Page 60 of Miss Vincent’s Vow
Cassandra winced again. His words seemed designed to hurt her. She had not thought her husband could be so unkind. “Jethro, please don’t talk in that way.”
He made no apology, but he continued in a softer tone. “Carry on.”
“Xander is coming home on leave. I wish him to stay here, in your house, please.”
Jethro screwed up his forehead as if he were in pain. “I am disappointed you need to ask, Cassandra. This is our home, not mine. Your brother is welcome here.”
A smile spread across her face. “You mean it?”
“Yes. Why wouldn’t I? Am I such an ogre that I would refuse you this when it means so much to you?”
Her head drooped. “You were so cross with me yesterday, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I worked so hard at the drawing room, and though you said you liked it, all you could see were the paintings I had bought out of my own money.”
“If you say so.”
She eyed him curiously. “Don’t deny it. Your pride was hurt because I had the temerity not to send you the bill. It is such a shame, because they fitted in so well with my colour scheme.”
“Yes, something like that. I’m sorry. Perhaps I overreacted.”
“If I let you pay for the paintings, may I put them up again?”
“You may. We can’t have bare walls when your brother arrives.”
“Truly?”
He nodded. “I didn’t know it meant so much to you.”
“It does. Can’t you see how dreadful the room looks without them? The empty hooks draw attention to the bareness of the walls.”
“You’re right. Perhaps we can commission a few more paintings. I had no notion Mr Barnes was such an artist. I will have a word with him, though, to make sure he deals with me in the future.”
“Of course. Thank you. I’m certain Gil…Mr Barnes would be most grateful. His wages as a curate are pitiful.”
“Is that so?”
“Yes. Too low to support a family with any degree of comfort.”
“How sad.”
Cassandra scowled at her husband. Was that a touch of sarcasm in his tone? Why was Jethro so lacking in sympathy? Couldn’t he see how hard it was for those less fortunate than himself?
“It is sad. Mr Barnes will probably suffer for his commitment to his calling for the rest of his life.”
“You seem to know a great deal about Mr Barnes’s circumstances.”
“Is that so surprising? Have you forgotten he was my father’s curate for three years?”
“So he was.”
Jethro rose from the sofa and opened the door. He paused on the threshold and turned back to her. “Write to your brother and invite him to stay. Perhaps he can supply the sympathy I’m so clearly lacking. I’ll take dinner in my study.”
He stalked out of the drawing room, leaving the door wide open, and Cassandra staring after him.
Why was her husband so hard to understand? One moment he was apologising for his dictatorial behaviour the evening before, and the next he was being harsh and unfeeling all over again.
What had she done to push him away this time? If only she knew.
Chapter 32
