Free Heart Burn by C.J. Archer

would find it useful to study the man further."
    "Not to mention Samuel," I added.
    "This way, we can all help. What do you think, Jacob?"
    "I think you've got a penchant for causing trouble." He raised his glass to his wife and winked at her. "If you think the Myers ought to come to the ball, then who am I to disagree?"
    ***
    The journey home to Frakingham was long and tiring, partly because of my illness, and partly because we argued with Samuel much of the way.
    "I'm going to return to London," he declared before we'd even left the city behind. "Myer wishes to study me and I him."
    "What!" Jack exploded. "Are you mad?"
    Samuel crossed his arms and raised his eyebrows. Jack swore.
    "Language," Sylvia scolded. "There are ladies present."
    "You can't live with Myer," Jack said. "He's a disreputable cur with no concern for his own wife! Bloody hell, Gladstone, I thought you better than that."
    "Have you quite finished?" Samuel huffed. "For one thing, I'm not going to live with him. I'll rent rooms nearby. Secondly, I may be able to talk some sense into him and make him see that he can't go hypnotizing his wife whenever she disagrees with him. Thirdly, I'll never get this chance again. He and I both believe there are no others of our kind. I have to study him to understand more about this talent, and he wishes to study me. I would expect you, of all people, to see my point, Jack."
    "I do see your point, I just don't agree with it. You were perfectly content to live at Frakingham until you met Myer. He didn't hypnotize you, did he?"
    Samuel rolled his eyes. "Hannah, talk some sense into this obstinate fool who thinks I should be at August Langley's beck and call."
    "I don't think that," Jack said before I could answer. "This has nothing to do with August and everything to do with your reckless willingness to allow someone of dubious character to poke around inside your mind."
    Samuel smirked, but there was no humor in it. "Ah, so you're worried about me. Nice to know you care, Langley."
    "Shut it, Gladstone, I can't stand the sight of you."
    We all knew that wasn't true, not anymore. Samuel laughed and slapped Jack's shoulder. Jack grunted and appealed to me for help.
    "Jack is worried about you, Samuel," I said. "As am I."
    "And me," Sylvia piped up. "I don't think Myer should be trusted."
    "I'm very aware of his capabilities." Samuel skimmed his hand over his blond hair, ruffling it. "I am also aware that he can't hypnotize me. I'll be safe."
    I don't think he quite understood our concerns. Myer's morals were questionable. Samuel's had been once too, although it seemed he'd left that behind him. But what if Myer led Samuel back down that path? Was Samuel strong enough to resist?
    He leaned across the gap between us and touched my hand. "Have faith, Hannah," he murmured. "I've changed." It would seem he did understand after all.
    "We trust you," I said. "Don't we, Jack?"
    Jack grunted again, which may have been agreement or not.
    "You can't tell me what to do, Langley," Samuel said. "Nor can August. I'm free to come and go from Frakingham as I please."
    "But you belong at Frakingham," Sylvia whined.
    "Why? Because I should be at Freak House with the other freaks?"
    "You're not as freakish as these two," she pointed out. Her sigh echoed around the cabin. "Samuel, when will you come home again?"
    Home. Frakingham was home, and not just to Jack and Sylvia anymore, but to me and, I'd thought, Samuel too. Of all of us, however, he had fewer ties to the estate. He had a family somewhere and could return to University College to finish his studies or to Dr. Werner's practice if he wished. It pained me to admit it, but he didn't need Freak House or us.
    He looked down at his hands in his lap and shrugged. "I have to do this."
    We tried several more times to talk him out of it, sometimes in subtle ways, and other times more obviously. But he was determined to go, and we hadn't changed his mind by the time we reached the large iron gates