Page 53 of Earl of St. Seville

“Marsh Manor,” Valor shouted, thumping his fist on the side of the carriage. Without delay, the driver called to the horses, and they were off. “We are well aware Patience has little respect for society and what they deem proper; however, she does respect you, St. Seville—or do you prefer Sin?”

“St. Seville suits adequately,” he grunted and waited for Valor to continue.

“In all the years since our mother’s passing, Patience has never entered Southlund’s House. Yet, you, St. Seville, convinced her to go to a place she swore never to so much as set eyes on again. If that is not respect, I do not know what is.”

“It is apparent that our sister cares for you, as well,” Merit admitted grudgingly. “Now we must decide what to do about that.”

We? Did they think to stop him from seeing Patience?

The men would have a hell of a time following through with that plan. Or perhaps they meant to forbid Patience from having anything to do with Sin.

The carriage hit a bump in the street, sending the brothers colliding into one another. Sin, however, had been prepared for the rough travel and he kept his seat. Streetlamps shone through the glass of the windows, signaling that they’d traveled far enough from Seven Dials to slow their speed.

“Tell me, St. Seville, how did you convince Patience to return to Southlund’s?”

“It was she who offered to train me after seeing how deplorably I lost my first prizefight.”

Valor drew back. “You expect us to believe that?”

“She was helping me,” Sin confessed, turning his palms up. He had nothing to hide. Valor and Merit would hear it all eventually. “I am in London to save my family from ruin. Our coffers are empty, and my estate and people are suffering. If I do not win, I will have nothing to return home with. My land will lay fallow, and my people will starve. That is the reason Patience offered to help me.”

The men looked at one another, some silent communication passing between them before they turned back to Sin with matching grins.

“You care for Patience?” Valor demanded. “More than using her to win enough funds to run off back to your estate?”

Sin nodded. “Without a doubt.”

“And what do you plan to say to our sister if you are allowed to see her again?” Merit continued.

Sin hadn’t thought through what he was going to say. He’d foolishly believed that if Patience agreed to see him—and Desmond allowed him into their home—the words would come.

His shoulders sagged. “I will tell her exactly how I feel about her…everything, including my plans to remain in London as long as possible to be near her. It is where she belongs, among those who know and love her.” If their time at Southlund’s House had taught Sin anything, it was that leaving London—and Patience behind—would rip his heart wide open.

“We can get you into the house,” Merit said

“After that, it is up to you,” Valor finished.

* * *

If Patience’s brothers had warned Sin that their grand plan included sneaking him in through the back gardens and instructing him to scale the townhouse wall to the window Merit would prop open for him to enter, he would have told them to save their breaths. Instead, Sin listened intently as Coventry’s carriage stopped in the mews behind Marsh Manor.

Sin glanced at the window, pleased to see that the light drizzle that had started earlier had stopped. He would not have to face the harrowing rose bushes with their pointed thorns and the slick siding of the house as he climbed—and fear losing his grip and falling into the waiting bushes.

Merit pointed up at the house, candles lighting several windows on both the main level and the second story. “My window is that one—“

“I know which is yours,” Sin said, cutting off the man before realizing his folly.

“How, exactly, do you know which one is my room?” Merit asked, as serious as an inquisitor as he turned to face Sin.

Sin debated how much to share, but decided it could only serve to strengthen this support if they heard the truth of his first meeting with Patience. “During my first fortnight in London, your father happened upon me in an alley where I’d been set upon by a thief.” There was little reason to share that Coventry had arranged the entire episode, for it would only lead to questions he didn’t have time to answer. “He rescued me and brought me here to be seen to by your family physician.”

“You did not answer my question…”

Sin had to admire the man’s perceptiveness. “Desmond had me wait in your room. I had no intention of allowing the good doctor to examine me and so, after being caught by Patience, I escaped out your window and down into the gardens…narrowly missing those wild rose bushes.”

“She caught you how—”

“You did what—”