Page 25 of Winterset

“From the family?” Kyria asked.

Reed nodded. “Yes. And from everyone here. I thought it would seem a trifle odd to go off for three years and then come running back.”

“The odd thing was buying it and then leaving it in a few months and never going back,” Kyria said shrewdly. “That is what I have always wondered about.” She paused, then said, “Why did you really come to Winterset? Is it because of Anna Holcomb?”

Reed looked at her sharply. “How did you know?”

Kyria grimaced. “I’m not blind, you know. I saw you this evening—you scarcely took your eyes off her all night. And the other day, when she came back here with the twins, it was the same. Then you insisted on escorting her back to her home, when it would have been enough simply to have sent her home in the carriage. And when you came back, you were in such a terrible temper, I didn’t dare talk to you.”

Reed shot her an expressive look. “As if you’ve ever hesitated to say anything to me.”

“Well, that is true,” Kyria admitted, giving a little grin. “But no doubt others would not have dared to approach you, you looked so grim. And I have seen how Miss Holcomb looks at you, too.”

“She looks at me?” Reed leaned forward, his eyes intent on his sister’s face. “How does she look?”

“The way a woman does when she is interested in a man,” Kyria replied. “Her eyes kept straying about the room this evening, and whenever they lit on you, she would stop. Then, a few minutes later, she would do the same thing.”

Reed grimaced. “Most likely she was looking for me so she could avoid me.”

Kyria smiled a little smugly. “I don’t think so. There is a certain warmth in her eyes when she looks at you.” She cocked her head to the side, studying her brother. “There is also the little matter that she is far too attractive and likable a woman to be still unmarried. What happened when you were here three years ago, Reed? Did you break her heart?”

“I? Why would you assume that it was I who broke her heart?” Reed asked.

“Are you telling me that it was the other way around?” Kyria asked.

“I offered for her. She refused me.”

Kyria stared. “She turned you down?”

A faint smile touched Reed’s lips. “I suppose it is gratifying that you find that so startling.”

“But of course it is! There are always women dangling after you, you know that. Why, the only bachelor who is more sought after than you is Theo, I warrant, and that is only because he will be a duke one day.” She paused, frowning, then said slowly, “Unless, of course, she was already in love with another…”

Reed shrugged. “I have no idea what happened. I will doubtless appear insufferably arrogant, but I was certain that she would accept my proposal. She seemed…well, we had not known each other long, but from the moment we met, there was a…a certain feeling between us. I cannot explain it.”

Kyria smiled and glanced at Rafe. “I know what you mean.”

Reed smiled. “Yes, I suppose you do. But apparently the feeling was entirely on my side. I thought it must be clear to her what my feelings were, and she—well, I thought she encouraged them. I called on her frequently, we went for rides together—I even held parties, just so that I could have an opportunity to dance with her.”

“My goodness, you must have been bewitched,” Kyria teased.

“I was. I knew almost as soon as I met her—the way Papa says he felt when he met Mother.”

“What happened?”

“I’m not sure.” Reed shook his head, his face tinged with the old sorrow. “She had been ill. I had not seen her for a few days. Looking back on it, I suppose she wasn’t really sick at all those days, simply avoiding seeing me. But at the time, I had no suspicion. Certainly, when she did see me, she looked pale enough to have been ill. I thought I should wait until she felt better to ask her, but I could not. As soon as I started proposing to her, she looked as though I had struck her. She would not even let me finish. She was quite agitated. She popped up, then sat back down, then got up again and paced about the room. Then she said all the things that women are taught to say in such circumstance—what an honor I had done her, how surprised she was, how she had not realized how I felt, how she had not meant to mislead me, but there was no possibility. We would not suit.”

He stopped, his mouth grim.

Kyria looked at him, frowning. “I scarcely know what to say. It sounds so…so odd. I would never have guessed, from seeing her with you, that she had turned you down. I would have said that she had…well, feelings for you.”

“I thought so, but obviously I was wrong. And tonight, I—” Reed stopped, looking uncomfortable. “It seemed to me again that she felt something for me, that she would not be averse to my suit, but then she turned and all but ran from me. I don’t know what to think.”

They were silent for a moment, then Rafe said, “What made you decide to come back now, after all this time?”

“Oh.” Reed grimaced. “You will think I’m mad if I tell you. That’s why I said I was coming to see about selling the house. The real reason is absurd.”

“I am sure we will not think you are mad,” Kyria assured him. “We have had some rather bizarre things happen to us, as well, you know.”