The shadow moved to standing and Beth let out a relieved sigh as she recognised her eldest brother.
"Oh, Simon – you startled me!" She chuckled lightly at the end.
Simon did not look amused. The moonlight that shone through the foyer windows glanced across half his face, illuminating one frowning brow and the decidedly downward tilt of his mouth. Her own smile faded in response. Without a word, he extended his hand and gestured for her to follow him, turning and walking up the stairs with purpose.
Her mouth went dry, and she couldn't help but glance back towards John's room. Had Simon seen her emerge? She looked back to her brother to find him stationary at the top of the stairs and watching her.
"Now, Beth." The tone was so unnatural for Simon that she practically ran after him. They walked in silence until they reached his office, where he opened the door and held it ajar so that she could enter first. There was a candle flickering on the desk, wax dripping steadily onto the candelabra, and she fixed her gaze on it as she took a seat.
Simon shut the door firmly and she flinched. He still didn't speak until he was behind the desk.
"Beth-"
She interrupted, the words falling out of her mouth before she could stop herself. "Simon, it isn't what you think!"
He did not react well to that. His hands tightened on the arms of his chair, the skin around his knuckles going white, and he made an obvious effort to control his voice when he spoke.
"I think I just saw my unwed sister sneak out of an unknown man's room at -" he glanced to the clock on the mantle, "- three o'clock in the morning." His brows were raised so high they were lost in his hair. "Which part am I overlooking?"
"But I didn't... I would never..." She looked at him, her lower lip quivering slightly. "Simon!"
He softened a fraction, but the look in his eyes was iron. "I know Beth, but young women have been ruined for far less." He ran a hand through his hair, casting his curls into disarray. "How many times have you visited him?"
Beth's eyes closed as tears welled; he had never sounded so disappointed in her. "This is the only time," her words were quiet, but she couldn't be sure they wouldn't turn to sobs if she raised her voice, "apart from reading in the afternoons."
He nodded. "Perhaps that should cease for the time being."
Her head jerked up, and she looked at him with wide eyes. "What?"
"It's my responsibility to ensure you aren't put in any compromising positions, and I think reading – alone – to a stranger is just that."
She rose to her feet quickly. "No! It's not your responsibility, Simon, it's mine!"
He mirrored her, leaning his hands against his desk. "Maybe so, but right now I can't trust you with that responsibility!" he spun away from her quickly, his hands moving to hold his head. He spoke with his back to her. "I've never tried to parent you Beth – our mother and father did a fine job of that – but I am your guardian. According to the law you are my responsibility and under my protection." He turned back slowly, leaning against the wall. "And I will not fail you."
Beth's anger dimmed at the pain in his eyes, and she went to him, wrapping her arms around his waist. He hugged her back with a deep sigh. After a moment, she pulled away.
"You've not failed me, but you're right I've... I've failed myself." A single tear broke free and coursed down her cheek, but she swiped it away with the back of her hand. "It won't happen again Si, I promise. But please don't forbid me from reading with John; that time is..." She didn't know how to say it was the best part of her day without saying that.
He settled a hand on her head, all anger having disappeared from his eyes. In its place she saw concern. "Your attachment to him worries me," he commented softly.
She stepped away abruptly, feeling a slight blush warming her cheeks. "I'm not attached."
Simon ignored her denial. "We don't know who he is, Beth."
She turned from him, stepping to his desk and fiddling with the lids on his ink jars. "He speaks as if he's from the peerage."
Her brother had lost the energy to argue. "Just... be careful, sister-mine. And no more visits after dark."
She nodded, casting him a slight smile. As she left, he sank back into his chair, casting a look at the portrait of his parents that hung across the wall.
"Did I do the right thing?"
As usual, he received no reply.
.
After an unsettled night without answers, Simon found Vincent in the library early the next morning.
"Good morning Vin. I could use your assistance for a moment, if you're not too busy."
His brother shook his head no and lowered the book he'd been reading, following Simon down to the servants' quarters and into John's room. If Vin was surprised or confused, he didn't show it.
The injured man was already awake. "Good morning." His tone said he was surprised. The Humphrey brothers had, each of their own accord, decided to check in on him every day, but they rarely stayed, and they never came in groups.
And Simon was never frowning.
"What are your intentions with our sister?"
Vincent's eyes widened and he glanced at Simon in surprise. John however just looked confused, and his gaze dropped to the other side of the bed.
"He means his other sister." The dry comment emerged before the head did, and Phil popped up suddenly as she rose from the floor. She smiled in greeting at her brothers before turning her attention back to John. "He means Beth."
