“I’mthe one who has to marry.” He could barely get the words out. Somehow, saying them aloud to Charles made the whole undertaking far too real.
“You?” The color returned to Charles’ cheeks, and he began to chuckle and then guffaw. “That’s brilliant! Of course, itshould be you! That’s ever so much better than me. Thanks, big brother!”
Did Charles truly have the temerity tolaughat his predicament? David’s hand twitched with violent urges, but he held back. “I do this only under extreme duress, and I have conditions.” David had thought about them all the way back from The Lyon’s Den. Charles needed to pay somehow. Repercussions, as it were—something he’d always wormed his way out of. Because enough was enough. His brother might be the younger of the two of them, but he was no longer a boy. He was a man, and dammit, he could act like one. So after some thought, David had come up with some satisfying but not overly harsh ways to make Charles realize that his actions had consequences—for himself, as well as others.
Charles’ smile sagged. “What do you mean by ‘conditions’?”
“As of today, your allowance is cut off. You may continue to reside in this house and eat at my table, but if you want any money of your own, you must work for it in an honest profession. I would happily purchase you an army commission. If you wish to study law or some other practical pursuit, I will pay your tuition. The clergy is also an option, though I doubt they’d have you. Or, you could go into trade.”
With each proposal, Charles’s jaw dropped further. The hunted look on his brother’s face was deeply satisfying. “You can’t mean that. I’m a gentleman, not a tradesman!”
“Secondly—”
“Good God! There’s more?” Charles scooted backward on the chesterfield.
“Secondly, so help me God, I will throw you out of this house without a penny to your name if I hear so much as a whisper that you’ve visited another or any gamblingestablishment. I’m going to ask Godwin to accompany you whenever you go out until you prove you’re trustworthy.”
“And how long will that take?”
“Hmm. Let me see. I’m being asked to keep the bride I don’t want with me for a minimum of three months before we can live apart, so I think it’s only fitting that you must be accompanied for that same period. As long as I have a wife, you have a minder. Fair?”
Frankly, it was more than Charles deserved.
“No. Not fair. This is outrageous!” Charles stood and strode up to David until they were nose to nose, quivering and clenching his fists.
David was more than a match for his wastrel of a little brother, who had never been one for exerting himself, so he stood calmly and waited to see whether Charles was foolish enough to attempt a blow.
In the end, Charles opted for a jabbing finger. “You’ll regret doing this, you uptight arse!”
“I’d watch what I said if I were you. After all, it’s not too late for me to tell Mrs. Dove-Lyon that the deal is off and let you pay the consequences.”
Charles turned bright red, made a strangled noise, and stormed out. David let out his breath slowly and checked the hulking grandfather clock in the corner of the room. He would need to make haste for his appointment with the Duke of Wellington and Lady Clarissa, but he needed a moment to cool down.
He clenched his fists and let out an exasperated growl. His brother riled him up like no one else could. If there was a more aggravating person in all of England, he had yet to meet them, though Lady Clarissa with her annoyingly sunny views on marriage might give Charles some competition. Both of themseemed to see him as the magical answer to all of their problems, which he most certainly was not.
What abouthisproblems? Couldn’t they see that for all his hard work, he was barely making ends meet? Perhaps he’d been too successful in convincing the world that he was a rock on whom everyone could depend. It was what he aspired to be—solid, impervious, cool, and unmoving. But even the hardest stone could be broken, chipped away bit by bit, blow by blow.
If only he had someone to share his burdens with, someone who understood. He needed to rest and heal, but no one ever gave him the opportunity. So every day, he forced himself out of bed, put on his mental armor, and slogged through his obligations, with Timothy as his only bright spot. But even Timothy was a source of tender torture.
After all, there was nothing David feared more than letting down his son. The enormity of his responsibility kept him up at night, dreading what might go wrong in the day ahead, how he might unintentionally disappoint Timothy.
It seemed there was no escape from being the shoulders on which everyone rested their burdens. Speaking of which, it was time to go meet his betrothed. The sooner he married, the sooner they could part ways, and the dangerous temptation of her company would be removed.
Very well, then. Here I go to ruin my Tuesday.
Chapter 4
What an auspicious day it is!Clarissa could barely contain her nervous excitement as she caught a glimpse of her future husband out the drawing room window. He looked even more handsome than she remembered in the golden sunshine of this unseasonably warm and clear afternoon. April was usually sodreary, but even the weather seemed to be colluding with her marvelous mood to make this occasion special.
“He’s here! How do I look?” She turned away from the window, dusting imaginary specks off her emerald-green gown.
Her brother peered over his newspaper. “Like an utter ninny, as usual.”
“Oh, Arthur! You are such a spoilsport.”
“I do try.” He gave his newspaper a shake and went back to reading.
“Arthur, be nice to your sister. Can’t you see what an important day it is for her?” Mama came over and wrapped an arm around her waist, peering out the window with her.
