He almost sounded regretful and she attempted to appeal to his rational side. “There must be a way to talk about all this,” she entreated. “Whatever occurred to make you act like this?—”
“It’s too late for that,” he sighed. “Nothing can bring Elina back. The men responsible for her death must be punished.”
Fleur was taken aback by this. She hadn’t imagined that Daniel would be so fiercely protective of his brother’s paramour. However, if that were the case, then he should know that Elijah was the one at fault. “Elina was sick. Her demise had nothing to do with Avalon or Drake. I read a letter she had written to her cousin, Harriette. It explained everything.”
Daniel’s eyes flashed for a moment as if he were reconsidering his stance, but then he straightened. “She suffered greatly, but so have all of us at one time or another. I thought if anyone might understand the bond between twins it would be you. Elijah and Elina shared the same close relationship. But the war changed our brother just as her mistakes changed her. But when she dared to ask for help, she was refused. That is what we cannot forgive.”
Fleur stilled. She thought Elina was a fallen woman. She had no idea she was this man’ssibling, whereas the insatiable need for retribution was like a festering wound. The need for vengeance was prominent and to assuage the brother’s guilt over her death, they needed to find blame elsewhere. “I was supposed to protect them as their older brother,” he whispered harshly. “By the time I returned from the war, it was too late. Elina had succumbed to her illness and Elijah suffered from the precarious state of his mind. He should have never been allowed to fight on that field—” He appeared to pause to collect himself, the haunting recollections of the past overcoming his words. “I can finally see that justice is served tonight.” He looked hard at her. “I apologize for subjecting you to this turmoil, Miss Davies, but I had to keep Flavian here in order to lure Mr. Porter and Avalon away from London and to my doorstep. For years I’ve been planning my revenge and I regret that I have you to thank for it.”
CHAPTER23
Fleur was going to be sick. It didn’t matter if she had unwittingly acted in a manner that might send Drake and Avalon to their demise. She couldn’t allow Daniel to enact his punishment upon two men who had done nothing wrong other than allow their desires to lead them down the wrong path.
“Daniel, you must listen to me. Elina was not the innocent victim you might believe. She used Avalon and Drake, pitting them against each other to cause strife. That is why Avalon refused to help her. He was afraid she would cause more harm.”
Daniel shook his head. “It doesn’t matter now. The trap has already been laid.” He waved his gun at her. “Let’s go.”
She started to move, to hopefully stall for time until she could be assured the danger had passed. “Where are we going?” she asked.
“You’ll see.”
Fleur remained silent as they started to leave the main thoroughfare of the village. It didn’t take long for her to understand where he was taking her.
The cottage looked just as it had the day she’d left it in such a rush for London. She truly had come full circle.
Tears stung her eyes but they didn’t fall until Daniel led the way inside and she saw Flavian. When she entered, he was pacing the room restlessly, but upon spying her, he suddenly froze. She promptly allowed emotion to propel her forward and into his arms. “Flav!”
He held her close and gave a shuddering breath. “Fleur.” He pulled back and tears clouded her vision as she looked him over to make sure he was unharmed. “I’m so sorry for everything,” he said miserably. “I was a selfish fool. Can you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?”
She embraced him again. “Of course. I love you. You’re my brother, the last family I have left.”
This time when they parted, he took her hand. “Let’s get out of here. We can start anew someplace else. I heard Whitby is quite nice and I have always thought about being a fisherman.” When he would have pulled her toward the door, she dug in her heels. “I can’t go with you. Not yet. Drake needs me.”
He frowned. “You don’t have to worry about him any longer. If you come with me you can be free of him.”
She glanced back at the stableman, who was standing by the door, arms crossed. He appeared to be at his ease, but she had no doubt that should she make a misstep he wouldn’t hesitate to bring forth his pistol again. “You don’t understand. I don’twantto be free of him.”
Understanding finally dawned, reflecting in his face. “You love him.”
She nodded. “God help me, but I do.”
He spun away from her and shoved a hand through his hair. “This is my fault. If I had been the brother you’d deserved and not a coward?—”
“It would have happened either way,” she noted. “He makes me happy.”
“He’s a cad!” Flavian sputtered angrily. “He purchased you at that auction like some damned horse!”
“Hesavedme from a worse fate,” she corrected firmly. “He might have been ruthless in the past, but he’s treated me with nothing but kindness and consideration. I won’t leave him.”
Flavian blinked, but then he blew out a heavy breath. “You are my sister and I can’t allow you to fight any more battles on your own.”
His willingness to turn the other cheek to Drake’s past humbled her. “Thank you.”
He grabbed her hand and headed for the door, but as Fleur suspected, Daniel moved into their path. “I’m afraid I can’t let you leave this cottage just yet.”
Flavian stepped in front of Fleur. “I held a lot of respect for you when we first came to Greenwich. Knowing your history as a grenadier, I thought you were brave and courageous, but if you are going to try to keep them here as a couple of prisoners, then that doesn’t make you any better than the worst sort of coward.”
Daniel’s eyes narrowed. “Call me what you will, but I have killed plenty of men on the battlefield. Don’t think I won’t do the same with you.”
