George sat alone at the breakfast table when I strode into the room. I made straight for the buffet of food on the sideboard, my stomach reminding me that food was an essential part of living. "Where have you been at this time of the morning?" he asked, sending a look at the clock. He tugged at his cravat, which was far too elegant for a country morning.

"I am certain Phaeton hasn't had a proper run since I left." After I filled my plate, I then took a seat opposite him. I reached for the coffee pot, having formed an intense fondness for the drink while traveling. "It was good to get out and see the countryside. Just the way to start the day, you know."

"If you miss it so much, you should stop this traveling nonsense."

"What do you have against my experiencing the sights of Europe?" It was hard to be properly angry with a plate of food tempting you, but I was willing to give it as good a try as possible. "Honestly, George! This is the second time you have been negative about my taking a Grand Tour. Are you jealous you didn't get one?"

George gave a scoff. "Hardly." He sipped his coffee and set it down. "But, don't you think it was irresponsible to go running off as you did? To leave the family and seek your own pleasure?"

"Irresponsible, how?" I spread cherry preserve on my toast and took a moment to savor it. "I have no estate to look after like you do, and no family to provide for. What else was I supposed to do with my inheritance? Leave it sitting there, doing nothing but accumulating interest, as everyone does?"

"You should do something useful, not racketing around foreign countries."

"Meeting new people can be useful. Just think, I now know many more people than I did over a year ago. Who knows when such connections might be useful in the future? One never knows when one might need the ear of a diplomat, or the advice of an Italian duke, or the pleasant conversation of a French lady."

"I can think of no situation that could call for needing any of those connections to solve it."

I chuckled as I picked up my fork. "That is because you lack imagination, George." I paused the conversation and dug into my breakfast. My brother didn't say anything as I ate, and when I happened to glance up, I saw that he was watching me. I swallowed my bite and asked, "Is there something wrong, George? It's far too early to have such a serious look on your face."

"I'm just wondering what you plan to do about Phoebe. She is waiting for you to speak, Luke."

That I had already resolved the issue made me grin. "Not to worry, brother of mine. It has been handled, and I have spoken to her. I came across Phoebe and her friend, Miss Darkin, by the pond."

Relief filled my brother's face, and he rose to hold his hand out. "Then, may I wish you joy?"

"I did not say I was marrying Phoebe Ramsey."

Shocked, George collapsed back into his seat, his hand falling to his side. "You are not serious. How could you be so rebellious, Lucas? Did you not understand what this meant to Father? To our mother? To the Ramsey family? They all want this union to take place. Are you only concerned about your own happiness?"

"You and Father made yourselves clear last night." I finished my coffee and rose from the chair. "However, this is a matter for Phoebe and myself to discuss. We came to an agreement. I am sorry it was not the agreement you were hoping for, but there it is. I don't want to hear another word of the matter."

Turning on my heel, I left the room. I had no doubt George would have continued with his older brother mentality and escaping him was the only way to avoid any more scolding on the subject. I had no intention of spending the morning listening to him go on about how I had just failed the family.

There were more pleasant ways of passing a few hours, and I was determined to enjoy myself.

****

Promptly at one o'clock, I presented myself at my mother's bedroom. She was sitting up in her bed as she had been when I saw her the day before. The curtains, I was annoyed to see, were closed, and the only light came from the candles by the bed. Her lips curved with a smile and she held her hand out to me. "Have you been out riding already?"

"Of course," I said, taking her hand and squeezing it for a moment. "Shall I open the curtains for you? The day is beautiful and will brighten the space."

"That would be lovely. Thank you."

Before taking a seat in the chair that was now beside the bed, I went to the windows and opened the curtains wide. The afternoon sunshine brightened the room a considerable amount. "The morning was too fine to ignore, so I took Phaeton for a run. I should have brought you back some wildflowers."

Instead, I had handed them to Miss Darkin. What had I been thinking?

"Another time, perhaps," Mama said, reclaiming my attention from remembering a pair of laughing blue eyes. "Come, Luke. We must have a serious conversation now. Your father told me he explained the arrangement between himself and Mr. Ramsey after supper last night."

Her face had taken on an anxious expression. "Mama, you must not worry yourself. The last thing I want to do is upset you about this, but I have handled the situation the best way I could think of."

Mama's eyes became apprehensive. "Never say you've offered for the girl!"

Surprised by her words, I frowned. This was not the reaction of someone who was anxious for me to be married as had been implied. "No, I have not. Phoebe Ramsey and I were never great friends. I don't see how that would change now we are grown. She and I agreed we wouldn't suit."

She breathed a sigh. "Then you will not marry her?"

"No, I will not. But, Mama, George told me you wanted to see me settled."

"That's true. I do want to see you with your own family, Luke," Mama said, relief in her voice. "However, as fond as I am of the Ramseys, I know how you and Phoebe are together. You would not have been happy with her. I knew your father's pact was a foolish idea from the start. He and Mr. Ramsey were frightfully foxed when they made the agreement."

I felt as though a weight had been taken off my shoulders. "I am pleased I am not a disappointment to you."

Mama leaned forward. "Luke, you would only disappoint me if you allowed your father and brother to pressure you into a marriage that would make you unhappy. I want all of my children to be happy in life. You are the only one who will know the kind of young lady who will be a good life partner."

My mind, oddly enough, went to Miss Darkin.

"However, a foreign lady would no doubt send your father into apoplexy. Especially if it were a French girl."

Shaking my head, I again pushed Miss Darkin from my thoughts. "I can promise you no Italian or French lady caught my eye while I was away, though I was not in France long enough to make a firm determination." At least, not in any serious way. Flirtations, naturally, had happened, but I wasn't about to tell my mother about that. "I was too busy seeing the sights."

