Chapter Nineteen

Chapter Nineteen

Reuben figured it was a matter of time before he ran into Corin while out in London, and that time came two weeks later when he was at a bookstore. He noticed Corin before Corin looked in his direction. His first inclination was to hide behind one of the book displays, but he couldn't keep acting like a child around his brother. Part of being a grown gentleman was facing situations directly. As awkward as this was, he was going to deal with it.

When Corin did notice him, the two froze in place for a few moments. Reuben held his breath and waited to see what Corin would do. He had been the one who'd had the last word when he left the country estate. It was only fair that he let Corin have the first word this time.

Corin hesitated then walked over to him, clutching the book in his hand. "How are you doing, Reuben?"

The soft tone in Corin's voice helped to put Reuben at ease. "I'm doing well. How is Candace?"

"She's going to be all right. The bleeding stopped, and she's not confined to the bed anymore. The doctor says everything should be fine when she gives birth as long as she doesn't strain herself."

"That's good news." Silence descended between them. Reuben shifted from one foot to another. He could sense that Corin wanted to continue this conversation, and, truth be told, Reuben did, too. He just didn't know what to say.

Corin tapped the book in his hand and glanced around the bookstore before he finally asked, "What have you been doing?"

"I've been on a hot air balloon ride. I've been to the circus and the menagerie. I've attended a ball. I've been to a dinner party. I've been to the theatre. I've gone to the market. This is my second time in this bookstore."

"You've done a lot." Corin studied him. "And you're feeling all right?"

Reuben did consider lying to him, but it would be best if he was honest. "I feel fine right now. I did get sick for a couple of days, but I stayed home and got better. Last week, I decided to limit my outings to four days. Then I stayed home to rest for two before coming down here today."

"Well, you look good. I wouldn't have guessed you had been sick."

"I let the excitement of being back here propel me to keep going out. I'm learning when it's better to stay home and rest. I feel great today."

"That's good. It's nice that you're all right." Corin's gaze went to his book. "I'd like to talk to you without so many people around, but I need to pay for this first."

Reuben gestured to his book. "And I was going to buy this." Since things were going well so far, he added, "After we buy these, we can talk outside."

"I'd like that."

Reuben followed him to the owner, and they paid for their books. Reuben knew there was much to discuss. He just didn't know where to start. Fortunately, Corin saved him from having to come up with something since he spoke up as soon as they sat on the bench in front of the bookstore.

"Reuben, I owe you and Amelia an apology. I've had time to think about the way I acted, and I'm not proud of it." Corin paused before adding, "It's not easy to admit when I'm wrong, but I was wrong. I never should have tried to separate you and Amelia. If someone were to try to do that with me and Candace, I'd never want to talk to them again." He gave a tentative glance at Reuben. "It can't be easy for you to talk to me right now."

At once, Reuben felt better. He wasn't sure what he expected. He couldn't recall a time when his brother had ever apologized to him. He didn't think his brother was the type who apologized for anything. It was nice to know he was. Reuben offered him a tentative smile. "The fact that you're willing to admit you were wrong makes it easier."

Corin returned his smile. "And Candace didn't have to point it out to me, either. I figured it all out on my own." He cleared his throat. "It's going to take me time to get used to you being old enough to make decisions for yourself. For a long time, I've had to do that for you. It may have seemed like Mother made the decisions, but she had a difficult time knowing what to do. At first, she leaned on the doctor. Then, as I grew older, she leaned on me. As long as someone was telling her what to do with you, she was comfortable. I'm not sure what kind of marriage our parents had. I don't think he controlled her, but I suspect she let him make choices for her. She seemed happiest when others took the lead. It allowed her to focus on making tablecloths and curtains and other things that relaxed her."

Reuben realized where Corin was going with this. "Since Father died when I was young, you felt responsible to make sure I was all right."

"I tried not to, but there were times when it was more comfortable to tell you what to do than it was to ask you what you wanted to do. When I brought you to London, I knew you were grown up, but I didn't feel it. There's a difference between knowing something and feeling it. I understand now that I was standing in the way of you being a man. That's not fair to you, and it's not fair to Amelia. I want you to know that I'm going to start treating you like a brother instead of a ward."

