If you are reading this, then I am dead, you are alive, and you, no doubt, have many questions. The War Office asked for a volunteer. They sent word to Parliament looking for someone, someone who would bravely go off to France. I want you to know that I did hesitate. After all, I am an earl, I have no heirs, and my only brother is at war. But I knew it would be all right, younger brother. I somehow knew you would survive. Don’t ask me how. I just did. You’ve always been a survivor and I have no doubts.
There’s something I need you to know. It’s quite important to me, hence, the reason I am writing this letter. I’ve always admired you, Julian. I know you looked up to me and wanted to be more like me, but the truth is that I’ve always wanted to be like you. You left for war, fought, nearly died. You showed tremendous courage and fortitude. I never had that in me. I think Father always knew it. It’s not particularly dangerous to sit in the House of Lords week in and out. Well, except in August when the stink of the Thames gets to be far too much. So when the call came for a volunteer, yes, I hesitated, but in the end, I knew I had to. I am my father’s son, but I am also my brother’s brother. I hope I’ve made the Crown proud, but more importantly, I hope I’ve made you proud, Julian. I may have spent my life being groomed to inherit a title, but that was nothing to be proud of. Circumstances of birth are not chosen, but bravery and courage are, and those were all things you chose. The earldom is lucky to have someone as strong as you in the lead. I heartily approve. My only regret is that I did not get the chance to shake the hand of the man you have become.
Give my love to Mother and Daphne. As for you, I suggest you marry Lady Cassandra and see to the business of having heirs as quickly as possible.
Yours,
Donald
Julian took a deep, deep breath. His brother admired him? He’d never known it. Damn it, if only Donald were here for one moment so that he might tell him the same. Julian turned back to his two friends, fighting the sting of tears in his eyes.
“You know what this means?” Derek said in a low voice.
Julian took another deep, shaky breath. “I am the Earl of Swifdon now.”
CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT
One month later
Cass, Julian, Lucy, Derek, Jane, and Garrett all rested in the blue drawing room in the Earl of Swifdon’s town house. It was Julian’s town house now. He was still waiting for the official paperwork to make its way through Parliament, but he was already performing the duties of the earl. A bittersweet thing, indeed.
Donald’s funeral had been a state affair. Much of thetonhad returned from their country houses for it. It had been attended by Wellington and the Prince Regent himself.
Daphne and her mother had been beside themselves with grief, of course, but at least they had been comforted by the fact that Captain Cavendish had lived. Apparently, the poor young man was distraught for not having saved Swifdon, too. Cass had done everything she could to comfort the three remaining members of the family, but in the end she knew there was little she could do. They needed time to grieve.
The women, who were all seated on the sofa, glanced up to see Garrett and Julian exchange wary glances. They were both pacing around the carpet like caged beasts.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, you two, don’t you think it’s time you made up?” Cass asked.
“The silent treatment, Upton? My, my, my, what I wouldn’t give to have you not speaking tome,” Jane remarked.
Garrett gave Jane a withering look before he turned toward Julian.
“Thank you for coming to the funeral,” Julian said in a gruff voice to Upton.
“I’m damned sorry about Donald, Swift. He was a good man,” Upton replied.
Julian nodded. Then the two clapped each other on the back.
Cass sighed. “Oh, thank heavens. All made up.”
“Yes, as long as Upton here sees fit to help me get my new bill passed in Parliament. Derek’s already agreed to it. It shall be my first order of business as Swifdon.”
“Already writing a new bill?” Garrett replied.
“Yes, to provide for the injured war veterans. I assume you’ll have no objections.”
Garrett nodded. His voice took on a serious tone. “Just tell me what you need from me and it’s yours.”
“Perfect,” Cass said. “Thank you, Garrett.”
Julian growled under his breath, clearly indicating that he didn’t much care for the fact that his intended was calling another man by his Christian name.
Derek interrupted their standoff by turning his attention to his wife. He strode over to the sofa and pulled her up into his arms. He glanced at Julian. “I should have known I needed to get back to London as soon as possible when you wrote to me about a Lady Worthing and her friend Patience. As soon as you mentioned that Lady Worthing was pretty and high-spirited with different-colored eyes, I knew my wife was up to something. It could not have been a coincidence. Not when Lucy was involved.”
Lucy pursed her lips and batted her eyelashes, giving her husband a completely innocent look. “At least he said I was pretty. It might have been quite awkward between the two of you had he referred to your new wife as a troll.”
They all laughed.
