Page 102 of A Bride for the Devilish Duke
“It wasshewho suggested it,” Harry smiled.
Damien laughed, seeing the reality and feeling happy for his brother.
“I will see to it then.”
“Now, to business,” Harry sat up with some difficulty.
Damien stepped forward to help but Harry waved him away.
“What of the enterprise? What remains of the old brute's legacy?” Harry asked sharply.
“Wapping. The largest and most valuable of them all.”
“And what is your plan?”
Damien dropped to the chair vacated by Elsie, suddenly exhausted. He let his head loll back, thinking of Emma. Thinking of his broken oath.
Should I tell him that I have given up our plan? That I have broken my oath and told Emma our secret?
“Well? You must realize that the completion of our plan is one of the few things keeping me alive, brother. I will not allow this body to succumb while that plan is incomplete. Especially with its fruition so close. When Wapping is burned to the ground, there will be nothing left of Geoffrey Fitzgerald. We can sell thishouse and split the proceeds. You can take Emma to America or India or Canada. Anywhere. Begin anew,” Harry said with zeal.
“We have never spoken so of our plans after the completion of our revenge,” Damien pointed out.
“I have not spoken because I did not wish to distract you. And because I believed that I had nothing to live for once it was complete. Now though...”
There was a speculative look on Harry's face, then a smile.
How long since I saw him smile last? In such a genuine way?
“Elsie?” Damien asked.
Harry nodded, still grinning. “Call me an old fool if you like...”
“You're an old fool,” Damien said without pause.
Harry laughed. “But I am quite taken with her. And, miracle of miracles, she seems quite taken with me. I make no assumptions and would allow her to make her own choices, but away from this place, I think we could have something special.”
“A Duke and a lady’s maid?” Damien chuckled.
Harry shook his head immediately. “I am not a Duke, Damien. You are. In my strongbox, up in the tower, I have a signedaffidavit from Wilkins which only requires your signature and seal. It gives my identity as your cousin, on our mother's side. Twice removed. Untraceable. Sign it, and allow me to slip away into anonymity knowing that our life's work has been completed.”
Damien looked at his brother open-mouthed.
“Do it, brother, and we can both begin a new chapter in our lives. A hopeful chapter,” Harry said, offering his hand.
If I tell him that the work will never be done, it will break him. He has hope. For the first time that I can remember, he has hope for the future. I will not take that away from him.
Damien stood and clasped his brother's hand.
“Wapping will burn,” Damien muttered intently.
“Wapping will burn,” Harry echoed with a wolfish grin.
“Tomorrow night.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
“Isimply cannot think why we have not visited with you before now, Your Grace!” Lady Lydia Hamilton exclaimed.
