He was still holding Anthony’s hand; he squeezed it slightly, and saw Dalton see that, and saw Dalton get the message: Robert knew about his kindness to Anthony. “If anyone deserves happiness—and can help Edward run a ducal estate—it’ll be you.” And he held out his other hand.
James and Nicholas were staring at him. He ignored collective bewilderment about his sudden maturity, and waited.
Dalton put out a hand. Took Robert’s. “Thank you, Mr. Thorne. For saying that. You didn’t have to.”
“I did, you know. And it’s Robert, if you’d like.”
“Dalton, then.” And the gift came with a smile, young and real and bubbling over with eagerness and wanting to share. “Edward’s promised we can establish a new grammar school on the estate. And perhaps a literary society. And a naturalist’s society. I w