Reuben could see this was difficult for Corin, but he could also see that Corin meant what he said. From now on, Corin would start treating him like an equal. "In addition to being your brother, I wouldn't mind being your friend."

Corin's gaze met Reuben's, and Corin blinked back the tears in his eyes. Had they been in private, Corin might have hugged him, but given where they were, he couldn't. However, his smile did widen, and he said, "I'd like that. You'd make a good friend."

"In that case, you should bring your family over to my townhouse. It's time Amelia got to meet everyone."

"Do you think she'll talk to me after what I did?"

"Amelia's a wonderful lady. If she was here, she'd insist you'd bring your family over. We can invite her brother and his wife and daughter, too. We'll do this early in the day so the children will be able to play games. That will entertain them while the rest of us talk. I can arrange for Cook to prepare everyone a meal."

Corin nodded. "That sounds nice. Thank you. My family will be there."

Reuben released his breath, and the last of his unease departed. It had been a rough couple of weeks, but maybe those weeks had been necessary. Corin hadn't been the unreasonable person Reuben feared. Instead, Corin had enough humility in him to realize he needed to change the way he was doing things. Reuben used to idolize his brother. Now, he realized that needed to change, too. He also had to look at Corin as an equal, and, in doing so, Corin would definitely become his friend.

***

Reuben took Amelia by the arm after they stepped out of the carriage. Before they headed for Corin's townhouse, he asked, "Are you sure you're ready for this?"

Amelia glanced at the townhouse. She had agreed to come here this evening for his sake. He had told her that Corin was sorry for what he had done to them both at the country estate. The invitation for this evening had been addressed to both of them. That meant Corin had included her. This was a chance to make amends. Because of that, she should come here. "I'm ready, Reuben."

He led her up the steps then knocked on the door.

She took a deep breath and released it. She didn't realize how anxious she'd be when she finally got here. She hoped Corin meant it when he told Reuben he was sorry. Things would be much better if everyone could get along.

The footman encouraged them to come into the house. "It's nice to see you again, Mr. St. George. Is this your wife?"

"Yes, and she's my better half," Reuben replied.

Her cheeks warmed at his compliment.

"Welcome, Mrs. St. George," the footman told her. "Lord and Lady Durrant are expecting you both."

Reuben offered her hand a comforting squeeze before they followed the footman to the drawing room. Candace was sitting in a chair, rubbing the mound in her stomach. From what Reuben told her on their way here, she had two months before she was due to give birth. To Amelia, she looked like she was doing well. Her face had a healthy glow to it, and she was laughing as Corin swung one-year-old Minerva around. Watching Corin acting so carefree surprised Amelia. She thought he was serious all the time. Not only had he come off as serious at the country estate, but when she'd seen him at balls with Reuben, he'd always been reserved. Apparently, being around children brought out a different side of him. Judith was sneaking in a biscuit before her parents found out she was spoiling her appetite.

Corin noticed Reuben and Amelia. He stopped swinging his daughter around and took her to Candace, who set her on her lap. "I'm glad you two could make it this evening," he said as he approached them. In a lower voice, he added, "Thank you for giving me a second chance, Amelia. I don't know if Reuben told you, but I really am sorry for what I did at the country estate."

At once, it felt like a weight had been lifted off of Amelia's shoulders. "Thank you, Corin. All I want is for Reuben to be happy."

Corin smiled. "I know, and I realize it'll take time for me to make things up to you. I hope this evening will be a good start."

She nodded. "We can start over as if nothing at the estate ever happened."

"I appreciate that," Corin replied. "That's very gracious of you." He gave her a hug. "Welcome to the family, Amelia. You're a good companion for my brother. I can tell by looking at him that he's never been happier in his life. Marriage is good for him."

"Just as it is for you," Reuben replied. "I don't recall you ever swinging me around like that while I was growing up. I feel left out."

"If you want, I can pick you up and give it a try," Corin told him.

Reuben shook his head. "You know I'm too old for that. Even Judith's too old for it."

"Judith," Corin began as he turned to his daughter, who hurried to swallow the biscuit she'd been chewing, "do you want me to swing you around?"

Judith grimaced. "I'm not a baby anymore."

"I told you," Reuben said, not hiding his satisfied smile at being proved right.

