Peter Reid let out a sigh. “Yes, Merritt believes they will not change their mind on that score. They won’t protect her in order to step away from blame and shield themselves.”
Benedict pursed his lips in disgust at their cruelty. “Then we must protect her instead.”
Darrius squeezed his eyes shut and his hands gripped at his sides. It was obvious he knew that was the only answer, as well. That they would all have to take some ownership of Vanessa’s future. The others might not understand what that meant, but Benedict did. He had always been the closest observer of this man and he had seen the flutter toward Vanessa that Darrius tried to hide. The attraction to her was yet another thing they shared.
So what would Darrius do about it? What would Benedict?
Egerton was watching Darrius closely now, too. “Peter, would you and Mr. Norfolk go check in on Merritt and Vanessa?”
Peter arched a brow at him. “Right now?”
Egerton held the other man’s gaze evenly, unspoken communication flowing between them. “Please.” He said it so softly.
Peter nodded and got to his feet, pressing a hand to Egerton’s shoulder. “Of course.”
Benedict glanced at Darrius, but he was looking away. As if he didn’t want to make the same connection that was so obvious between Peter and Egerton. He let out a ragged sigh and motioned toward the door as he got to his feet. “After you, Reid.”
He glanced back before he went into the hall and now Darrius was watching him, gaze filled with torn emotions, anxieties and needs that he would never let Benedict fill. And it was such a loss.
Darrius
“I’m surprised you asked Reid to depart,” Darrius said as he moved to the seat Benedict had occupied before he left. It was still warm and he gripped the armrests with both hands. “He seems to be of great import to you.”
Egerton arched a brow. “Indeed, he is,” he said softly. “As Norfolk seems to be to you.”
“Norfolk is my brother’s closest friend,” he said with a dismissive shrug he’d practiced for years and never made feel true to his own heart. “And someone who is trustworthy.”
Egerton was quiet for a long moment, but he never looked away from Darrius. “I’ve seen you, you know. In clubs. Certain clubs.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” A slight incline of the head was Egerton’s only response. Darrius shifted slightly. “At any rate, I’m not sure what talking about that will help in this situation.”
“It doesn’t seem entirely unlinked to me.” Egerton folded his arms. “I am not trying to pry or damage or embarrass. How you view your life and those in it, what you do about feelings that you might have been taught were wrong, is your business. But I do understand. And I understand wanting to protect everyone around yourself.”
Darrius examined his hands, clenched in his lap. The fact was that this man did understand, he thought. There was no doubt about it. Perhaps he was the only person who would. “How did you know what you…wanted?”
“All my life I felt pull toward…” Egerton tilted his head. “Would you allow me to be direct rather than dancing around the subject?”
Darrius glanced toward the door and when he saw it was firmly shut, he shrugged. “Direct is fine.”
“From the first moment I discovered desire, I felt a draw toward both men and women. I squashed it, leaned around the edges of it, pretended away any encounter of my youth with men. And then I was betrothed to Merritt and it made it easier because I wanted her…want her…to distraction. Peter was a complication. I won’t get into it, but he knew Merritt before she wed me. I pretended that he was a gift for her, a pleasure for her. But it became patently obvious that it wasn’t true.”
“And she could accept that?” Darrius asked, his voice raw.
“She embraces it.” A hint of a smile crossed Egerton’s normally serious face. “We complete each other. Him and me. Her and me. Him and her. Us. Together. Once they showed me the way, I couldn’t walk away from either of them without losing a piece of myself.” He looked toward the door. “How long have you and Norfolk pretended it away?”
Darrius pushed to his feet. “Norfolk is my brother’s friend,” he said roughly. “Nothing more.”
“Very well.” Egerton shrugged and also stood. “I do see how you look at Vanessa. How he looks at Vanessa. Perhaps there are solutions that would service her future, even if you never allow yourself to go as far as you’d like. And if not…” He sighed. “Then there are other options. Now I should find my wife…and our husband.”
Darrius jolted at his use of that term and at the warmth with which Egerton said it. “Yes. Thank you for your help in this. Whatever happens, I know you could blame me without my brother being here to take the wrath.”
“I would never blame a party that wasn’t at fault.” Egerton inclined his head. “We can speak more later if you’d like. Or we can go on pretending we don’t know things about each other. Either suits me. Good afternoon, Mr. Warwick.”
“Good afternoon,” Darrius said with a shiver, as he watched a man who had embraced his heart…his desire…walk away. And burned with jealously.
CHAPTER 4
Vanessa
