The Viscount's Veiled Lady (Whitby Weddings 3)

Arthur picked up another log and glowered. ‘She wanted to end it, Lance. Believe me, she was very convincing.’

‘She was pretty convincing as a woman in love a month ago, too.’

‘Well, clearly she changed her mind.’ He placed the log on the chopping block as a sign that the conversation was over, but Lance only rubbed his chin some more.

‘It just doesn’t make sense. Didn’t she give any other reason?’

‘No!’ He picked up the axe and then lowered it again. ‘Except...’

‘Except?’

‘I suppose, while Lydia was unconscious, my behaviour might have seemed a bit distant. There’s a chance that Frances might have thought I’d changed my mind about marrying her, too.’

‘Oh, good grief.’ Lance rolled his eyes. ‘A normal person acting distant is bad. You acting distant... Well, no wonder. Why on earth did you do that?’

‘What does it matter now?’

‘Because we’re trying to work this out!’

‘Maybe it’s best left alone.’ Arthur threw the axe to one side again. ‘Look, the truth is I had changed my mind. But then I changed it back again and now...now I think this is for the best.’

‘Because you’re managing so well?’ Lance made a cynical face. ‘Honestly, I ought to bash the pair of your heads together, though I suppose it might be somewhat hypocritical coming from me. All I know is that Frances cares for you. I might have been somewhat distracted a month ago, but even a blind man could have seen that. And you care for her, too. So leave those poor logs and go and get her back.’

‘No.’

‘Damn it, Arthur, what are you so scared of?’

‘You know what!’ He whirled on his brother angrily. ‘What if what happened before happens again? What if my mind isn’t stable enough for marriage? I saw you that night with Violet. You were desperate, too. I couldn’t stand to go through anything like that.’

‘You were the strong one that night. You helped me.’

‘But what if it had been Frances?’

‘Then I’d have been the one threatening to punch you.’

Arthur gave a short laugh. ‘You know what I’m saying. What if I end up failing her the way I’ve failed everyone else I ever cared about?’

‘Everyone? You never failed me.’

‘I was never able to stop you and Father from arguing.’

‘As if anyone could have!’

‘But I promised Mother!’

Lance’s expression looked arrested for a moment. ‘I had no idea...but you can’t feel guilty about that. It wasn’t your responsibility, Arthur.’

‘I know. Deep down, I know, but I’m still scared of failing Frances. What if something happens and I have another episode? What if I end up running away again?’

‘What if?’ Lance gripped hold of his shoulders. ‘You can’t base your life on what if. What if I turn out to be as bad a father as ours was?’

‘What? Of course you won’t be.’

‘And you won’t have another episode. Funny how we can be so sure about each other, isn’t it?’ He let go of his shoulders again. ‘Anyway, if it’s running away that you’re worried about, then you’re too late. I hate to break this to you, big Brother, but what do you think you’re doing now?’

‘I’m not running anywhere.’ Arthur felt his whole body go tense.

‘You’re not fighting either. As far as I can see, you’re running away from the love of your life and hurting yourself and her into the bargain.’