Page 55 of The Baron Takes a Bet
“What do you mean?”
“Only that I’m realizing that some things don’t have a bright side, no matter how much I look for one.”
Holly wasn’t quite sure she knew what he was talking about, but something about it made her uneasy. She swallowed, suddenly eager to change the subject.
“I’m sorry you were upset about Mr. Armstrong. It’s why I came to check on you.”
“You needn’t check on me.”
“But when you left the dining room you seemed irritated.”
“Even so, there’s no need to worry.”
She gave him a strained expression.
“Of course I worry.”
“You don’t have to.”
Holly shook her head, not understanding.
“What do you mean I don’t have to?”
Gavin seemed to hesitate for a moment before taking a deep breath.
“No one has ever much worried about me, and I’m afraid it’s a wasteful prospect.”
Holly stared at Gavin, their eyes not quite meeting as his words sank in. It was an odd thing to think about. Even on her worst day, she was confident that people cared enough about her to worry about her. After her mother passed away, Holly at least had her siblings, and her friends had been great supports to her.
Leaning forward, her curiosity piqued.
“What about your friends? And your family? I know your aunt can be… a lot.” Gavin snorted, but Holly continued. “But she’s still your family.”
Gavin shrugged.
“Is she? We haven’t spoken in nearly five years. I hadn’t seen her in half a decade until last night.”
“Really? Why?”
“We don’t get on.” Almost automatically, Gavin reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small piece of wrapped parchment. Holly had become accustomed to his candy habit and waited for him to continue after dropping the small confectionary between his teeth. “I’ll always be grateful to Aunt Marnie for taking me in when John didn’t, though.”
Holly was unsure if she had a right to say anything, but it was the third time she had heard him speak about John refusing to house him, which simply did not make sense. From everything she had learned through her interactions with John, she would have expected his behavior to be the exact opposite.
“Gavin, did your aunt tell you that John didn’t want you?”
“Yes, of course,” he said. “Why do you ask?”
“Well, it just doesn’t make much sense. John was always so eager to help his friends and during our more privateconversations, he always made it seem as though he regretted not marrying earlier in life, if only to have a child.”
Gavin didn’t speak as the information sank in, but the crease in his brow made Holly unsure. She was about to press the issue when he leaned back.
“It doesn’t matter, does it? I’m better suited to being alone.”
“But you aren’t alone,” Holly said softly. “Not anymore.”
He glanced at her; his hazel eyes steady on her face.
“I will be though. Soon enough.”
