Echoes by Abi Barden

Author:Abi Barden [Barden, Abi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Aethon Books
Published: 2020-10-06T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Three

The men’s conversation, the cigars Jenson didn’t smoke, all turned his stomach. A glance to Maker, who was sipping brandy and lounging back in his chair made Jenson wonder about the man. Lord Fotheringham, Fifth Earl of Umbria. Refined, intelligent, sophisticated, reserved. So unlike any of these men. What had happened? Were they how he had been, and they had changed? Or had he? Was Violet choosing Maker’s friends for him now? That seemed more likely. Maker had explained his situation to Jenson, and while Jenson could admire the strength and fortitude that could see Maker through each day, he couldn’t fully comprehend why he’d take no action at all to alter the situation. He didn’t know what went on inside Maker’s head, and he didn’t know what went on behind the closed doors of the man’s home though he had a better idea than most. More importantly, it wasn’t his job to judge.

Lovesey’s guffaw drew his attention. Now there was a man he would judge without payment. He remembered some of his mother’s sayings. All men are good from afar. Perhaps he was too close to see it in this one. Who doesn’t have children brings them up best. Lovesey didn’t have children and if his treatment of Felix earlier that day was anything to go by, he never should. Lovesey and the boy had clashed. Only part of it had been Lovesey’s fault. The man had no experience with children and Felix, being a typical young boy, had found the man’s boundaries and crossed them. The thrashing Lovesey had tried to mete out was beyond reason though. If Blanchard hadn’t stepped in to stop him, Jenson would have. Luckily for Lovesey, Blanchard had also stopped Jenson arresting the odious man. There wasn’t really an applicable charge. It also behooved Jenson to remember that he didn’t have any children either, so how good a parent or judge could he be? He had eleven nephews and nieces though, so he had that to go by, and he’d never needed to strike any.

None of which improved Lovesey’s position in Jenson’s eyes any.

Eventually Montgomery declared, much to Jenson’s relief, it was time to re-join the ladies. As they headed towards the drawing room, Edwina appeared, and by luck, Jenson being closer, he stepped up and offered an arm to escort her back in. She seemed relieved from having to suffer Lovesey. In the drawing room, Amethyst and Bobbie were sitting together. Neither looking entirely comfortable with something. As others re-joined their partners, Jenson joined the two young women, grateful even for their automatic smiles as he offered the remaining seat on the sofa to Edwina.

“You don’t know what it’s like to have and miss a twin.” The patience in Amethyst’s tone was strained. Whatever the conversation with Lady Violet was, she patently didn’t want to be having it.

“Well, you hardly have to tell us about twins,” Violet was saying as she turned to her husband. “Does she, Maker?”

Maker moved over to his wife.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.