As per usual with Phil, Simon didn't know whether to be angry or amused. He was inclined towards appreciation though, as he watched the colour drain from John's face with satisfaction.
"Oh," the man said, swallowing heavily, "That sister." He took a fortifying breath, wincing as it pulled against his injured ribs, and then returned Simon's gaze evenly. "B-Lady Elizabeth is lovely." He watched Simon draw breath to interrupt so continued quickly. "But I do not know who I am. Not my station, my profession... not my family. I am not in a position to make promises or to have... intentions."
John knew that this conversation should be awkward or uncomfortable, that if it were taking place in any other circumstance it would be akin to Simon calling him out, but it didn't feel that way. Despite Simon's tone, it felt like a friendly reminder that everything that he was beginning to covet might be farther out of his reach than he could possibly imagine.
Simon seemed satisfied with his response, issuing a sharp nod just as there was a loud thump at the front door. Vincent nodded at both men and then turned to investigate. It was too early in the morning for visitors and the staff were still preparing the household, so he was unsurprised to find neither Mr Grayson nor a footman in the foyer. The knocking came again just as he reached the door. He opened it with a frown.
The man outside was framed with the morning light and Vincent's eyes narrowed further into a squint. For his own comfort, he stepped back into the foyer and swept an arm wide to encourage the man to enter. He did, looking remarkably at ease for a stranger. And as Vincent assessed him, he confirmed that he was indeed a stranger.
His dark tan skin was stretched across a lean frame and Vincent thought they were perhaps the same height. In this house, when compared with his brothers, that meant short. His riding boots were well-worn, but his breeches and shirt were clean, and he wore no coat, just an embroidered vest. Vincent supposed he was of the peerage, and possibly lived or was lodging nearby. As his gaze rose to the man's face, mere seconds after the man had entered, Vincent became aware of three things. Firstly, he realised that this stranger had the darkest eyes he'd ever seen: they were almost pure black. Secondly, whilst he had been assessing the man he was being evaluated in turn. And thirdly, they had both concluded at the same time with their gazes locked.
Vincent felt embarrassment rising, and he broke the eye contact immediately with an awkward cough.
"You've not said anything."
Vincent had to glance up at him now, intrigued by the odd statement and the curious tone it was delivered in.
The man continued, rubbing a hand across the dark stubble that was scattered across his jaw. "You're either a vastly inadequate butler or a very poor host."
Vincent couldn't help but roll his eyes. It was only when he smiled that he realised how dour his expression had been before. The other man's face lightened in response.
"That's better."
Vincent didn't know what to say to that, but then again he rarely knew what to say to anything. Just as he began to think about how best to phrase a question about this man's identity, Simon and Phil emerged from servants' quarters.
Simon instantly looked confused. "Hello. Who are you?"
His younger brother let out a small sigh, letting the door he held fall shut as the stranger turned to face the speaker. Phil looked at him oddly, but didn't move from Simon's side.
The man made a face at his tone, yet another emotion Vincent struggled to read, and it was Simon's turn to sigh.
"Forgive my abruptness, but it is awfully early for an unannounced social call from a stranger."
"Ah," the man raised a finger, turning his body slightly so as to face both brothers. "But this is not a social call. It's business." Simon's eyebrow quirked, but the man turned to Vincent. "Can you speak?"
His brother interrupted. "That's my brother Vincent, and I'm Simon Humphrey. Who are you, and why are you here?"
Vincent ran his eyes across the man once more, looking for any sign of why he'd come. He had no bag, nor any apparent pockets, and his hands were empty except for the ring worn on the middle finger of one hand. Vincent stepped forward before he could help himself.
"It...He..." He glanced up, looking for his brother but close enough to the stranger to only see him and his colourless eyes. "Your signet ring: it's a 'J'."
The man looked oddly happy that Vincent had spoken. "Actually, it's a 'T'." He extended his hand to Vincent. "My name is Thomas Thorne and I believe you have something that belongs to me."
Out of the corner of his eye, Vincent saw Simon whisper something to Phil before the little girl darted off up the stairs.
He took Thomas' hand, giving a firm shake and then pulling back quickly.
"The... When..." The man watched with an odd look in his eye, but thankfully didn't say anything about the stumbled words. "How did you hear about the ring?"
It was difficult to tell due to his dark colouring, but Vincent thought perhaps the man blushed. At that moment Beth appeared at the top of the stairs, trotting down eagerly.
"Phil says there is news about John?" She suddenly noticed the stranger and stopped. She tilted her head slightly, as if trying to place a face.
Thomas offered her a small bow. "Lady Elizabeth."