Corin gestured for his daughter to go over to them. "Just because you're eight, it doesn't mean you're too old for me to swing around."

Judith looked at her mother. "Do I have to?"

Candace offered Judith a reassuring smile. "No, you don't. And Corin, I'm surprised at you. You haven't swung her around for years. Why would you want to do so now?"

"He was trying to prove a point," Reuben spoke up before Corin could. "But he failed, and he's having trouble admitting it."

"Corin, you don't need to prove a point by swinging Judith around," Candace said. "Judith is at the age where she doesn't want that kind of thing anymore. Fortunately for you, there's Minerva, and you have another one coming along soon who will want you to swing him around." She patted her stomach.

"Children grow up much too fast," Corin replied.

"That's why you have more than one," Reuben inserted. His gaze went to Candace. "And I'm glad that everything is all right with the next member of the family."

Candace smiled. "Corin and I are relieved. It's good to see you Reuben, and I'm happy to meet your wife." Her hopeful gaze went to Amelia.

"It's nice to meet you, too," Amelia told her.

Corin gestured for Reuben and Amelia to sit. "Candace can't get up much. The doctor instructed her to sit unless she needs to go somewhere. We'll have to choose games that don't require any standing." He settled next to Candace and put his arm around her shoulders.

"I don't mind skipping Charades." Reuben sat next to Amelia. "Amelia always wins that game. It'll be nice to play something where I have a chance of winning."

"If she wins, why not be on her team?" Candace asked.

"At the dinner parties we've been to, the ladies always paired up together," he explained. "I think they did that because they knew they'd win that way."

Amelia chuckled. "I don't know if that's why the ladies always played together."

"But you're better than anyone I've ever played with," Reuben said.

Candace seemed intrigued. "I'm tempted to play the game to see how well she does. We could manage the game while sitting. Or, at least, I can sit while the rest of you act things out."

Noting the disappointed expression on Reuben's face, Amelia said, "I don't mind playing cards. We can play Charades another time."

"But I want to play Charades," Judith spoke up after she managed to sneak in another biscuit. "Charades is fun. I'm finally learning how to play it well."

Corin, probably for Judith's sake, said, "Candace, Judith, and I can pair up for one team, and Reuben and Amelia could pair up."

Candace frowned. "But I want to win if we play. I want Amelia on my team."

"You don't know that she's better than me," Corin argued.

"I know Reuben is better than you, and if she's better than Reuben, then she has to be better than you are." Candace offered him a pretty pout. "I spent a lot of time in bed over the past three months. It'd be nice to have a fun game like Charades where I can have Amelia as my partner."

Amelia noted the pleading look Corin gave Reuben and knew that poor Reuben was going to be stuck on her opposing team. The ladies at the other dinner parties had managed to secure her on their team by giving their suitors the same pretty pout.

"I want to win," Judith spoke up. "Can I be on Aunt Amelia's team, Papa?"

"Well," Corin began as he glanced over at Reuben, "it's only one game."

After a long moment, Reuben let out a disappointed sigh. "All right. Amelia can be with Candace and Judith."

Candace and Judith cheered.

Reuben shot Corin a pointed look. "When you lose, you can't say you weren't warned."

Corin glanced at the others and smiled. "I don't mind losing for a good cause."

"You only say that because you haven't lost every game of Charades you've played since you met Amelia," Reuben said. "I've played this game eight times now, and I haven't won a single one."

"Maybe tonight will be different," Corin argued. "Maybe tonight, you and I will win. If that happens, you'll be glad you were my partner."

Not to be swayed, Reuben replied, "When you and I lose, you'll realize the folly in that statement." He leaned to Amelia and whispered, "I'm sacrificing a lot by losing tonight. Will you make it up to me when we get home?"

Unable to stop feeling sorry for him, Amelia indicated that she would be extra nice to him in bed that night. She figured the least she could do was ease his disappointment.

The butler came into the room and announced that dinner was ready.

As everyone stood up, Corin said, "Reuben and Amelia, thank you for coming tonight. It means a lot."

Reuben glanced at Amelia, and she squeezed his hand to let him know she was glad they had decided to come here. Everything was going to be all right.

Reuben turned his attention back to Corin. "We're happy to be here."

Amelia nodded her agreement.

Smiling, Corin led everyone to the dining room.