Matthew banished the thought from his mind. That was several years ago, when Brachton, though he was Lachlan Campbell at the time, was sent from the Highlands to get an English education because he would inherit one day. Matthew really had no cause to judge a now titled gentleman based on his conduct of youth. Besides, Brachton had spent as much time in Scotland as he did England, preferring to be north. He must hate it now that he is an English Lord.
Miss Cooper stood and smoothed her skirts. “At least that gives me time. I need to be ready for when Uncle Henry pleads his case.”
Matthew gently grasped her hand to offer comfort. “I will give testimony, if necessary, Miss Cooper, that your father has full capacity of his faculties.”
She turned a grateful smile on him and his heart hitched. He needed to stop letting her affect him.
“You have no idea how much I appreciate your assistance.” She pulled her hand away and Matthew immediately felt the loss of warm. “I must return home. By now, uncle knows Lord Brachton is not in residence. He will not be happy. I don’t dare leave him alone with Papa.”
Her statement alarmed Matthew. “Would he hurt either of you?”
“No, but he yells so much and is angry most of the time. I can’t bear to be around him, but I know it is harder on my father.”
“Let me escort you home,” Jordan stepped forward.
“That is very kind of you, but you don’t know my father and we haven’t been properly introduced.”
Jordan looked expectantly to Matthew. This was one introduction he did not wish to make. “Miss Cooper, I would like to present my brother, Jordan Trent.”
She dipped a quick curtsey. “It is a pleasure to meet you, and I thank you for the offer, but I can see myself home.”
“I will escort you home, Miss Cooper,” Matthew announced. She should not be walking alone and it would be dark soon. And, he would be damned if he allowed Jordan to be alone with her. Only Jordan made him curse. At least the words hadn’t been uttered out loud, scandalizing Miss Cooper.
It was even odd for Jordan to show an interest. Innocent young misses were not usually his brother’s choice of female companionship, but regardless, from ballrooms to bordellos, women fell in love with him. Matt’s stomach clenched. Miss Cooper would not be falling in love with Jordan if he could help it.
“It really isn’t necessary.” She didn’t meet his eyes, yet she had with Jordan.
When did she become shy around him? Unless she preferred Jordan over him, not that Matthew could blame her, but he wasn’t giving her over to a wolf. “I insist. Let me bring the carriage around.”
“That isn’t necessary.” Jordan stepped forward. “Mine is out front. We can both escort Miss Cooper to her residence.”
A blush formed on her cheeks and it irritated Matthew to no end that his brother managed to cause this reaction in her. Matthew used to think the reaction from women was because of his brother’s reputation, but Miss Grace knew nothing about Jordan. Once she learned the truth, she would be blushing from the embarrassing knowledge and not flattery.
Grace settled into the plush seat on the carriage. She had never ridden in anything so fine. The brothers sat across from her. She looked between them. They were very much alike. However, Mr. Trent had a bump on his nose, as if it had been broken and a small scar on his chin. He also had deeper lines at the corners of his mouth, as if he laughed often, and his eyes were a darker blue. Vicar Trent did not possess such lines as he was serious most of the time.
“It is kind of you, both of you, to escort me home.” She grew uncomfortable under the warmth of his gaze. Not Mr. Trent’s but Vicar Trent. Though the man had not been exactly solicitous toward her in the past, he had been kind when she arrived on his doorstep uninvited. But what was she to do? Lord Crew was away for at least a week and she knew of no one else who could testify to her father’s intelligence.
“It is no problem.” Vicar Trent offered an encouraging smile.
“My pleasure.” Mr. Trent grinned.
She had never met anyone like Mr. Trent before. He practically oozed seduction. At least that is what she thought it was for he made her very uncomfortable. Yet, there was no attraction and she wondered if something was wrong with her. The man was loaded with charm and he must send any number of women swooning each day. She much preferred a gentleman like Vicar Trent, who was intelligent, focused and took time to know people, such as her father. And even though the brothers looked very much alike, Vicar Trent was by far the most handsome. His blue eyes were warmer whereas Mr. Trent’s were a bit sad. He may grin often, but the emotion was not in his eyes.
