Page 21 of Dare to Risk it All

“Fine. Don’t bother. I don’t need your damned gratitude, and I certainly don’t deserve it. So, sod off and leave me alone.”

Greer covertly watched the furious exchange between Raphe and his half-brother, wondering what it was they were arguing about. Too curious about Raphe to leave it be, she joined Sylvester Cootes just as Oliver did the same.

“Is everything—?”

“Fine, Miss Cadogan, thank you,” Mr Cootes said sharply.

“Don’t take it out on Miss Cadogan,” Master Oliver said, his expression reproachful.

Mr Cootes glared at his young brother and then sighed. “No. You’re right, of course, Ollie. Forgive me, Miss Cadogan. I had no business taking my frustration out on you.”

“Yes, you did when I was being so awfully nosy,” Greer said, giving him a sympathetic smile. “Only I’m dreadfully curious about your brother, but he seems the sort of person who is hard to know well.”

Mr Cootes gave a short laugh and nodded. “Well, you’re not wrong there.”

“He’s not at all like the man you read about in the papers,” Oliver said, his young face earnest.

His brother gave him a look of patent disbelief and Oliver coloured.

“Well,” he said, hesitant now. “He isn’t, Sy, not really. I mean, yes, all right, he is a devil with the ladies, and yes, he gets into dreadful scrapes when he’s been drinking, but…. Oh, don’t look at me like that, you know what I mean. He’s a jolly good sort. The best.” Oliver glowered at him, and Mr Cootes returned a smile.

“Yes. He is.”

“Tell me about him,” Greer asked, knowing she was being awfully indiscreet, for surely they would correctly interpret her interest, but she didn’t care. “Please, Mr Cootes.”

“Sylvester,” he said, thawing somewhat towards her.

“And you may call me Ollie, if you like,” Oliver offered.

“Thank you, I would be pleased to.”

“I’ll tell you about Raphe,” Ollie said, butting in before Sylvester could speak. “When I was seven, I got sick with scarlet fever. It’s a disgusting disease, you know. Mama couldn’t bear to look at me when my skin peeled off. She tried it once and swooned, but Raphe came every single day. He read to me and even made up stories for me, and drew me pictures, and never ever complained about me being a nuisance or whinging, and I did make a frightful fuss, didn’t I, Sylvester? And he never forgets our birthdays, or Christmas, and even when he’s got no money, he always makes it seem special, you know. Doesn’t he, Sy? You know what I mean.”

Sylvester nodded.

“He sounds like a paragon among brothers,” Greer said, smiling at them.

They both laughed at that.

“Raphe isn’t a paragon among anyone,” Sylvester said with an expression of fond exasperation. “But he’s far better than he realises, and not half so bad as he might be, given the circumstances. He blames himself for everything, but he inherited the mess from our father. It was none of his doing.”

Greer had suspected as much, but it was still a relief to hear her judgment had been reasonably sound.

“Are you going to marry him, Miss Cadogan?” Oliver piped up.

“Ollie!” Sylvester exclaimed, glaring at the lad. “For heaven’s sake, have you forgotten all your manners?”

Oliver blushed scarlet but, despite her own embarrassment at the question, Greer could not help but laugh. “I do not believe your brother has any intention of marrying, so the question is moot.”

Oliver scowled and urged his horse on, closer to Greer and farther away from Sylvester. “But you’d consider him, if he asked you, even if he hasn’t any money?”

“Lord above, Oliver!” Sylvester exclaimed in despair. “You cannot go about asking young women questions like that!”

“Oh, but Sy, it’s only us,” Oliver said impatiently. “And we want her to marry Raphe, so we’d never tattle or say anything against her.”

Greer looked between them in surprise, realising they’d discussed her between themselves.

“I—” she began, and then stopped herself. She had got herself into trouble too many times by speaking without thinking, and this was too important. “I like your brother very much, but I do not know him well, and I do not think he is contemplating marriage. He may never take a wife, but… but if he did, I would certainly consider his offer carefully.”