Stephen’s hands fisted. “I don’t like your tone.”

This really is not going well. He looked at Stephen’s affronted expression and contained a sigh. Perhaps…perhaps Harriet had one thing right. Perhaps he was just the tiniest bit selfish. Just a little, mind you. He certainly could never remember asking another fellow human other than his brothers to share a problem.

Stephen took a gulp of the brandy then set it aside and reached for his crutches. “I’m sorry I said a word to you at all—”

“I’m sorry if I’ve offended you, but I’m not used to serving as confidant. You are my first effort.”

Stephen paused. “Really?”

“Really.”

“Then why did you offer?”

“Because I was told I was selfish and I was determined to prove the statement wrong.”

Recognition dawned on Stephen’s face. “Ahhh. You’ve been brangling with Harriet. That is exactly the kind of thing she would tell someone.”

“I don’t brangle. She brangles. I merely refuse to listen.”

Stephen managed a faint grin. “I’ve been there a time or two myself.”

To his surprise, Chase found himself grinning back. “You’re an impudent whelp, did you know that?”

Stephen hesitated, replaced his crutches beside his chair. “I apologize for my short temper. I don’t know what’s come over me—”

“Love. According to the poets, it makes fools of all men. Or so my oldest brother has told me oft enough.”

“Does he believe that?”

“Well, he thinks it applies to all men but him. So he’s not infallible either. In fact, I believe that when Marcus falls in love, it will be worse than it is for the rest of us because of all the practice we’ve had. We’ve calluses on our hearts, as it were. He, meanwhile, has nothing but pride to protect him.”

“I never thought of pride as a protection.”

“You should. But we were not speaking of me or my family. We were talking about your unfortunate circumstances. You are in love with a woman who says she is above you.”

Stephen nodded morosely. “That’s not exactly what she said, but close to it.”

“What exactly did she say?”

“That she was…well—” Stephen flushed. “She said she was older. And she is, but only by two months.”

Chase had to bite the inside of his lip to keep from smiling. After a moment’s struggle, he managed to say in a bland tone, “The nerve.”

Stephen slumped in his chair. “I warned you it was an ugly situation.”

“Tell me more about this mystery woman.”

“What do you want to know?”

“The usual…hair color, eyes…” Chase made a curvy gesture in the air. “All the details.”

Stephen’s lips thinned. “She’s not like that.”

Chase frowned. “Not like this?” He made another curvy shape in the air. At Stephen’s stubborn scowl, Chase shook his head. “If she’s not like this, then we really do need to talk.”

“I, sir, do not find this at all amusing! Miss Strickton is perfection!”

The boy had no humor. None at all. “Easy, hothead. I retract my levity.”