no, i didn’t. ( he frowned; he knew this was going to be a difficult subject, and kate was never an easy one to deal with. ) you mentioned something, and i want us to talk about it.

i… ( and there it was. that same old fear. fear of putting the topic on the table, of opening more than he should. anthony cleared his throat and shook his head before gently taking her chin. ) forget it. it’s nothing.

it’s nothing. just foolishness. ( was he nervous? yes. anthony sighed and furrowed his brow slightly. ) you mentioned something about love and … ( he shook his head again. ) it’s late. you should get some rest.

( at another time, he would have laughed; it was becoming quite her habit to try to smooth out the frown on his brow with a finger. ) you said it was a mark of love, yours or gregory’s?

i’m not talking about how i took it. ( his eyes searched hers, as if that alone could be enough to find an answer. was it possible she didn’t hate him quite so much? ) was it your idea or gregory’s?

( his brow furrowed as he listened to her; he shook his head again. it didn’t quite upset him—not entirely … but he wanted to know something more. ) it’s not about that, kate.

who’s screaming …

( *🤨 )

i— ( his jaw tensed slightly, and he let out a breath before drawing in another. ) you spoke about love, and i thought … ( god, he couldn’t even say it. he swallowed hard and cleared his throat. ) it’s stupid. you should get some rest, and i have work to do.

… where were you going this late?

well, with all that shouting, even the staff would come running.

and what exactly is the emergency?

it’s quite late. god forgive a brother who worries.

i don’t know … this conversation. ( his brow furrowed, and he had to force himself to look away from her eyes. when had it become this hard? when had things started slipping so completely from his grasp? ) i’m sorry it all sounds so utterly senseless.

perhaps all of you will finish me off before that ever happens. ( he sighed and extended his right arm so she could take it. )

i’m not sure there’s anything we need to understand. ( and there it was—his defence, the armour he needed to keep everything from slipping out of control. but he felt weak around her … his hands tingled, as if they longed to reach for her, to pull her close … to love her. )