Page 41 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke

The door opened and Wilkins announced the arrival of Isaac and Jacob. They were dressed finely, in bright colors and highly polished shoes. They looked the epitome of fashionable dress. Damien dismissed Wilkins and did not rise from his seat. He regarded his Uncle's sons silently.

They stood before the desk, there being no other chairs in the room. This study was a place of privacy and sanctuary for Damien, he rarely allowed anyone inside and would make no allowances for the comfort of those who were admitted against his better judgment.

“I regret that I have little time for socializing. What business do you have here?” Damien said sharply.

Isaac and Jacob glanced at each other. Jacob smirked but Isaac looked serious.

“We feel that we have no choice but to address the...elephantin the room,” Isaac piped.

“One that has been the subject of much discussion in our...social circles,” Jacob put in.

“At the very highest level,” Isaac added.

“And which elephant would this be?” Damien drawled.

“The reckless management of the Fitzgerald properties across England,” Jacob noted.

“Your inheritance gave you a minority share in my father's businesses. Not enough to entitle you to an opinion,” Damien replied.

He pushed the box ofLucifersopen and took out one of the slim sticks inside, twirling it over in his fingers.

“We maintain that the circumstances should be the opposite of that which currently exists,” Jacob said, heat in his voice.

“Our father was born moments before his twin, and therefore,Ishould be Duke of Redmane,” Isaac suddenly asserted.

Damien grinned insolently. “This nonsense again? It has been contested at Court and a ruling was given in my father's favor. This was resolved before your father and mine met their ends.”

“In a fire from which only you survived!” Isaac snapped, his eyes hooded, “which was convenient for you.”

“A fire which removed any rivals to the Dukedom,” Jacob added.

“Except for us,” Isaac pressed.

“And we were too young to challenge you anyway.”

“But now we are not.”

“His Majesty the King has already ruled on this matter. It is ended,” Damien replied.

“The Regent cares as little for his father's opinions as you did for yours,” Isaac remarked, “he is reexamining the petition.”

“Which we do not wish to see. There has been enough scandal and controversy. It is bad for business,” Jacob said, punctuating his words with a finger stabbed to the desk.

Damien struck the firstLucifer. It hissed into life and both brothers took a step back from the bright flame. Damien stared into the flickering yellow light, then beyond it.

“Your pardon, Jacob. I interrupted you,” he smiled.

Jacob glanced at his brother uneasily as the flame ate away at the flimsy wooden stick it was born of. The flame was getting closer to Damien's fingers, but he did not look at it.

“We would... accept a settlement...”

“No,” Damien said tonelessly.

“Control of the businesses... while the title and country properties remain...” Isaac took over.

“No,” Damien replied.

The flame was tickling his fingers now, but he ignored the pain. Burning was something he had learned to live with. Pain could be suppressed if the will was strong enough.