She started in surprise. "Have we been introduced?"
Again, he seemed slightly pinker than Vincent would have expected. "Uh, not exactly..." His grin turned wry. "I may have overheard a few things at the ball last night."
Beth studied the strange man more closely. His dark features were unusual this far north, and if she'd seen she should surely... she gasped. "You were eavesdropping on our conversation with Lord Decker." It was her turn to blush.
Thomas shrugged lightly. "I wouldn't say that; I was simply... listening." He leant forward, setting his tone low so only she could hear. "Decker would have done much better with you than with that uppity Miss Eliot."
Beth let out a startled laugh and then clapped a hand across her mouth to contain her mirth. Her brothers were concerned, but she smiled and bobbed her head at the strange man. "Thank you, uh..."
"Lord Thomas Thorne."
"Thank you, Lord Thorne." She heard footsteps on the stairs behind her, but she didn't turn, instead asking. "Now, have you misplaced someone, by any chance?"
For the first time since he'd entered, Thomas looked uncertain. He glanced back at Vincent, but the man was just watching everything unfold quite calmly. "Uhh, no?"
Simon coughed lightly, drawing the attention of the whole foyer to him. "Now that we are all here, perhaps we should go speak with John."
.
The patient was still sitting upright in his bed, and he looked up curiously as they all filed into the room one by one. In truth, the room was not designed to accommodate this many people, but Phil climbed up on the bed, being careful of John's leg, and wedged herself in beside him. Beth's chest warmed as she watched him move an arm out of the way and set it behind her, ready to catch the girl if she risked toppling out of the bed. He did it without taking his eyes off the adults. His final gaze settled on Beth but when they made eye contact both looked away in a hurry.
Wisely, John addressed Simon instead. "Has something happened?"
The only person who looked more confused than him was Thomas, who stood closest to the door as if wanting to maintain a convenient escape.
Beth's eldest brother smiled comfortingly. "Not as such. Might we see your ring again, John?"
With one arm behind Phil, John shrugged and offered his other hand to the girl so that she could pull the ring free. Once she held it in her hand, she gave it her own quick examination, and then proffered it to Thomas.
"Is it the same as yours?"
John watched her hand it over with wide eyes. It took Thomas only moments to confirm that it was. He looked at John, curiosity and distrust warring on his face. "Where did you get it?"
There was a hint of accusation in his voice that made John bristle. "Where did you get yours?"
"I asked you first!" Thomas' expression was playful now, and his childish response made Phil roll her eyes. In fact, none of the Humphrey siblings were particularly impressed. Thomas' eyebrows hiked and he murmured something about 'no sense of humour'. "Apologies," he said eventually, handing the ring back to John via Phil as a gesture of goodwill. "The ring bears the symbol of the Thorne estate, of which my father is the Duke. Note the spikes jutting from the script; those are thorns. The designer mistakenly thought he was humorous."
Beth stepped closer, leaning close to John to examine the ring herself. She gasped. "It's not a 'J', it's a 'T'!"
John angled his head to watch her, smiling despite himself. "Does that mean we must change my name?"
Her smile answered before she could, but then she remembered the others in the room and she stepped away quickly.
Thomas was still confused. "So," he said after a long pause, "where did you get the ring?"
John chuckled low in his throat, his hand wrapping around the ring though he made no move to put it back on his hand. "I'm afraid I don't know."
Bart gave a quick summary of how they'd discovered John and then Thomas found them all looking at him expectantly.
"Do you know how someone would have come to have your family ring in their possession?" It was Phil who asked, her gaze level and serious.
Most people underestimated Phil, or at least treated her like the child she was, but Thomas met her eyes steadily and sighed. Then he plopped himself down on the bed beside her, folding his arms across his chest. John flinched in surprise, hurriedly shuffling over to give the man room.
"Do you love your parents, little one?"
The room held its breath, but Thomas failed to notice. Or at least to react. Phil only frowned at the moniker. "Yes, but they're dead."
He nodded sagely, not appearing the least bit apologetic. "My mother is dead too. My father though... he's alive. But I don't carry much affection for him."
"Do you hate him?"
"Sometimes."
Phil absorbed that with a sad nod.
The rest of the room watched this whole conversation unfold with rapt attention and not a little confusion.
"Now another question, little one." One of Thomas's legs crossed on the other and he held them together at the knee, the very picture of nonchalance. "Do you know what a bastard is?"
There were very mixed reactions behind them. Beth's jaw fell open, Matt began to laugh, John's hand curled protectively, and Bart stepped forward slightly, fists clenched at his side. Vincent and Simon both shook their heads at Thomas and Phil, respectively. Neither were particularly concerned, just resigned.
