Page 60 of Pleasantly Pursued

“When you start a family, you will not want your little brothers around.”

“Of course I will—”

“WhenIstart a family, I should like to do so on my own estate as well.”

James paused, dropping his arm and directing his foil toward the floor. “That is another point entirely. Have you anyone particular in mind, or is this merely a matter of feeling ready for matrimony?”

I was restless and did not appreciate this pause in our bout. “Mother would like for me to consider Miss Dodwell, but I gave the girl two sets at the assemblies a few weeks ago and knew by the end of the night we would not suit.”

“Mother must have shared her opinion with my wife.” James chuckled. “Liss was certain you and Miss Dodwell were on your merry way to courting.”

“Correct your wife before her hopes are too far engaged. Miss Dodwell and I will never be.”

“Pity.”

“Is it?” I thrusted forward and James was quick to engage. He always had been the better fencer. We continued on for the better part of an hour before I had to concede defeat. Sweat trailed down my temples and gathered on my back. “I need to leave soon if I am to make it to Kellinger by noon.”

James untied his mask and tossed it on the floor before swiping his arm over his forehead to mop the sweat. “You’ll take someone with you?”

I looked for my handkerchief in my pocket but did not find it, opting to use my sleeve as well. “Henry agreed to come.”

James nodded. “He will advise you well.” He crossed the room and clapped me on the back. “I think taking on an estate is a wonderful idea. It’s surely what Father had in mind when he left you the money, and I think it would please him to know you chose to settle so close to home.”

I blinked away the sudden moisture that threatened my eyes and drew in a shaky breath. “I considered taking up a different occupation, but nothing appealed to me so much as managing land. I am not averse to hard work.”

“By the sound of things at Bumpton, you mustn’t be.”

“You heard of Bumpton, too?”

James smiled, dipping his chin a little. “Henry may have mentioned the state of the roof.”

“For a man who is so closed-lipped on matters of his own affairs, he has been remarkably open about mine.”

“Do not be angry with him. He was concerned about the roof.”

Umbrage filled my belly, and I stepped back a little and picked up my mask. “If I choose to repair the roof, do not fear. You and Henry will both be first on the list of men I recruit.”

James clasped my forearm and beseeched me. “You know we will be first to arrive, too. Do not take your anger out on me simply because your brother was worried. We no longer have Father, so we must look out for each other. All three of us, for all three of us.” He softened his tone and gently added, “We are not trying to take his place.”

Grief sluiced over my skin and infiltrated my chest, widening the ache within. “I know,” I said quietly. “I only wish he was here to advise me.”

“He would have loved to help you select an estate. Calculating costs and weighing them against benefits was the type of activity he most enjoyed.”

“Second to beating us at horse races.”

“Or sitting with Mother beside the fire.”

We shared a smile, each of us lost in our own memories. James pulled me into a hug, and his embrace was warm and affectionate, passing over our mutual grief and wrapping it in the familial bond we shared. Sometimes we missed our father so acutely, there were no words to do justice to the loss.

I stepped back. “I must really be on my way.”

James turned to retrieve his foil and mask and waved me away. “Ben?”

I turned to face him, walking backwards toward my chamber.

“When you are at the estate, just ask yourself what Father would think. I’m certain he’ll speak to you then.”

I nodded and turned back to see where I was going. James was right. If I asked, I was certain my father would tell me exactly what I needed to hear.

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