Page 73 of Romancing Daphne

A string of unflattering assessments of both himself and his fatherissued forth with the fluency borne of years of silent cursings. He’d sold his integrity for a pack of lies. Like an utter imbecile, he hadn’t even checkedto see if Father had the ability to follow through.

A surge of bleakness tempered his anger. He had failed horribly.

Ben stood once more, a decidedly empathetic expression on his face.“I suppose, though, as the heir, you’ve never before had reason to wonder if you could be permanently cut off.”

He had never worried about that. Father could not ultimately disinherithim.“It is rather ridiculous, then, that his threat to beggar me is the only one he has the power to see through. That is the one that did not work tobeginwith.”

“The income of the heir was not specified in the marriage settlements,” Ben said, empathy ringing deep in his tone.

“Lucky me,” James muttered.

“What do you plan to do?”

James stood, an odd sense of numbness overtaking him.“I need to find someone to look after Mother—guard her from Father’s coldness.”

“A companion?” Ben asked.

James nodded.“Afiercecompanion, but one who will treat her with kindness.”

“That likely should have been done years ago,” Ben said.

James took a fortifying breath, his mind already listing the necessary steps to finding his mother a lady to keep her company and champion her.“I also need to find a source of income,” he said as much to himself as his brother.

“Employment?”

He couldn’t blame Ben for being shocked. Few members of thetonwould lower themselves to seeking work. Most would live off their expectations or the generosity of their friends. “I’ve made enough selfish decisions lately. It’s time I begin taking responsibility for myself.”

Ben laid a hand on his shoulder.“Do you remember all those times wetalked about finding the strength to choose our own paths? It is time you made good on those long-ago promises to yourself.”

His own path. “That is a daunting prospect for a fellow who is at his lowest point and rather glaringly alone.”

“You may have lost the devotion of a very remarkable lady, one who could probably navigate this maze with her eyes shut and her hands tied behind her back—”

James smiled a bit at the picture his brother painted. Daphne was, by all accounts, awe-inspiring. So capable and determined. He would never find another lady like her.

“—but you still have me,” Ben finished. “I know poverty rather well. I’ll show you how to live it in style.”

“I look forward to your tutelage.” James tried for a rueful smile, the effort feeling as though it fell decidedly short of the mark.

“Now get out so I can pack.” Ben’s smile took all the sting out of hiswords. But as quickly as it had appeared, hissmile faded.“I wish all of thishadn’t hurt Miss Lancaster.”

“I made her cry, Ben.” Regret solidified as a lump in his throat. “She deserves so much better than the way I’ve treated her.”

“You said before that you thought the two of you could have been happy together. Was that just wishful thinking or . . . ?” Ben let the rest of the question dangle unspoken.

“I haven’t stopped thinking about her since yesterday. Not just the regrets and the hating myself for what I did, but thinking abouther.Where she is. How she’s feeling. What it would take to see her again, and how impossible that hope is.”

Ben set his hand on James’s shoulder.“I am sorry . . . about everything.”

“So am I,” James said.“More sorry than I can even say.”

“What comes next?” Ben asked.

“I need to talk to Mother.” He only hoped she would hold up. Difficulties undid her easily.

He stepped inside his mother’s bedchamber, coming face-to-face with the writing desk where Daphne had expertly concocted teas and tisanes to see Mother through that difficult night. He stood there a moment, mourning what might have been.

“James.” Mother’s characteristically quiet voice reached him from herplace near the fire. She was out of bed. That was a good sign. “I am so pleasedyou’ve come. I had hoped we could visit before I returned to Lancashire.”

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