Page 76

Sam

Sam hurried up the front steps of Ash’s London townhouse.

A few curious eyes from onlookers turned his way, but he ignored them.

Last night had gone a long way in cultivating his reputation as a mysterious rogue in society’s eyes.

He knew there had been whispers, though he wasn’t certain what they consisted of yet.

Time would only tell what would surface.

And unfortunately, that meant he could do nothing but wait.

While he hadn’t had any interest in the unmarried misses, after his and Felix’s argument, Sam had danced with his fair share of them.

Felix had been correct; the mamas of the ton were quick to shove their daughters in Sam’s path.

It didn’t appear many cared about a long-lost son resurfacing when he had dual titles.

If one more woman had tittered over his castle in Scotland last night, Sam might’ve thrown himself into the Thames.

But at two-and-forty, Sam felt a step from the bloody grave turning those young ladies around the dance floor.

He wanted a partner who was mature, seasoned in life.

Sam had seen and experienced too much to marry such innocence.

He wanted someone who would meet him as an equal, who could share control and responsibility.

God bloody damn it—he wanted Felix. There was no female version of Felix.

“Sam!” Felicity’s exclamation rang through the large home’s entry as she bounded down one set of the twin staircases.

Well, he supposed he was looking at a fairly close female version of Felix.

“It’s so lovely to see you. What are you doing here?

How are you fairing after last night? Ash is… ” She frowned. “Somewhere around here.”

“I’m here,” Ash’s deep voice boomed from down the long hall that led to the back of the home. “I was visiting with the horses. I hate keeping them cooped up here.”

Sam grinned at his best mate. He had a feeling the horses weren’t the only ones having difficulty being cooped up in a city. Ash was a country cove through and through. But he was here for Sam. Always had been. And now Sam’s throat was getting tight.

“I hadn’t realized you were stopping by,” Ash said as he halted next to his wife and tucked her to his side, pressing a quick, hard kiss to the top of her head.

A deep, aching yearning pierced through Sam’s chest, and his hand flexed, his body desperate for his own Jennings to touch. Ash must have seen it on Sam’s face because the smile in his blue eyes faded. But there wasn’t anything to be sad over. Not yet, at least.

“I was actually stopping by because I need your help—the both of you.”

Felicity perked up in Ash’s arms. “Oh?”

“I know your brother is always the one with a plan, but there was a big bloody flaw in the one he cocked up for me.”

A knowing smirk slid onto Felicity’s face. “Does that flaw happen to have anything to do with a list of potential wives?”

Sam growled, and Felicity bounced in Ash’s arms. “Oh, I told him, Sam!” She leaned forward, and Ash’s grip tightened to keep her from toppling over.

“I told him he was a daft bloody sow for thinking that wasn’t the most terrible of ideas.

Not that he listened. Let us just hope he doesn’t push this for four blasted years. ”

Sam’s exact thoughts. This was Felix’s modus operandi .

Felix came up with a plan, narrowed in on it like it was the only possibility.

It was what he had done with his sister’s betrothal, and it was what he was doing now.

Sam had thought, with their time together, Felix had realized he didn’t have to shoulder obligations alone any longer.

That’s what Sam’s big broad shoulders were for.

They were partners who worked together to determine a solution.

But right now? Sam could see it, hiding underneath the tense exterior, Felix’s armor was fragile, the man was barely holding it together. His Fee wasn’t thinking clearly, running scared, blind and deaf to anything other than the plan he’d come up with. His lifeline.

And, yes, it made Sam want to throttle the man. Grip that soft jaw and shake it. Stop making all the decisions. You don’t have to do this alone. For so long, that man had taken care of everyone by himself. Four-and-twenty was impossibly young to start running an estate and head a family.

A part of Sam wondered if Felix was still stuck back in that time, a grieving son, a still-broken young man trying to recover from the horror life had dealt him.

Then a mountain of responsibility had been heaped upon him, and he’d grasped desperately for anything that would keep the ones he loved safe.

Sam just needed to break Felix free from that.

He knew he could. He knew he’d made progress showing Felix he could rely on Sam.

But Sam inheriting, his neck on the line…

Could he truly blame Felix for slipping back to his default, latching onto his old habits?

After what they both had been through in this life…

he could never fault Fee from resorting to what made him feel safe.

Ash’s deep baritone rang through the entry. “So, what do you need our help with?”

“I have an…amendment to the plan. One that might allow us to be together.”

If Felix was willing to try.

Felicity’s gaze turned resolute, chin lifting and eyes flashing. “Whatever it is, Sam. We’ll help you do it.”