“She has quite the reputation for troublemaking, the duchess, does she not?” Julian asked.
“You don’t know the half of it. You should have seen her as a child, a bigger tomboy you’ve never known. But Cass has always been devoted to her and any friend of Cass’s…”
“Understood.” Julian wiped his mouth with his napkin. “You know, Cass has told me that you and she were not particularly close. Why come here now to defend her honor?”
“We may not have been close as children, I am eight years older than she, after all, but Cass is my sister and I love her. I’ll murder anyone who hurts her.”
Julian gave him a knowing nod. “I feel the exact same way about my sister.”
“So, we’re agreed. You and Cass will marry, my parents will, however reluctantly, approve the match, and we’ll all be one big happy family.”
“One big happy family? I don’t know about that, now, Monroe.” Julian grinned at him.
Owen grinned back. “Pass the eggs, future brother-in-law.”
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
When Derek Hunt arrived at Donald’s town house later that afternoon, he was not alone. His brother Collin was with him.
Julian glanced out the window to see them coming up the walk. His stomach sank. Perhaps he should’ve insisted that Mother and Daphne remain in town. They should hear this, too. However, part of him was glad that he would be able to hear it first, break it to them gently if necessary.
He took a deep breath just before Pengree came to the door of the study and announced the Hunt brothers.
Derek and Collin entered the room moments later. Both looking somber, they shook Julian’s hand.
Collin took a seat on the sofa while Derek remained standing. Julian moved over to the window but remained standing, as well. The duke paced in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. “As you might have guessed, Swift. We have news.”
Collin’s gaze remained trained on the rug.
Julian braced himself. He placed a hand on the back of the chair in front of him.
“We found them,” Derek breathed.
Julian’s heart clenched. Hunt hadn’t said the one word he’d been hoping for. He hadn’t said “alive.”
“Rafe was badly beaten, tortured. We took him to a surgeon in Brighton. He’ll make it, but he’s in bad shape.” Hunt eyed his friend carefully. “Very bad shape.”
Julian nodded once. “I see. And Donald?”
Derek shook his head. “Rafe told us that Donald had accidentally given himself away. That’s why they were captured. Cavendish did everything he could to save him.” Hunt stopped, strode over, put a hand on Julian’s shoulder and squeezed. “He’s dead, Julian.”
Julian bowed his head. He’d known it in his heart but the word was so final and heavy and difficult.Dead.
Julian raised his gaze to Derek’s. “You found him. You’re certain?”
Derek nodded once. “Yes. We brought back his body, for your mother and for Daphne. For you.” He pulled his hand away from Julian’s shoulder.
“Thank you for that, Hunt,” Julian replied. “Mother will be grateful. So am I.”
Hunt barely inclined his head. “It’s the least I could do.”
Collin’s jaw was clenched. “I’m so damned sorry, Swift.”
“So am I,” Derek said. He reached inside his coat and pulled an envelope from his inside pocket. “This is for you. It’s from Donald. He’d given it to one of the clerks at the War Office to deliver to you in the event… of his death.”
Julian stared at the document unseeing. Then, he slowly pulled it from Derek’s hand and made his way toward the window. Facing the street, he ripped open the seal and began to read.
Julian,