"You are aware I know when you are lying to me?"

My cheeks burned with embarrassment, and I cleared my throat. "Lying? Me? Whatever gave you that idea?" I said, striving and failing to maintain an innocent tone. "Anyway, let us talk about something else. Miles Russell will be here for the Ramsey's house party, and his father is looking to sell Midnight Summer."

Mama's eyes brightened. "Is he? I remember Summer. She is a lovely, sweet-tempered mare." A moment later, though, her face fell. "But, your father will say we don't need a useless horse. I will never ride again, Luke. The doctor has told me so."

"Now, Mama, you must not think like that." I was alarmed by her attitude. "Even if you do not ride again, which I think it far too early to believe such a thing, you will be on your feet again. Why shouldn't you have a horse to visit every day? Midnight Summer needs a peaceful place to spend her old age and someone to spoil her."

Her smile sad, Mama twisted her head to the side and coughed into her handkerchief. It lasted for more than a minute. Alarmed, I poured her a glass of lemonade and held it out to her. Looking pale and shaky, she accepted the drink.

"Mama, what else does the doctor say? Besides, you will not be riding again, I mean."

"Nothing of any importance. I am to rest and conserve my strength."

But she had been ill for so long! At some point shouldn't she make an effort to get up? "And how long have you been resting and conserving strength?"

She gave a huff. "You mustn't fuss so, Luke. My health is not something for you to worry yourself over."

"Well, I must ask your pardon, for I will worry. I cannot see how Bywood Hall will survive without you to see to matters. You are the heart of this old place, you know."

Mama waved a hand dismissively. "My dear, charming boy, if Philippa cannot see to things, then I have failed as a mother to teach her what she needs to know." A slight frown crossed her face. "Of course, your brother's wife will have taken over all my duties as she will inherit them soon enough."

"I wish you would not speak so." My worry made my tone sharper than was needed. I took a deep breath as she raised her eyebrow at me. "I'm sorry. Why has George not taken up residence in the smaller estate? I would think he and Rosamund wouldn't want to start their married life off in the middle of our family."

Shaking her head, she handed the empty glass back to me. "Oakcrest was let out a year ago. The tenants, Rosamund's brother and his family, have no plans of leaving for the next five years. Your father has a contract with them."

"Father and his contracts," I said with a sigh. There went my hope of having my sister-in-law out of the house. I was certain it would come down to either her or me, and I began to plan how I would make my escape without causing too much fuss. "What do you think of George's Rosamund?"

"She is a good example of how each person can know who will make them happy," she said her tone diplomatic. Her hands began smoothing the blanket around her legs. "Rosamund is not the girl I would have chosen for George, it's true, but he seems to be pleased with her so what can I say on the matter?"

"You're right." I noted the tiredness lining her face. I had meant to ask her about the accident but now was not the time. "I will leave you now. But, I want you to do as the doctor says. Rest up, and at the end of the week I will carry you down to your sitting room so you can enjoy the sunshine."

My mother's smile became one of indulgence. "If you say so, my dear."

I kissed her cheek and left her to nap. I went straight to the garden, where I found Philippa picking flowers. "I hope you intend to send a bouquet of those up to Mama," I said, making her start in surprise. "She needs some color in her room these days. And I wish you would advise the maid to keep the curtains open in Mama's room."

"Luke, you mustn't sneak up on me like that!" Philippa put her hands on her hips. The breeze shifted a lock of her brown hair into her face, making it hard to regard her in any serious light. "Are you trying to destroy my nerves?"

With a laugh, I tugged on one of her curls before I took a seat on the bench next to where she was working. "It can hardly be counted as my fault if you are inattentive when I walk up to you. But I am serious, Philly. Send flowers up to mother, or better yet, take them up to her yourself."

Frowning at me, Philippa shook her head. "There's no need for you to lecture me. My whole purpose in picking flowers today was to arrange them for Mama. You see? I've got all her favorites."

A quick glance showed she did have the bright blooms Mother was fond of in the basket. "And the curtains?"

Philippa heaved an exasperated sigh as she curled her fingers around the basket handle. "Yes, yes, if you insist. I will warn the maids to open the curtains every morning unless they are ordered not to. Will that satisfy you? Though I don't see how you expect Mama to get any rest if it's as bright inside as it is outside."

"The light and flowers will do her a world of good, you'll see." I stretched my legs out. A daisy hit the side of my face a moment later. "Hey! What was that for?"

"I have no idea what you are talking about." She straightened up, looking past me. "Oh, you didn't say anything about Mr. Russell coming!"

Twisting my head around, I spotted my best friend entering the garden. He raised his hand in greeting. "Well, I'm glad I'm not the only one who didn't know he was coming to visit," I said as I got to my feet. Moving forward, I held my hand out. "Miles! Nice to see you again. I hope your journey from London wasn't too strenuous."

"Absolutely not," Miles said with a strained laugh. He took his hat off and offered Philippa his deepest, most formal bow. "Miss Philippa, you look even more lovely than the last time I saw you. I hear I am to offer you congratulations."

"Thank you, Mr. Russell." Philippa bestowed a smile on my outrageous friend. She sent a glance at me, still with my hand outstretched. "Luke didn't tell us you were coming. Now I must decide how to punish him for springing this surprise us like this, for I am certain you had nothing to do with this."

Miles set his hat back on and shrugged his shoulders. "You won't be too harsh with him, I hope. Perhaps there's simply been too much happening for him to remember his best friend."

That implication that I'd known he was coming coupled with how he hadn't taken my hand yet was puzzling, and I let my hand drop to my side. Philippa shook her head and said "When you put it like that, I will be far kinder than he deserves. I'll go make sure there is a room for you."

As she walked off, Miles faced me, all amusement gone from his face. "Luke. We need to talk."