Why was she having these thoughts? She never considered any gentleman in the manner she was thinking of these two. The heat returned to her face and she turned her head to look out the window and prayed they didn’t notice. The sun would set soon and she would need to put dinner out. Mrs. Thomas had fixed a grand meal today.
Her stomach rumbled at the thought of the venison waiting. “As you have offered me this escort, I insist you stay for dinner.”
“No, I couldn’t intrude,” Vicar Trent insisted.
“We would love to,” Mr. Trent countered.
Vicar Trent shot his brother an irritated look. Perhaps Vicar Trent did not wish to dine with her. She should not be surprised. The man barely tolerated her. She quashed the uncharitable thought. He may not think much of her, but he did like her father, and he pulled himself away from his visit to help her. She would see that he received a good meal for his efforts.
The silence in the carriage was overpowering and she needed to speak or she would go back to worrying about her father and uncle.
“Are you the only siblings or are there others?”
“We have an older brother and a younger brother,” Vicar Trent answered.
“I am the second born. The spare.” Mr. Trent laughed.
Vicar Trent rolled his eyes. “We also have a younger sister.”
“All fulfilling the role father required.” The bitterness in Mr. Trent’s tone set her back. “Though our younger brother seemed to have escaped his duties.”
“I don’t understand.”
Vicar Trent shot a warning glance at his brother.
“Our father determined exactly what we would be when we became adults and there was no choice for any of us.” Apparently Mr. Trent was going to go against his brother’s wishes and share what may be family information best not discussed.
“Miss Cooper does not need to know our family history. I am sure it will bore her to tears,” Vicar Trent warned.
“Nonsense,” Mr. Trent dismissed him.
“Our elder brother, Clayton, is the new Earl Bentley, recently wed. And, our younger brother, John, avoided buying a commission and traveled the world, recently returning with his new bride.”
“He is the only one who didn’t do as told?” Grace was having a difficult time understanding what the two had done wrong.
“Yes, the bravest of us all.”
“And, what did your father require of you, Mr. Trent?”
His smile was wide, but it never reached his eyes. “Nothing. Nothing at all.”
“Pardon?” Surely as a second son he had to find a way to support himself, even if his father was a lord. Her own father was the second son of a poor baron, yet he became a solicitor, settled his own land, farmed and raised chickens and cows. They had been prosperous until her father’s accident. Since, all but the valet had to be let go. The man only stayed on because he was loyal to Papa and didn’t wish to find other employment. Perkins was perfectly content to stay on helping father with his payment being his simple room and meals. Grace didn’t know what she would have done had Perkins left as her father couldn’t dress himself and in that first year, needed help that a daughter couldn’t offer.
“I am to simply enjoy life without a care in the world.”
Yet, it was clear he wasn’t enjoying himself now.
Instead of questioning Mr. Trent further, Grace focused on Vicar Trent. “Am I to understand your father decided on your profession and it wasn’t something you were called to do?” She thought all ministers were called by God to fill this role.
His eyes met hers across the carriage. There was no humor in them and she was sorry she asked the question. Clearly, she treaded where she ought not.
“I’ve known before I was out of short pants that I would be a vicar. It was never open for discussion.”
Perhaps he did not wish to be a vicar at all. How very disturbing. Shouldn’t a man whose job it was to lead people to God have a fierce desire to do so? Her mind could not comprehend the possibility. Neither brother fulfilled their own desires, but those of the father. He must have been a very formidable man to have such control over these two grown men.
The carriage stopped at her front door. Vicar Trent jumped out and assisted her to the ground. His brother followed. Grace let herself in the house and the brothers followed her into the parlor where her father still sat before the fire. Mr. Trent stopped in the doorway, muttered a low curse and retreated into the foyer. She didn’t really care being much more concerned with her father at the moment.
Uncle Henry paced and drank more of her father’s brandy. She supposed someone should. Her father hadn’t had a drink since the night before his injury. Her uncle glanced up when she entered the room.