“Ingenious but have to ask why it was done,” he said as he watched her unlock the door.
“Argus liked the idea of being able to come and go as he pleased and not even having to worry much about the weather,” replied Olympia. “He is trying to convince our cousin Quentin to do the same to the house he recently bought on the other side of Argus’s. You see, at the time Argus began the work, he had not had any intention of being married and he rather liked the idea that he might be able to come here for meals rather than just sit in his own dining room alone. The children are often here as well and he would come over when they were and share meals with us.”
“And I will do the same,” he said as he accepted the key she held out to him. “Thank you, m’lady. This is the perfect solution.” He grinned briefly. “Not only to my current servant problem but to the fact that we are to be working together to keep Minden from getting his filthy hands on my sister.”
“Shall I have Thomas called?”
“Yes, please. We shall get ourselves settled in the house now. Later we can discuss what needs to be done. Apparently I will not be able to find out things by attending any events and asking around.”
There was a brief look of anger and hurt on his face and she reached out to touch his arm in a gesture of sympathy. “We will sort this out, Brant, and you will be vindicated.”
“I doubt I shall be thoroughly cleansed of the stain of rumor. I have been no angel these last two years.”
“What you did was no more than others have done and they have not been banished from society. You know that. No, I fear your mother has done this to keep you out of society so that she might not be bothered by any interference from you.”
“And hobbled me quite thoroughly in the matter of gaining any information on what she might be involved in. I fear that I will have to call upon you to gather information for me.”
“Something I am very good at, if you will pardon my boasting.”
He reached out to run the back of his fingers over her cheek, finding it just as soft and warm as it looked. “I suspect you have an envious skill at digging out the truth. Because of what my mother has done, I shall have to travel a darker road to try and find out anything useful that will help us end her games.”
Olympia placed her hand over his even though she knew she ought to move away from him, end what was a caress, but she was enjoying his touch too much to end it so soon. She also wanted to comfort him. Brant knew what his mother was because of what she had done to Faith, the girl he had thought to marry, but she doubted he knew the true depths of her cruelty and evil. That she would so completely destroy him in the eyes of society hurt him. She could see it in his eyes. He had protected her name by simply turning his back on her and remaining silent about what she had done. In thanks for that, his mother had stuck a knife deep into his back and twisted it.
“Brant, you will not be able to protect her in any way this time,” she said quietly.
“I know.” He rested his forehead against hers, needing the sympathy she offered. “I banished her from my life and even tried to take the youngsters away from her, but I could not bring myself to totally destroy her. I felt that would hurt the whole family too much. That everyone would be made to suffer if the full truth about her came out. She obviously felt no gratitude for that kindness. Worse, I indulged myself in ways that allowed her to regain her footing and get the upper hand again.”
“You were grieving.”
“I was but I was also trying to drown my guilt.”
“What guilt did you have? You did nothing.”
“I know. I did nothing. And Faith died in fear and pain.”
Olympia kissed him. She was not sure why except that she could not stand to hear the pain in his voice. She was startled when he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close against him. For a moment, she was unsure when he pressed his tongue against her lips but when she parted them and he thrust his tongue into her mouth, she quickly clung to him. Heat flowed through her body and she actually grew a little weak, as if all the blood had flowed out of her head. The thought that she might actually swoon in his arms like some foolish schoolroom girl restored her sense enough that she placed her hands against his chest and lightly pushed.
Brant realized he was kissing Olympia in a way that revealed all the hunger he felt for her and stepped back. His lack of control embarrassed him. He saw no condemnation on her face, however, and relaxed a little. His body was taut with need but he was certain he did not have to apologize for what he had just done and dearly wished to do again.
“And there is the reason it is best that we will not be sharing a roof,” he murmured as he fought for the strength to release his hold on her.