Page 39

“Oh, how I wish. You’d think seeing your ugly mug would be enough but, alas, your sister has far more sinister motives.”

Ezra rubbed the bridge of his nose. He was never in the mood for Frederic’s antics, but when his sister got a bee in her bonnet she was unbearable.

“Fine.” He grounded out. “What does she want from me?”

“To be happy.”

Ezra’s stomach flopped. His eyes opened and landed on his friend who was sitting with a blasted smug look on his face.

“Excuse me?”

Frederic cocked his head to the side. “Are you daft, Your Grace? What don’t you understand?”

Ezra sat up. “Just go, Frederic. Tell my sister you saw me and that I’m fine. I’m happy. Whatever she wants. Just leave me be.”

Frederic shook his head. “Sorry, you know I can’t go back to your sister with that.”

Ezra rolled his eyes and groaned. “What does it matter what you tell her? Just go.”

“Ezra. Why are you putting yourself through this?”

Ezra rolled his lips and finally took a swig of his whisky. The burn coated his throat and settled in an uneasy stomach that was currently rolling with tension.

“I’m not doing anything.” He said through gritted teeth.

“You are punishing yourself for something that is not your fault. We’ve had this conversation too many times and your sister and I let it go because there was no one else at stake. You were only hurting yourself.”

Ezra huffed. “And what do you think has changed now? Why double down on this conversation now?”

“You know why.” Frederic leaned in and rested his elbows on his knees.

Ezra snickered. “Enlighten me.”

“You’re not only hurting yourself, you’re hurting her.”

Ezra’s breath caught in his throat. His mind started to race along with his heart rate. He’s not hurting her. He can’t be. His whole reasoning as to why he can’t be with her was to protect her from harm, from being hurt.

“She’ll get over it.” He ran his tongue over his teeth. He knew the words fell short, he didn’t know for sure she would recover, he could only hope. Amos was a good man, he made sure of it, he looked into him. She will be happy with him. She deserved someone like Amos.

“Who are you to say she will?” Frederic countered.

“Because I know.”

“You thought you knew about Damon.”

Ezra’s blood began to boil. “Low blow, brother.” He voice held the threat of retaliation. “Besides, weren’t you just saying that wasn’t my fault?”

Frederic nodded. “I was.” He cast his eyes out over the rest of the club while he gathered himself. “Look, all we’re saying is you might be the Duke and therefore are in the know of a lot of things, but when it comes to the matters of the heart you have to admit you are woefully inexperienced.”

Ezra smirked as he took another healthy sip of his whisky. “I know my way around a woman.”

“Sex is a different animal than love, Ezra. You may know sex, but you don’t know love.”

Ezra flinched, Frederic’s words poked at an already gaping hole where his heart should be. He dropped his gaze to his now empty tumbler.

“Ah, that’s where you’re wrong, brother. I did know love.” He said quietly.

Frederic sat up. “Did know?”

Ezra slowly nodded. “I let her go. For her own good.”

Frederic laughed before standing and pacing back and forth between the two chairs. “You’re unbelievable, you know that? You always think you’re the only one who can fix things.”

Ezra looked up to his friend. “What do you mean?”

Frederic stopped his pacing and looked down at Ezra. “Your sister? Beatrice? You think your solution is the only viable solution.”

Ezra stood toe-to-toe with Frederic. “If I remember correctly you were with me every step of the way when it came to avenging Harriet.”

“And Beatrice?” Frederic asked.

“What of her?” Ezra spat.

“What does she say about the ending of your relationship?”

Ezra bit his tongue. He could still see her heart breaking as she sat on his bed listening to him give all his reasons why he can’t be with her.

“She understands my position.” He voice was low and gravelly.

Frederic put his hands on his hips. “Did she? Or was she too hurt to counter? Because I’ve been in fights with you, you can be exhausting.”

Ezra rolled his lips and rubbed his temples. “I’d ruin her.”

There.

He said it.

“She’s already ruined.”

Ezra’s hands dropped from his face and tightened into fists at his sides. “What did you say?”

Frederic looked around at the other gentlemen who were too busy in their own world to pay any mind to them.

“I know you, Ezra. I know you better than you think. There is no way you didn’t lay claim to that woman.

And it’s not only because she was willing, anyone who saw you two together knew there was a deeper connection there than either of you let on.

She opened something within you, Ezra. Why close it back off? ”

“Because…” Why couldn’t he think of an answer? He always had an answer. “Because!”

Frederic laughed to himself. “Because is not a reason, Ezra. Why?”

Ezra ran his hands through his hair. “I’ll make her miserable. It’s what I do.”

“Was she happy when you parted ways?”

Beatrice’s blood shot eyes, pinched in the corners to stop the flow of tears flashed in his mind’s eye. She looked broken and desperate. She looked miserable.

“No.” He admitted.

“Was she happy before you told her you couldn’t be with her?”

Damn Frederic and his questions.

Ezra took a breath. “Very.”

“Seems like by trying to keep her from being ruined and miserable you made her… ruined and miserable. Well done, old chap.” Frederic clapped Ezra on the back.

Ezra narrowed his eyes on Frederic. “And what do you suggest I do? She’s supposed to marry Amos tomorrow. It’s done.”

The two men stood in silence for a moment. Ezra could see an excited Beatrice walking down the aisle, only the man standing at the end wasn’t him. It was Amos. He heart thudded at the realization of what he gave up.

He sat back down in his chair and signaled for another whisky.

Frederic extended his hand to his friend. “Since when do we let things go without a fight?”

Ezra looked at his friend’s hand then up to his eyes. “It’s over, Frederic. I need to let her be.”

“Will you be happy with that outcome?”

Ezra rolled his lips.

“May I remind you who sent me here in the first place and her mission she wanted completed?” Frederic nudged Ezra’s shoulder with his hand. “Haven’t you ever wondered what your life would be like with someone like Beatrice by your side? Someone who challenges you, cares for you, loves you?”

Ezra ran his hands through his hair again. “I never allowed myself to think like that.”

Frederic pursed his lips. “What will make you happy, brother?”

Ezra took the offered hand and stood up.

“Beatrice.”