Page 40 of Seven Nights with the Wicked Duke (Regency Beasts #3)

T heo had never felt nervous to speak with Magnus before. Not when they were boys sparring in the yard, not when they exchanged stupid jokes in Parliament, and certainly not when they drank themselves into foolishness on hunting weekends.

But now, now he felt it. A tension in his ribs, tightening with each step he toon through the Blackmore estate.

Predictably, he found Magnus in the study. His childhood friend was nursing a glass of whisky and staring into the fire as if it held all the answers he needed and none of the ones he wanted.

Theo paused at the threshold, the silence stretching like a challenge standing in the distance between them.

Magnus didn't look up. "If you're here to tell me you've changed your mind, I'll have the brandy brought out instead."

Theo chuckled despite himself. "No." Then he moved closer into the room. He was not even a bit curious about how the other man had known about his arrival without a glance spared. There were three things to blame. His scent or shadow or Magnus's hidden sorcery.

Not wanting to beat around the bush further, he added, "I've come to ask you for Cecilia's hand."

At that, Magnus turned. Slowly. His face, always so composed, now wore a thunderous expression, tight around the jaw, dark around the eyes. "You're wasting your breath," he said. "You know what my answer is."

Theo remained steady, hands clasped behind his back. "She's already accepted me. We intend to marry."

"You presume too much," Magnus growled, standing from his chair with such force it creaked against the wood floor. "You think you can seduce my sister and then waltz in here with a smile and expect?—"

"I didn't seduce her," Theo said, his voice low but calm. "She came to me of her own will. She told me she loved me, Magnus. I didn't ask for that, but I damn well won't turn it away."

Magnus scoffed, his mouth curling like he'd tasted something sour. "You didn't ask for it? That may be the first honest thing you've said in months."

Theo's expression didn't change. "I suppose I deserve that."

"You suppose?" Magnus took a step forward, hands clenched at his sides. "You lied to me, Theo. All that time…sneaking around with her behind my back like some damned cad. I trusted you."

"I never betrayed your trust," Theo replied with a shrug, the words careful but firm. "I kept her confidence. There's a difference."

"Oh, spare me the semantics." Magnus's voice was rising now. "You could have come to me. Told me you were sniffing around my sister."

Theo's eyes flashed, though his voice stayed even. "She isn't a piece of land, Magnus. I wasn't sniffing . I was falling in love."

Magnus paused. It was just a heartbeat, a blink, but Theo saw it. The crack in his armor. And then quickly, he gave out a dry chuckle. As though a defense mechanism.

"You don't get to play the noble lover now," Magnus muttered, turning away to refill his glass. "You of all people."

"And what's that supposed to mean?" Theo's voice dropped to something quieter. Sharper.

Magnus swirled the amber liquid in his glass.

"It means you've made a sport of avoiding responsibility your whole life.

Dueling for the thrill. Scandalizing debutantes.

Drinking until dawn while the rest of us try to hold the damn world together.

And now you expect me to believe you've changed? Because of her?"

Theo stepped forward. "Yes. Because of her."

That brought Magnus up short. He looked at him fully for the first time, something unreadable flickering in his eyes.

"I'm not proud of everything I've done," Theo continued, slower now. "But if you're expecting me to grovel, you'll be waiting a long time. I've made mistakes, Magnus. But what I feel for Cecilia isn't one of them."

"Convenient."

"Hardly," Theo snapped, the first note of anger cracking through. "You think this is easy for me? That it's some game? I've fought myself at every turn because I didn't want to be the man who took advantage of your sister. I tried to walk away. But I couldn't. Especially when I'm not."

"You should have tried harder."

At this point, Theo's jaw tensed at Magnus's consistent remark. "Maybe. Or maybe you should stop treating her like she's still twelve years old and incapable of choosing what—or who—she wants."

"She doesn't know what she wants," Magnus said bitterly.

"Neither did you at her age," Theo shot back. "You were barely twenty and carrying the title of duke on your shoulders. You think I don't remember? You didn't know what you wanted either. You just kept marching forward because someone told you it was your duty."

Magnus turned sharply. "And I'm still doing that duty."

"Exactly," Theo said. "You've spent so long protecting everyone that you forgot how to live for yourself. And you're terrified she'll make the same mistake."

Magnus's mouth opened, then closed.

"You think you're angry at me," Theo said, quieter now. "But you're angry at the world for giving you all that weight. You're angry she found a way out, and that I was the one to give it to her."

Magnus looked at him then, really looked at him, and for a long moment the silence between them was heavy with something old and odd.

"I would die for her," Magnus said at last, breaking the silence with a heavy fragility.

"I know," Theo replied with a faint nod. "So would I."

It wasn't a peace offering. But it was a truth they could both stand on. Both ready to defend Cecilia to their dying breath.

Until a sound came from the door. It was a creak. Both men turned as it opened and Cecilia entered.

She was dressed in a pale morning gown, her hair loose, her eyes a bit puffy from sleep. Her cheeks instantly flushed at the sight of Theo since he hadn't informed her of his early arrival beforehand. And also because she had heard a bit of their conversation before interrupting.

"Let me guess, here to defend him?" Magnus spoke to her with a quick eye roll.

"Defend?" Cecilia folded her arms. "Choosing who I want to love has nothing to do with defense."

"It does because you need my permission to do so," Magnus returned.

