That smile could chase away the darkest day, and his chest tightened. He would miss that smile desperately. It was also the smile she’d one day bestow upon the man who wed her.

Anthony furled his hands tightly at his sides. “I do,” he said quietly.

“Lettie, will you see to the boys for a moment?” Rhys directed that question to his sister, all the while never taking his eyes off of Anthony.

He tensed.

Lettie hesitated, and she must have seen the tension simmering within him this time. Instead of honoring her brother’s request, she looked to Anthony, and in her eyes, he saw the desire to stay and a question as to whether he wanted her there.

He inclined his head slightly, urging her without words to go and then watching as she gathered her nephews by the hand.

“Come along, boys. Your father wishes to catch up with the duke,” she announced, tugging them away.

Lettie took a roundabout path that led her past Anthony. “It will be fine,” she mouthed, offering him a supportive smile, brimming with a confidence befitting this optimistic, hopeful young woman. “You’ll see.”

That was the thing of it. These past days, he’d discovered they had this uncanny ability to follow the path of each other’s thoughts. And it terrified the hell out of him that, of all the women in England, it should be this one with whom he’d formed that kindred bond.

Anthony continued to follow her retreating form, knowing he should return his attention to his former best friend, but enthralled by the sight of her skipping and swinging her arms as she went, taking up a position some ten paces from where he and Rhys now stood. She was far enough away to give them privacy, but close enough that she was at hand should he need her. It was the first time in nearly all his life that he could remember another person thinking—and being accurate in that supposition—that he needed support.

He was the rock in his family. Be it his kin or members of Parliament, people looked to him to solve problems. They did not tend to proffer support. And deep down to his soul, he would miss that partnership with another person. Nay, with this person. This woman.

Her laughter mingled with that of the children. A hungering to have that bucolic life with her was a heady aphrodisiac more potent than oysters.

As if she felt his stare upon her, Lettie glanced up and offered a smile and a little encouraging wave of her hand.

It proved a dangerous silent interaction to have with the lady’s elder brother’s intent, probing eyes on him. Rhys’ gaze bore all the way through Anthony’s person.

Reluctantly, he slid his attention away from the trio in the distance.

The other man made no attempt to conceal the vitriolic rage burning in his eyes.