Phil cast her relations a quelling look. "Yes. A child born from unmarried parents."
"Mm," Thomas shook his head gently. "I wish that were always the case. You're right that the parents are unmarried to each other, but that does not mean they are not married to someone else."
For the first time, the girl had to take a moment to process things. She stared at the sheets, thinking about what he'd said, and then from Thomas to John and then finally to the ring on Thomas' finger. "So, whilst your father was married to your mother, he had a child with another woman?"
The man leant forward conspiratorially. "Many children."
She frowned. "That's not very nice."
"That's why I don't like him."
Phil nodded in understanding. "Could John be your brother?"
Their audience, with the exception of Vincent who had also already begun considering the possibility, flinched in surprise.
Thomas puffed out his chest, trying to make himself appear as broad as John. "Do we look alike?"
She glanced between them before setting her sceptical gaze on him. "Are you fully grown yet?"
Matt barked out a laugh behind them again.
"Unfortunately, yes."
She shook her head. "Then I would guess not."
"That's my assumption as well." With the conclusion of their conversation, Thomas slapped his hands to his thighs and stood with a groan, turning back to the others with only a hint of caution in his eyes. That answered the question of whether he'd known he was broaching inappropriate topics with an 8-year-old. No one attacked him, so he continued. "My father has made a habit of leaving his..." This time he obeyed the sharp look from Simon. "... paramours with signet rings. Not to claim the children, you understand, but just to-" disgust peeled its way across his face "-mark his territory." He sneered at his own ring, but he didn't remove it.
"But you don't believe it's possible I could be one of those children? Could I not take after my mother in appearance?" Beth longed to lay a hand against John's shoulder in comfort, but she didn't dare.
Thomas reached over Phil to clap him on the arm instead. "I doubt it, old man. All the bastard children I've met look very much like the-" Simon coughed again. "-my father. The darker skin, dark eyes, dark hair."
"Why... Did..." Everyone turned to wait for Vincent. "You've met your half-siblings?"
Thomas nodded. "As many as I've been able to find." He shrugged. "They did no more to deserve the man as a father than I did. I can hardly hold that against them." With a wink, he turned back to everyone else. "Besides, who would you guess is older between the two of us?"
They all glanced between John and Thomas, noticing the extra creases around the former's eyes and the ever present maturity. Thomas's maturity seemed to... fluctuate.
The resounding answer was, "John."
"I've never met one of the other children who wasn't younger than me."
Simon nodded thoughtfully. "He established his heir first."
Thomas' grin returned. "And a spare; I'm the spare." His smile faded abruptly though. "But I doubt it was anything that restrained... or savoury."
Phil looked as if she were about to ask questions when Simon clapped his hands together. "I think we've exhausted John enough for one morning. Let's all leave him to get some rest." He pinned John with a look, his gaze darting to Phil.
John nodded his understanding. "Uhh, Phil. Could you do me a favour and fetch a book for me from the library? One of your favourites will do. I need something to do whilst I'm resting."
Distracted, Phil raced out of the room, weaving between the adult legs. Once she was gone, he turned to Thomas. "If I'm not your father's son, why would I have one of his rings?"
The younger man shook his head apologetically. "I'm afraid I know no more than you. I'll ask around and see what I can find out. Perhaps you know one of them?"
John nodded, holding the ring out but Thomas refused. "Thank you, but the one I have is already one too many."
They all left before Phil returned, gathering by the front door. Thomas glanced at Bart and Matt and Simon made the introductions that had been missed in the excitement earlier.
Thomas watched Matt carefully. "I think we've met before."
Recognition lit in the youngest brother's eyes. "Ah yes, at the club."
"Well," their uninvited guest turned to each of them, offering a slight nod of his head. "It's been an unexpected pleasure with a very intriguing mystery." He looked to Beth last, taking her hand and pressing a kiss to it. She laughed and her brothers rolled their eyes. "My thanks, Lady Elizabeth. Shall I come for lunch next week?" he asked.
The question caught Beth off-guard, and she was filled with sudden dread that he was flirting with her. The man was handsome, no doubt, but he was too... unusual... for her tastes. She swallowed and smiled as politely as she could. "Uhh, of course. I'm sure that can – that can be arranged."
"Excellent!" He opened the door himself, much to the confusion of the footman who was now stationed there. "Until then."
The door shut sharply, leaving the adult Humphrey siblings standing in the foyer with a mix of expressions including discomfort, confusion and wry amusement.
"So," Matt asked with a grin for Beth, "Shall we add him to your list?"