“There, I agree,” Pat said. “Although to be fair, I’m not sure how sensible I’d have been in his shoes.”

“Oh, you’d have been perfectly sensible. You aren’t at the mercy of the sex feeling, with emotions flying all over the place. It must be marvellous.”

“Just a moment,” Pat said. “The fact that I don’t make a God-awful fuss about everything doesn’t mean I don’t have a private life. I simply conduct it with a bit more dignity than some people I could mention.”

Bill’s brows rose sharply. As well they might, she supposed, because she had never mentioned personal affairs to him before, any more than he had to her. She’d wept about Louisa in secret, just as he’d been alone in his misery over Jimmy. She wanted to share her hope and happiness with him now.

She cleared her throat. “Which is to say, you aren’t the only person in this house who’s getting on well with someone.”

“But...did you not say Preston’s engaged to Miss Singh?”

“He is. I’m sure they’ll be very happy.”

“Then...” Bill’s lips moved silently. “Ah. I have noticed you’ve become very thick with Miss Carruth.”

“I have, yes.” Pat tried to sound as nonchalant as she could. She wasn’t sure she’d pulled it off.

Bill stood unmoving for a moment. Then he said, slowly, “So we—brother and sister—came here to visit an engaged couple, and now—”

Pat felt the blood rush to her cheeks. “Must you put it like that?”

“Oh dear God. Dear God almighty. Who the blazes cast a pair of Mertons in a French novel?”

Pat choked. Bill started to laugh as well, doubling over until he had to hold on to the couch for support. “Great Scott. Have you ever known anything so absurd?”

“It’s ridiculous, isn’t it?” She wiped her eyes. “I really don’t know what’s in the air at Rodington Court.”

“I wonder myself. We’d better get out before anything else happens.” Bill hesitated, then came over and gave her a swift hug. It felt slightly easier than the previous one, as though they could get used to this. “Are you happy, old girl?”

“Awfully.”

“Good. I hope it goes splendidly. I’d be very pleased to know someone appreciates you as you deserve.”

“Same to you.” Pat had a sudden, alarming feeling she might cry. She loved her brothers in principle, and was fond of Bill in practice, but this sudden intimacy and connection was something else. New and precious, to be quietly cherished rather than discussed. “Do you know what you—you and Jimmy—are going to do?”