Page 79 of A Duchess to Reclaim

“You know what, I’m going inside to fetch some food,” Everett said, “Give you two time to talk.”

Tristan sighed wearily as he and Dominic were left alone. Dominic rubbed his temples, wishing for the first time in weeks that he was actually sober.

“This isn’tyou, Dominic,” Tristan said, his voice more restrained, “You and I. We face our lives head on. We don’t hide between whiskey like Everett or use our secrets as shields like Hugo. We,weface life! We wrangle and force it to bend to our will.”

“If I were drunk I would take offense to that,” Everett piped up, coming back out with a tray of food and a pitcher of water, “But now that I am sober most of the time I can see how you would arrive to that conclusion.”

He sat down the tray, poured Dominic a glass of water, and sat a hunk of bread before him.

“The young Earl is right, you know,” he added, nodding toward Tristan.

“You let Amelia go because you were afraid she was going to try to change you. But you already changed yourself. Personally I’d rather have you lovestruck and changed than-”

He paused, waving a hand at Dominic, “-whateverthisversion of you is.”

Dominic narrowed his red-rimmed eyes toward Everett.

“Since when did you become so wise?” He asked.

Everett flashed a charming smile and shrugged his shoulders.

“Someonetold me that there was more to life than whiskey and morally questionable women,” he replied. “Turns out they were right.”

Dominic huffed out a laugh, feeling clearer than he had in weeks.

“I have been foolish,” he stated.

“Perhaps,” Tristan said with a smirk. “But do not dwell on the past. It is time to prepare for the future. Something you are very good at.”

He sat down next to Dominic and pushed the hunk of bread toward him a little closer.

“So get something in your stomach to sop up all that whiskey, get some fresh air, and then for the sake of us all, wash the stink off of you. I adore you, old boy, but you smell worse than the fish market.”

Dominic lowered his nose to his armpit and nearly made himself retch.

“Jesus,” he muttered, jerking his head away. “I had no idea.”

Everett and Tristan laughed at Dominic’s expression as Tristan slapped him on the back. They were right, he realized. About everything. He needed to get himself together, get to Ellsworth, and beg for forgiveness. And though she had no reason to, he prayed to God that Amelia would let him come back.

As he worked at eating the bread and drinking the water, which was a task all its own since he had nothing in his system but whiskey for the last several days, he sat in the moonlight as Everett and Tristan filled him in on all the business he’d missed.

He was astounded by the amount of covering his friends had done for him, the deals they’d been able to save as he wallowed in misery and self-pity. They had truly been there for him when he’d fallen, and though he’d always cherished his friends, he had never expected they would go so far to protect him when his luck would turn.

After an hour of conversing, breathing in the cool, refreshing night air, and eating nearly two loaves of bread, Dominic’s head had stopped throbbing, he’d stopped shaking, and his vision was much clearer. He was just about to get up to go get a much-needed bath when the butler stepped through the terrace doors. Dominic rose to his feet as he saw the man’s anxious expression and felt another pit form in his stomach.

“What is it?” He asked, Tristan and Everett rising at his sides.

“There is a man from Ellsworth here to see you, Your Grace,” Alex replied. “He says he is the captain of the guard there, and has some urgent news.”

Dominic felt the world spin again- this time for a very different reason.

“Where is he?” he demanded.

“He is waiting for you in the foyer, Your Grace,” Alex replied, bowing toward Dominic.

Not waiting to hear anything else, Dominic hurried past the butler, Everett and Tristan right behind him, and made his way to the entrance hall.

“Jonathan,” he said, greeting the head guard with a nod. “What are you doing here? You are supposed to be watching my wife.”

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