Page 41 of A Duke's Unwanted Bride
“Yes I thought that would be best, at least until you returned from the front.” Warner glanced at the clock in the corner. “I wanted to keep an eye on him; he has not been the same since the wedding.”
“Of course not.” Toby took a gulp of his drink. “I doubt any of us will be the same.”
Warner nodded, swirling the contents of his glass as he surveyed his cousin. “I am sorry that you missed the funeral.”
“These things cannot be helped. War does not care if one’s brother dies.” Toby’s mouth twisted, and Warner noticed a gauntness about his features that had not been there before. “I got here as quickly as I could.”
“I know you did.” Warner nodded.
They lapsed into silence as they each drank from their glass. Warner watched his cousin, looking for some emotion in the man’s usually expressive face. It was more blank than a stone.
He shifted in his seat, trying to think of something to say. It had been years since he had seen his cousin, and in that time, he had gone from a gangly boy of eighteen to a well-muscled soldier.
“You are nearly as tall as me.” Warner gestured to him. “When you were left, you were at least a head and shoulders shorter.”
“Time has that effect.” Toby shrugged, his eyes staring into the fire. “A lot has changed. I tried to get time off for his wedding, but it was denied.”
“I am not sure that is a bad thing. What happened to him… It was not pleasant to witness.” He shuddered thinking.
In his mind, he heard screams. He could smell the vomit and bile, hear Eric’s strangled, rattling last breaths. He ran a hand across his chest, remembering the wetness of his cousin’s blood against his shirt, his skin.
“I am no stranger to unpleasantness, Warner. I am a soldier first, a colonel second. I was there with my men on the frontlines. I have seen the fighting. I have heard men’s dying screams.” His cousin’s eyes took on a faraway look. “I thought it would be he who would have to mourn the loss of a brother, not me.”
“I would have preferred neither of you to have mourned the other.” Warner remembered how terrified Eric had been when Tobias had joined the military.He prayed every night for your safe return.
“We do not always get what we want.” There was a bitterness in Toby’s voice that set Warner on edge.
“His loss has affected us all,” Warner agreed. “Your father will be glad you are home.”If he realises you are here at all.Warner swallowed.
“Would that it was a happier homecoming.” Toby threw back his head and downed the rest of his drink. “Though I suppose it is not all doom and gloom, is it Cousin?”
He tipped the glass towards the open newspaper on the table. Warner followed his gaze and realised it was the wedding announcement between him and Adele. Toby gave him a bitter smile.
“Tell me, what is it about her that seems to draw men to her like moths to a flame?” He poked her name on the sheet. “She must be quite something to behold.”
“She is.” Warner admitted without thinking, his hand going to the silver locket beneath his shirt. The one that contained a lock of her hair. “Anyone with eyes to see could see her beauty.”
“Well if the scandals attached to her name are anything to go by, there is certainly a personality in spades.” Toby stood and poured himself another measure of scotch. “No doubt your marriage will be interesting to say the very least.”
Warner frowned, trying to see past the cold expression on Toby’s face. “I would not believe everything you hear about her cousin; half of it is lies, and the rest is rumour spread by miserable hags.”
“It cannot all be falsehoods. After all, the scandal sheets say she is a pretty chit of a girl, and by your own admission, that is true.” Toby gave a languid shrug and massaged his neck with his hand. “Why don’t you tell me about her? It seems she is determined to be a part of the family one way or another.”
His cousin’s words put his back up. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. His cousin arched an eyebrow at him, gesturing to him with his whiskey glass. The liquid sloshed wildly, spilling onto the floor.
“Go on, Cousin. Tell me about the girl who has so ensnared the hearts of the two men I held most dear.”
“She has not captured my heart.” Warner ran a hand through his hair.
“If you say so.” Toby took another swig of his drink.
“I do. I… I respect her.” Warner took a sip of his own whiskey, trying to think of the words to describe Adele. “She is kind and fiercely loyal, even if she can be naïve. And stubborn! You could sooner get blood out of a stone than convince her to do something she has no wish to do.”
“You sound as though you admire her.” Toby canted his head towards him.
“She has been through a lot. She is unlike any woman I have ever met before.” He shrugged. “She has a sharp wit, razor sharp in fact.”
“Then it seems this has all worked out rather well for you.” Toby gave him a flat look.
