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He supposed he could ignore the suone far too many years without contact What was a couple of hours of inconvenience when they had the opportunity to be together?

He remembered a time when he would have simply walked into the house, but Sebastian had been a bachelor then and the house had seeuest, and his brother’s ed the dynamics somewhat

He lifted the heavy knocker and released it Just as he anticipated, a footman quickly opened the door and ushered hiloves, and coat to the servant, the aging butler appeared

"My lord Tristan, welco well"

"Couldn’t be better, sir Thank you"

"I assu use of his well-stocked liquor cabinet if he were smart

"Yes, m’lord Shall I announce your arrival?"

"No need for such for an e Their uncle had destroyed a good many of them Tristan felt the familiar fury rise withfor their lives His death brought no satisfaction

As Tristan neared the library a footh without slowing This rooht a bit of solace but the sight of his brother standing near the fireplace brought ht side of Sebastian’s mouth lifted in welco His brother set aside his tu and a solid slap on the back

Then his brother released his hold and went to the liquor cabinet as though embarrassed by his elcome, one that was no doubt a result of Mary’s influence "Why didn’t you send hen you returned to London?"

"I hadn’t quite decided what my plans were," he said as he took the tumbler filled with aht"

"So soon?" a ferinned at the slender red-haired woht for sore eyes?"

He returned the tu strides, and lifted Mary into his arhter pealed around theh he’d finally come ho and they were both breathless

"I hear you did your duty nificently and provided ly at his arm "It wasn’t a duty And he’s already asleep, but we shall look in on him before you leave"

"I’d like that" He realized he’d been reift for the lad He’d remedy that situation the next tie plush chair and Sebastian joined her, sitting on the arh he needed to touch her simply because she was near

Tristan took his tu up, he noticed the portrait over the fireplace It was his brother, his daed side partially hidden by shadows as he looked at his wife "Nice portrait"