Page 36 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke (Marriage by Midnight #2)
CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX
E mma dashed from the front door of Redmane Manor as Damien helped Josie down from his horse. The sisters embraced, Josie almost collapsing onto Emma's shoulder. Emma looked tearfully over Josie's head to Damien.
“Is all well?” she asked.
“All is well. I am to wed Sir Silas,” Josie answered, glancing uncertainly at Damien.
Emma's mouth fell open but Damien stepped forward.
“No, she will not. Over my dead body, but I was forced to play an act for the sake of that snake in order to convince Josie to leave his house.”
“What is this, Josie? You were not there of your own free will, were you?” Emma exclaimed.
Josie glared at Damien. Emma could not understand the venom in her glare. Damien was surely the white knight who had returned her to safety.
“Josephine, Josie ,” Damien coaxed, taking her hand gently, “you need not perpetuate the act. The blackmail that Silas Sutherland threatened is not believed by me and will never come to pass. I merely needed to remove you from his house and you had clearly convinced yourself that you had to go along with his scheme to protect your sister. You do not.”
Emma saw realization and then relief dawn on Josie's face followed by a crumpling into a fresh wave of tears. Emma embraced her, feeling a cold wave of anger sweep over her.
So, he tried to do to my sister what he did to me. Perhaps he did not force himself on her but as good as. I do believe that I loathe him. That I would cheerfully kill that vile serpent!
That thought shocked her rigid. That she could think that of any human being, or be capable of it. What wounds had she been dealt that she could be twisted into such thoughts? Silas Sutherland needed to be punished but she would never wish to harm him. Merely see him incapable of his wickedness again.
“Please do not tell Thomas. I fear that he would challenge Sir Silas or even simply shoot him down on the spot, and then...” Josie trailed off, brokenly.
“Of course we will not. Thank goodness for the Regent's love of carousing. They will be occupied for some time, do you not think so, Damien?”
“Undoubtedly.”
Emma led Josie into the house and into the sitting room.
“Hot, sweet tea is the best thing after a shock such as you have had,” Emma soothed, guiding Josie to a chair.
“I would rather a brandy. I convinced myself that I would need to marry that man and keep the truth a secret. He said awful things about you, Emma. I thought it was the only way to protect you.”
“You were prepared to do all of that for my sake?” Emma asked sadly.
“Of course, you are my sister! My blood. You have looked after me for my entire life. This was the least I could do for you. He said such awful things and that he could prove them.”
Emma hugged her sister tightly, tears brimming over.
“You are so brave. Truly fearless. I wish I had half your heart, Josie,” Emma said, kissing her sister’s head.
She was deeply touched at the sacrifice Josie had been prepared to make. Emma was so accustomed to feeling like the parent in her family, looking out for everyone and being prepared to make any sacrifice necessary for their happiness. To know that her sister not only recognized that but was prepared to do the same was deeply moving.
“Lies. All of them. On my honor,” Damien replied, “merely a desperate man trying to claw back some of the power he lost over your family.”
“I think I will go to my room and prepare a note to Thomas. I should very much like to see him if he is free. Could you ask a servant to carry it for me, Your Grace?” Josie asked.
“Of course. Summon a maid when you are ready and Wilkins will arrange for it to be sent to Brimley Park at once,” Damien said kindly.
Josie nodded, rising. “Then I will retire for a couple of hours. Thank you for your efforts, Your Grace and I am sorry that I misunderstood your plan. I believed you in league with Sir Silas.”
“I would die first,” Damien finished, solemnly.
Josie took her leave and Damien walked to a window, looking out over the grounds. Emma went to him, resting her head against his back, putting her arms about his waist.
“Thank you,” she whispered, “for bringing Josie back safe.”
“Sir Silas is not beaten yet. He can still cause considerable damage to your name with his lies. I entered a pact with him. He thinks himself about to become my partner. That I am cowed by the damascene sword he wields. I am not and he will pay for what he did.”
Emma felt a chill run through her at those words.
“Whatever do you mean?” she asked carefully.
But Damien did not answer. She stepped away from him, trying to see his face, but he hid it from her, turning away.
The walls are rebuilt. He keeps a secret from me again. But this time it concerns my sister and the man who has been our tormentor. Can I blame him if he keeps secret how he plans to destroy that man? Can I blame him?
“I must speak to my brother if he is able,” Damien uttered coldly, “excuse me.”
