Page 112 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke

“We had discussed it. I would never have required it of you had you changed your mind. I would give up the Dukedom in a heartbeat if you asked it of me.”

“Would you?” Harry asked, raising a quizzical brow, “I have wondered. You are both young and capable of so much with the start a title can give. I consider you so much more worthy of it than I, brother.”

“Damien and I have decided to leave to Boston after Redmane Manor is sold. Begin a new life as Americans,” Emma put in.

“Don't,” Harry replied, leaning forward in his chair, “you will see that I have retained a small amount of my inheritance as an allowance on which Elsie and I will be able to live comfortably. The rest has been signed over to you. It is already done, so spare me the megrims, you two. My bankers have been informed. They do not know that their client is Harold Fitzgerald of Redmane Manor, of course. Merely that I was left money by our... great father.”

He grimaced over the last word. Damien chuckled.

“You will keep all of the proceeds of the sale of Redmane Manor on the condition that the two of you remain in England. Make a new life for yourselves here where there is family that loves you both. Friends. Do some good with the wealth that comes from the last of our father's property. Erase his memory. Please?”

Damien did not know what to say. He felt Emma take his hand, squeeze it. He looked at her and saw the answer in her eyes.

She would have followed me across the world but she does not want to leave her home, her family. My family now. I was once an orphan with a ghost for a brother. Now, I have flesh and blood brothers and sisters, a wife, and a child on the way. And Harry has a woman of his own. We began our lives in fear but will live the rest of them in love.

“You… have left me no choice but to accept, brother. Yes. Boston can wait. We will stay. A toast...” he raised his cup of tea, followed by the others, “...to new beginnings.”

Emma pressed her palms flat against his cheeks, then kissed him squarely. “New beginnings,” she whispered.

The End?