No one spoke. Ten faces stared at him, Gen the only one amongst them who was beaming and wiping the tears from her cheeks. That was likely to be attributed to her delicate condition. For if anyone was disinclined to maudlin sentiment, it was she.
“What do you require of us?” Dev asked into the silence. “Ask, and it shall be done.”
Gratitude and pride swept over Demon. Whilst the bastard Winters and their legitimate counterparts had not always been close, time and determination had forged their loyalties. He was thankful to be a part of this vast family, and what a strange thought that was for a lad who had once been adrift, with no hope of a family aside from his mother, who did not deserve the title.
“I need your aid,” he confessed. “For her sake, and for the sake of our children, I need to learn how to mingle with the quality. I need to know how to be a gentleman. Gen, I am going to have to bow out of running Lady Fortune, but I have already spoken to Tiny Tom, and he assures me he can carry on without me.”
Gen dabbed at her nose with a handkerchief. “He is more than capable, Demon.”
“That is another matter,” he said, reminded by his sister’s use of the only name he had known as a man grown. “My Christian name is Damian. I’ll be answering to it now, instead of Demon.”
Whilst Mira had made not a single demand of him, nor one request, he was making these changes for her sake. She would have a difficult enough path to traverse, the proper duchess marrying a rogue from the rookeries. He had no wish to make anything worse. He wanted to make certain she would bear as little strain and scandal as possible. And in so doing, their children as well.
For that was how he had already come to think of their family. Percy, Joanna, Gideon, Davy, and the babe. His heart was so damned full, so unexpectedly, beautifully overflowing. Not that he was about to announce that to the group gathered before him, regardless of how much he loved their miserable hides as well.
“Fair enough,” said Dom. “Damian suits you far better than Demon these days anyhow.”
He rather thought so as well. Mira had changed him. Softened him. Had helped him to find happiness and love in a way he had never imagined possible. A lump rose in his throat, and his eyes began to sting, but he would not unman himself by weeping before his siblings.
“If any of you can help us to smooth the waters for Mira’s sake, and for the sake of the children, I would be forever indebted to you.”
“We will help you in any fashion we can,” Dev reassured him.
“We are Winters,” added Grace.
“Helping each other is what we do,” Devil agreed.
Demon nodded. “Thank you. I love you all.”
“We love you too, brother,” said ten voices in unison.
The missing eleventh voice was a mystery that troubled him, but for now, he was well pleased with the vows of his siblings. With the Winter family wealth and growing connections behind him, and a little polish of his own, he would be able to at least attempt to become the husband Mira deserved.
If nothing else, he would always be the man who loved her.
But he was determined to fight like hell for all the rest.
Which also reminded him. “Do any of you have a room I might use until Mira and I wed? I have decided it would be best if I am not living above a gaming hell—albeit one as secretive and above reproach as Gen’s.”
“Stay with us here,” Dev invited.
“I will have a guest,” he said. “A lad I am aiming to take under my wing.”
As long as the lad in question would agree to it, that was. Demon had yet to put the question to him.
* * *
There had beenno sign of Gav at his rooms. Demon had inquired after his brother with the landlord, who had not seen Gavin recently, but who—soused on ale at all times of the day—seemed to possess a foggy memory at best. Demon had left a note for Gav and had returned to Lady Fortune, still plagued by the grim fear that something was afoot with Gav.
However, it was not entirely out of character for Gav to disappear for a few days, particularly if he had found a woman to distract him. Demon decided to put his concerns aside for the moment in favor of having a talk with Davy.
He called the lad into Gen’s office, and they began with Demon explaining he was going to be leaving his position at the ladies’ gaming hell.
Davy crossed his arms over his chest and cast a mutinous glare in Demon’s direction. “Wish I never told you where My Grace lives.”
“Her Grace,” Demon corrected gently.
“As you say.” The lad’s lip curled. “You’re leaving Lady Fortune for good?”
