Richard sighed. He hadn’t said a word, yet Stephen had cut to the heart of the matter with that uncanny, keen eye of his. “Weren’t you losing a few minutes ago?” he asked, ignoring the comment, and focusing on the game. Or, at least, he pretended to. It was the only distraction available to him, after all.
Stephen sighed. His eyes bored into Richard, trying to prompt him into sharing feelings he not only didn’t want but didn’t even know if he was capable of sharing. Then Stephen’s face brightened; thankfully, Richard’s friend would be good enough to go along with his fiction after all. “Well, yes, but it’s no fun if you don’t at least think you can win sometimes. I do take pity on you, you know.”
Richard snorted, relieved by the banter as a distraction from more serious matters. “I don’t know how Jack tolerates you at sea,” he said, referring to the sailor friend, who often amused his lackadaisical friend at sea. Richard would often go months without seeing Stephen, as he and Jack were off searching for their next adventure, finding new islands and new treasures. “I can barely tolerate you, and I’ve known you since we were boys.”
He smiled to let Stephen know he was joking and moved another piece, trying to mount a defense.
“You approached me in that schoolyard all those years ago,” Stephen replied.
There was a gentle smile on his face for a moment. Richard wondered if he was also remembering that day – the day when Stephen, only thirteen, had been shunned and mocked for his stand-out skin color. The bullies had jeered that, obviously, either the duke or the duchess had been unfaithful, and Stephen was a bastard.
It’s true, of course, but he’s legitimate, as far as the law is concerned, thanks to a loving stepmother claiming him as her own. Not that it should matter.
Richard had responded furiously, marching right up to the boys who were torturing poor Stephen and yelling at them that they were no better than anyone. Richard had always been comparatively quiet, but, at that point, he had lost his temper. He could still feel the hot rage pulsing in his veins all these years later, as he’d told the boys he’d fight them if they didn’t leave Stephen alone.
And we’ve been inseparable ever since.
Stephen’s face rearranged itself back into the easy-going expression it usually wore. “Obviously, it’s just my dashing charm. What a shame for the ladies of London that I have sworn myself to bachelorhood.” He glanced at the board and frowned. “Now, my dear Richard, why did you go and do that?” His voice sounded truly pained, as if it embarrassed him to witness his friend’s mistake.
“Do what?” Richard asked, glancing at the board as well.
“Why would you move your bishop there?” Stephen replied.
Richard stared at the board, trying to see the flaw, and Stephen sighed. The earl picked up one of his white pawns, and, in seconds, he’d claimed Richard’s bishop, landing directly by his king.
“Checkmate,” Stephen said, grinning and showing his fine teeth. “Honestly, Richie, it’s not sport when you’re moping like this. Pay up.”
Richard scowled at him. “That one doesn’t count,” he said. “I was still waking up. Come, let’s play another.”
Stephen shrugged. “If you want to gamble all your money away on my superior chess skills, be my guest,” he said.
Richard snorted, and the two of them began to set up the board again. However, just as the game was about to start, there was a tentative knock at the study door. Richard and Stephen looked at each other in confusion – luncheon was still most of an hour away, after all – before Richard said, “Come in.”
Their butler entered. He was a faithful old man by the name of Patrick Waters, who had been with the family for longer than Richard had been alive. “I’m sorry to interrupt Your Grace and your Lordship at play,” he said, nodding at both Stephen and Richard with respect. “But you have a … visitor.”
Richard opened his mouth to ask more, but before he could, the ‘visitor’ had pushed past the butler and stormed into the room.
Miss Wright looked furious; her freckled cheeks blushed red with anger, and her lovely eyes were narrowed. She marched directly up to the chessboard and said, “Your Grace, you and I must talk immediately.”
Richard stared at her, shocked. He glanced at Stephen, but his friend was of little help – in fact, the earl seemed to be struggling to bite back a laugh.
Before Richard could formulate a response, Miss Wright had launched into her complaint. “I have just come from the girls, Your Grace, and it is time we had a conversation about them,” she said, frankly. She was controlling her voice, keeping it low, but somehow that made it more pointed.
It’s just the same as the voice my tutors would use when I was a misbehaving child.
He found his voice. Miss Wright was exceptionally forward for a woman, and while he was curious about what she had to say, he certainly didn’t want his servants overhearing. “That will be all, Patrick,” he said.
Ever loyal, the butler nodded his head once more and left the room. As soon as the door closed tight behind him, Richard turned to Kathy and said, “Now, Miss Wright, what on earth is it you think you are doing?”
All the limited poise she’d retained in front of the manservant vanished. The governess’s voice was low and furious as she said, “Do you know what Ailsa and Davina just told me, Your Grace? They told me they thought you didn’t care for them at all. Ailsa told me she didn’t think they deserved love anymore!”
Richard’s eyes widened, but he couldn’t get a word in as Kathy’s rant continued.
When did I start thinking of her as Kathy?
“You are their guardian now, whether you like it or not,” she snapped. “Not only that, but you are their uncle by blood. You owe those children better than this!” He opened his mouth to reply, but she kept going. “Do not tell me this is not my place! I do not care if it isn’t my place! You simply must listen to me…”
Stephen was his savior then. “All right, all right, Miss Firework, slow down, and do let the duke speak, won’t you?” he interrupted, his eyes still sparkling with mirth.
Though grateful for the interruption, Richard couldn’t help but feel a little annoyed at his friend’s obvious amusement at him being told off like a schoolboy. Still, it had the desired effect; his words seemed to make Kathy realize precisely what she was doing.
She blushed but didn’t look at all apologetic. Still, when she spoke again, her voice was calmer. “It is unacceptable that these young girls still in mourning should feel that way. That is all I came to say.”
Richard glanced at Stephen again, and his friend shrugged. Richard made a mental note to scold the earl for his amusement later, then turned back to Kathy. He had to take control of the situation immediately.