a tendency to rush into decisions. Their mother had often said Corin made better decisions when he had a day or two to think things over. He means well, but he's impulsive, she used to tell Reuben. Sometimes he misunderstands things. We need to be patient with him.

Corin poured more brandy into the glass then turned toward the door. "I'll wish Amelia a good night before I go to my room."

Reuben followed Corin out of the library and down the hall. It wasn't that he didn't trust Corin to keep his word, but he worried Corin might not be polite in the way he spoke to her.

When they reached the drawing room, Amelia was sipping some tea. She stood up as soon as they entered the room.

"I wish I could spend the evening getting acquainted with you, but it's been a long trip, and I'm exhausted," Corin told her in a tone that helped to ease another knot in Reuben's stomach. "I'll be happy to talk more in the morning after I've had a chance to get a good night's sleep."

"I understand," she replied. "And I look forward to talking with you again."

Corin offered her a polite smile then wished her and Reuben a good night.

After he left, Amelia walked over to Reuben and whispered, "Is everything all right?"

Not wishing to upset her, Reuben squeezed her hand and kissed her. "His wife is having a difficult pregnancy. I'm sure it's affecting how he's feeling."

"Oh, that's terrible. Will she and the baby be all right?"

"It sounds like they will be fine as long as she stays in bed."

"It's no wonder he seems so tense." She put an arm around Reuben and hugged him. "If there's anything I can do to help the situation, I'll do it."

He didn't know what to say to that, so he decided it was best to hold her in return.