Page 16 of The Mad Marchams

“I gather your father isn’t well.”

“Yeah. He has Parkinson’s.”

Mabel winced. “Bummer.”

“Which is why I assume Viz has finally deigned to come home.”

“To do what?”

Freddy’s smile was resigned. “To hammer the final nail in our father’s coffin.”

Mabel wasn’t sure how to respond to that, except by asking a lot of questions Freddy probably didn’t want to answer. She exhaled a silent sigh when Colin returned.

“Everything okay?” she asked.

Even she could tell that it obviously wasn’t, but she didn’t want to give Freddy the opportunity to pick at his brother when he was obviously upset.

Colin’s answering smile was distracted. “Father’s as well as can be expected. He’s hoping he’ll be down for dinner and he’s looking forward to meeting you.” He turned to his brother. “What time is Edward due in?”

“About four. I’ll pick him up at the station.”

“I can do it if you’re busy.”

Freddy raised an eyebrow. “What would I be busy doing?”

Colin sighed. “I’m sorry, Freddy. I really am. As I told Father, I want to get this mess sorted out as soon as possible.”

“So that you can move on.”

“I haven’t made any decisions yet. That’s why I came down here. I want to talk to you all and get an overview of the situation from Edward.” Colin gripped the back of the chair. “Give me a chance.”

“Fine.” Freddy held up his hands and stood. “I’ll get Edward from the station. Enjoy yourself with the lovely Mabel.”

Mabel waited until he’d left the room before turning to Colin. “Is it just me or is every word your brother says to you loaded with venom?”

Colin shrugged. “Not quite venom, but he does disapprove of me. I haven’t exactly done much to gain his trust or approval.”

“I don’t get it. You’re nice, you’re funny, you have a paying job, and you have your own dower house. What more could any family want?”

“Thanks for the positive endorsement.” His smile was warm. “I wasn’t quite such an upright citizen during my teens and early twenties. In fact, I was a complete fuckup. I got kicked out of Cambridge and apparently disgraced the family name at every opportunity. I don’t actually remember much about it. And that it explains it all, really.” He sighed. “I understand why they are all a bit wary, but you’d think five years of steady employment and good behavior would count for something.”

Mabel rose from her seat and took his hand. “My closest half-sibling tells everyone I talk to myself in the bathroom mirror and have an imaginary friend named Jennifer. I haven’t spoken to Jennifer for years.” She paused. “I do still talk to myself occasionally, but that’s normal, right?”

His mouth quirked. “You have a way of putting things in perspective that makes me feel so much better.”

“We’ve already agreed that families are hell. It’s super hard to change their minds about anything.”

“I don’t seem to have the knack of it. I feel like they are constantly waiting for me to screw up.”

“Yeah, I know how that feels. My board—” She suddenly remembered the confidentiality agreement she’d signed restricting her to discuss her projects. She hated that feeling of not being free, even after being officially off the original team for five years.

“Would you like a tour?” Colin asked when the silence began to stretch,

“Yes, please.” Mabel was extremely glad he hadn’t asked her to elaborate.

They started walking and her gaze went upward to a high hall, a sweeping staircase and a massive chandelier hanging overhead. She squinted up at the painted ceiling and was awed to see a detailed mural of fat cherubs and pink clouds.

“Wow.”