Page 97 of Claiming his Cursed Duchess

How dare my little brother dictate to me how I should act.

“Well?”

Adam stood up, his leg spasming as he did so, the sudden movement pulling him off-balance.

Henry gripped his arm swiftly, steadying him. Adam threw him off, leaning heavily on the chair and heading to the whiskey decanter on his desk.

Henry beat him to it, slamming his hand over the stopper and squaring up to him angrily.

“You are a fool.”

“Leave me be, Henry! For God’s sake!”

“Is that what you plan to do? Drive everyone away?”

Adam straightened. “And what do you know of such things? You have no notion of what it is to be married.”

He thought the barb would find its mark, but Henry simply shrugged and fixed him with a look far beyond his years.

“I have seen the way you look at your wife, Adam.”

He was ready with a retort, a blistering response that would silence his brother forever. But the words did not come.

Is he not correct? I have barely been able to function since she left me here alone.

He took a small step back, wincing again as it jarred his leg. Henry’s hand came out for a second time, but this time to rest on his shoulder.

“You have cared for me all my life. You have done everything for me and this estate since our parents died. You have sacrificed so much for others and never taken a moment for yourself. For once, will you listen to your own heart and act as you must? If you lose her, you will not get her back. She has changed you, brother. Rosaline has changed you for the better.”

“I—”

“Stop punishing yourself, brother. You deserve happiness. David would have wanted you to be happy. You know that,” Henry cut him off, his voice becoming softer as he uttered their late brother’s name.

Henry released the decanter, giving him a wry smile.

“Or, drink yourself into oblivion and make the servants believe we are thrice cursed by becoming an animal. It is your choice.”

Henry straightened his coat and left the study as Adam stood against his desk, slumping down onto the surface in the gathering darkness.

Of all the times that my brother must give me advice, it is on my marriage of all things.

But as much as he tried to dismiss Henry’s words, they would not fade. Hehadlost Rosaline. He had cast her aside without a word, instead of falling to his knees and begging her to stay.

Why did I allow her to leave in such a way? What must she think of me?

For days, he had wallowed in self-pity wondering if she would simply walk back through the door.

Now, he recognized that it was not up to her. He had many things to explain, and even more to apologize for.

I just hope it is not too late.

Claridge was in a jovial mood. There was the sound of laughter from the floor below and the tramp of feet along the corridor every now and again.

Rosaline still didn’t understand what he was doing there, but he poured them both a brandy and raised his glass to her before taking a large swallow.

“Where are you headed? It is brave for a woman to travel alone like this, but you always had a fair amount of pluck.”

Rosaline eyed him carefully.