Page 71 of The Mad Marchams

“Eric sounds like a jerk,” Mabel said. “So, what happened?”

“Father and his new wife were out at some Christmas party and Eric helped himself to a bottle of the best brandy. He was reeling drunk and behaving aggressively.” Colin’s grip on his mug tightened. “He wanted to go out on the lake. I told him that was a stupid idea because the lake was partially frozen. He hated being told anything and after telling me to fuck off, he headed for the boathouse that used to be down by the lake.

I followed because I felt responsible for him and found him putting on a pair of old skates. I told him it was a bad idea, and he punched me in the face.” Colin grimaced. “He literally knocked me off my feet. By the time I’d recovered he’d gone outside and set off on the lake. It wasn’t completely frozen and he went down in the water.” Colin paused. “I can still hear the creak and groan of the ice before it cracked. He just disappeared into the dark. I remember yelling and running around the lake to see if I could find him, but it was impossible. I rang 999 and asked for help and tried to get out on the ice myself, but it was so fragile I had to come back.”

Mabel reached across the table and took his hands in hers.

“I called Mrs. Reynolds and, got some of the staff out to help me search, and then I just waited for the emergency services to arrive. It was freezing cold and I was wet through, but I stayed until they found him.” He looked up at Mabel. “He drowned almost instantly.”

“I’m so sorry,” Mabel said.

“When Father got home, he absolutely lost it. He berated me for not saving Eric, said I was a coward, and he walked away and hardly spoke to me for the next year. He wouldn’t even allow me home from school in the holidays because he said the sight of me made him sick.”

Mabel had a sudden desire to find the earl and punch him.

“I suppose that’s when I realized that no one cared what I did, so why should I care?” He tried to smile. “And the rest, as they say, is history. At least my father has accepted me again.”

Mabel breathed out hard.

“What’s wrong?” Colin asked.

“Did your grandmother and siblings stand up for you?”

“I don’t know. I was locked in my room until Mr. Reynolds drove me back to school.”

“No one ever told you that it wasn’t your fault?”

He shook his head,

“I… just want to shake them all! How dare they blame you for your older brother’s stupid death wish!”

“It’s all right. Everyone was grieving and in shock.”

“No, it bloody isn’t!” She glared at him. “If any of them ever repeat that crap about you being responsible for that idiot’s death, I am going to set them straight once and for all.”

“That’s very sweet of you, but⁠—”

“No buts! I’m going to kick some ass. How dare they blame a sixteen-year-old boy?”

“Darling Mabel, I’m so glad I’ve got you in my corner,” Colin said. “Because when you lose your temper, you’re really something.”

“Well.” She met his gaze. “Just remember this. Eric was responsible for his own choices, you were not, and you should never feel guilty about how you behaved.”

“I know that now, but somehow I’ll always feel like I could’ve done more.”

“You did everything you could,” Mabel said firmly.

Colin suddenly stood up, bringing her with him. “Would you mind terribly if I took you to bed? I must confess that I find your anger on my behalf incredibly arousing.”

Mabel was already laughing as he pursued her up the stairs and into their bedroom.

Much later, Mabel’s cell buzzed as she and Colin lay in bed. She’d been unenthusiastically checking her email, and he'd been reading a book about barn conversions.

She picked up her phone and saw a text from Dale.

Hey, I know it’s short notice, but I can come up and see you this weekend?

Mabel nudged Colin. “Would you be okay if my friend Dale, the location manager, visited with us over Freddy’s birthday weekend?”