His manner was formal and icy. Emma felt spurned and told herself that he was keeping her at arm's length so that he could do what must be done to put to bed all threats to her family and his own. There could be no other reason.
But just what did he intend to do?
Damien knocked at his own bedchamber door again. This time it was Harry who answered, his voice wavering and weak. When Damien entered the room, Elsie was still by Harry's bedside. She held his hand and glared at Damien like a mother hen regarding a fox.
“How are you feeling, Harry?” Damien asked, donning a gentle smile.
“Well, brother,” Harry murmured weakly. “I do not remember being struck down. Merely feeling terribly cold and dizzy. Then waking with this angel standing over me. I truthfully thought her an angel and my time on this earth over.”
“She is an angel. She has not left your side, brother. But I would ask her to do so now,” Damien replied, casting a tentative glance her way.
Elsie looked to Harry, who nodded. She kissed his hand and then left the room, giving Damien a cautionary glance as she did so. As the door closed, Damien smiled.
“She forgets that she is a lady’s maid and thinks herself a nurse.”
“She is a nurse and likely always will be,” Harry chuckled. “We have talked much in between many sleeps. If it weren't for her, I do not think I would have had the will to hold on through this terrible weakness that overcame me.”
“But you have won through?”
“I am on an uphill climb. We have discussed my leaving this house. Do we still have the lodge in Epping Forest?” Harry asked.
“We do. One of the few properties we have retained.”
“Redmane is a shadow hanging over me. I feel the need to be somewhere without the associations.”
Damien nodded. “I can find staff for the lodge. Wilkins can find decent people in whom we can trust.”
“I should like Elsie to be one of them,” Harry added, rather sheepishly.
Damien paused, taken aback.
“Of course. I can relay it on to Emma if that is your wish. Does she wish it too, however? It seems I cannot issue orders to Elsie any longer,” Damien chuckled.
“It was she who suggested it,” Harry smiled.
Damien laughed, seeing the reality and feeling happy for his brother.
“I will see to it then.”
“Now, to business,” Harry sat up with some difficulty.
Damien stepped forward to help but Harry waved him away.
“What of the enterprise? What remains of the old brute's legacy?” Harry asked sharply.
“ Wapping . The largest and most valuable of them all.”
“And what is your plan?”
Damien dropped to the chair vacated by Elsie, suddenly exhausted. He let his head loll back, thinking of Emma. Thinking of his broken oath.
Should I tell him that I have given up our plan? That I have broken my oath and told Emma our secret?
“ Well ? You must realize that the completion of our plan is one of the few things keeping me alive, brother. I will not allow this body to succumb while that plan is incomplete. Especially with its fruition so close. When Wapping is burned to the ground, there will be nothing left of Geoffrey Fitzgerald. We can sell this house and split the proceeds. You can take Emma to America or India or Canada. Anywhere. Begin anew,” Harry said with zeal.
“We have never spoken so of our plans after the completion of our revenge,” Damien pointed out.
“I have not spoken because I did not wish to distract you. And because I believed that I had nothing to live for once it was complete. Now though...”
There was a speculative look on Harry's face, then a smile.
How long since I saw him smile last? In such a genuine way?
“Elsie?” Damien asked.
Harry nodded, still grinning. “Call me an old fool if you like...”
“You're an old fool,” Damien said without pause.
Harry laughed. “But I am quite taken with her. And, miracle of miracles, she seems quite taken with me. I make no assumptions and would allow her to make her own choices, but away from this place, I think we could have something special.”
“A Duke and a lady’s maid?” Damien chuckled.
Harry shook his head immediately. “I am not a Duke, Damien. You are. In my strongbox, up in the tower, I have a signed affidavit from Wilkins which only requires your signature and seal. It gives my identity as your cousin, on our mother's side. Twice removed. Untraceable. Sign it, and allow me to slip away into anonymity knowing that our life's work has been completed.”
Damien looked at his brother open-mouthed.
“Do it, brother, and we can both begin a new chapter in our lives. A hopeful chapter,” Harry said, offering his hand.
If I tell him that the work will never be done, it will break him. He has hope. For the first time that I can remember, he has hope for the future. I will not take that away from him.
Damien stood and clasped his brother's hand.
“Wapping will burn,” Damien muttered intently.
“Wapping will burn,” Harry echoed with a wolfish grin.
“Tomorrow night.”