His word made her squeeze her eyebrows. "No, I damn well do not. I have already accepted his proposal. And if you truly try to stop us, then I will marry him in Gretna Green. I am not a child. I'm not your property."

Magnus stared at her as though she had slapped him. He had certainly not expected her to choose to elope with a man.

"I mean it," she went on, voice trembling but unwavering at the same time. "I've spent too long letting you make every decision for me, trusting that you knew best. But Theo has never treated me like I was breakable. He trusts me to choose."

"I was trying to protect you," Magnus said hoarsely.

"I know," Cecilia said gently. "But sometimes protection looks like a cage."

A long, suffocating silence filled the atmosphere between the three of them.

Theo could see the words on Magnus's face, the thoughts battling in his mind.

Then eventually, Magnus swallowed with a deep breath. "You're right," he said finally, voice thick. "You're right, and I hate that you are," he added, scratching his hair.

Cecilia blinked in surprise, as if she hadn't quite believed it would work. Was that all she needed to say all these years?

Magnus gave a short laugh. "You've always been too much like our mother. Stubborn. Brave. Infuriating. And you, Emerton," he said, turning his gaze on Theo. "You're reckless. Wild. And exactly what I didn't want for her."

Theo opened his mouth, but Magnus held up a hand.

"But you protected her. You bled for her. And I saw the way she watched over you while you were unconscious—like the world would end if your breath stopped."

Theo looked down, humbled. Short of words for the first time he started speaking with his friend in the room.

"I may never fully approve of this," Magnus continued, "but I'll be damned if I drive her away because of my pride. So," he cleared his throat, almost sheepishly, "You have my blessing."

The moment Magnus spoke, both Theo and Cecilia froze, exchanging a quick glance before an identical smile lit up their faces.

"You might want to write that down," Theo said lightly, "for future proof. In case you try to take it back."

Magnus narrowed his eyes. "You're not that funny."

Cecilia laughed, a bright, relieved sound that broke the tension in the room like sunlight through fog.

Theo took a step forward. "I meant what I said. I'll protect her, Magnus. Not just her body, but her dreams. Her peace. I'll build a life with her worth defending."

"You'd better," Magnus muttered, sitting back down heavily. "Because if you break her heart, I'll make you wish I'd killed you when I had the chance."

"Fair," Theo replied with a dry smug.

Cecilia rolled her eyes. "Would you two like to compare swords next?"

They both turned to her.

"Metaphorically," she added quickly.

Theo laughed. "That depends. Have you told your brother about your scandalous list yet?"

Magnus looked confused. "What list?"

"Nothing," Cecilia said quickly and cleared her throat. "Absolutely nothing of importance."

Theo leaned closer and stage-whispered, "It's how I earned my way to the seventh night."

Cecilia elbowed him in the ribs, her face a shade of crimson he found devastatingly adorable.

At the sight of what just happened, Magnus groaned, "Please, God, strike me down."

"You started it," Theo teased.

As the two men engaged in playful banter, Cecilia stepped closer to her brother, her heart swelled with quiet sincerity, her eyes soft.

"You've always tried to do what's best for me," she said. "But this… this is what I choose. Thank you for trusting me."

Despite how heartfelt and moved he was, he masked it with a humorous indifference before looking away, blinking. "Just don't expect me to smile at your wedding."

"Just show up," Theo chipped in. "That'll be enough," he added, and his words managed to break a smile on Magnus's face.

Then, Magnus exhaled. "You'll want to tell the dowager before word leaks."

Theo groaned. "She's going to insist we marry in the cathedral with half the ton watching."

"I think she'll survive," Cecilia said, linking her arm with Theo's. "Want to see my garden I just started?"

"Certainly." Theo pressed a kiss on her forehead.

As they walked out, Magnus called after them, "Don't think this means I like you again, Emerton."

Theo turned with a grin. "You never liked me. That's what made it fun."

The door clicked shut once they stepped outside. Cecilia looked up at Theo with a grin, stepping in and closing the distance between them.

"Well," she murmured, lifting her arms around his neck, "was that so difficult?"

This made him huff a laugh before drawing her close. "I feel like I've stumbled into an alternate reality. Your brother, agreeing . We must be under a full moon."

"I think he finally realized I'm not a girl he can protect forever," she said, voice teasing but full of meaning. "He doesn't get to dictate what I do with my heart. Or with my body."

Theo's eyes darkened at her tone. "Is that so?" he asked, inching even closer.

She leaned in, brushing her lips along his jaw. "You didn't think I'd let you leave this room without properly celebrating, did you?"

Before he could respond, her mouth claimed his, deep, warm, unmistakably possessive. He staggered back a step, stunned by the shift in her. Gone was the hesitant debutante, this woman was certain, fierce, and utterly devastating.

Sucking his bottom lip, she voiced. "You've pleased my brother. Now let me please you."

Theo's breath caught. "Cecilia, what about this garden you mentioned?"

She chuckled against his mouth. "That can wait," she mumbled, her fingers already working buttons of his waistcoat, her mouth trailing hot kisses along the column of his throat.

"I've thought about this," she whispered. "Every night since you touched me."

His hands found her waist, unsure whether to hold her still or pull her closer. "You're not… nervous?"

"Not in the slightest." Her gaze lifted to his, steady and wild all at once. "I want to worship you tonight."

He groaned at the word. "You're going to ruin me."

"Promise?" she teased.

"Promise," he returned before kissing her smile. "Now show me your bedroom."