“Will you introduce me, Eva?” Daniel said.
Giving Reggie a final squeeze, Eva placed an arm around his waist before turning to face her husband.
“This is my youngest brother Reggie, your Grace.”
Daniel moved forward and shook her brother’s hand. “Your sister has been eager to see you for some time, young man. Tell me, how did you make your way to London when your home is at least three days’ ride away?”
As that was Eva’s next question, she remained silent, content to look at her brother. His dark hair was too long and he looked as if he had lost weight. His eyes were big in his face and the clothes she’d altered for him many times hung off his body.
“I climbed into the back of wagons and onto carriages until I made it here.”
“Dear Lord, Reggie, why?”
“It just got to hard, Eva, so I ran.”
Pulling him back into her arms, she held him tight, rocking him as his tears began to fall. He let her hold him until he was finished, which showed how upset he was because Reggie, like she, was not one for demonstrations of affection.
“What has happened to him, Eva?”
She’d forgotten the duke stood nearby. Looking his way, she found grey eyes filled with concern. “My father and brothers have made his life hell since I left and he could take no more.”
“I’m sorry. I should have tried harder to get him to Stratton.”
Eva kissed the top of Reggie’s head as he lay against her. “Tis not your fault, your Grace. My father would not let him go, as he was earning money working for one of the local farmers.”
“He will not return to them,” the duke vowed, moving forward to place a hand on her brother’s shoulder. “Wernham, have a room prepared for the Duchess’s brother and food and a bath, please.”
“At once, your Grace.”
“Follow Wernham, Eva, as I’m sure your brother is in need of rest after his long journey. We will become better acquainted tomorrow.”
“Come, Reggie.” Eva took her brother’s hand and led him upstairs.
She helped bathe and dress him in the nightshirt Wernham had produced. Fatigue was in every line of his body and he did not struggle as she put him to bed.
“I won’t go back, sister.” Eyes so tired looked up at her.
“No, brother, you will never return to them.”
He nodded at the certainty in her words.
Looking down at Reggie, Eva saw how far she had come since arriving at Stratton. Was it only a few months? She, too, had been thin and broken, her will battered and her fears real when she had married the duke.
“It’s over for you now, brother. I will never let them hurt you again and my husband will offer his protection also.”
She had heard her husband saying those very words to her many times and had failed to believe them. She was determined her brother would.
“Is he a good man, Eva?”
“He is, Reggie. You can trust him.”
Kissing his cheek, she pulled the covers to his chin and left the room. At least one of her fears was now allayed. Reggie was here with her and she would see he stayed.
Wernham was waiting for her as she closed the door.
“His Grace requested that I show you your rooms, your Grace.”
“Thank you, Wernham, and thank you for your help with my brother.”
