Page 67 of Snowbound Regency Christmas
The ride to Pickwich only took a couple of hours, but it felt like an eternity.
Chapter Ten
Devin sat close to Julia in the coach, but he did not know what to say. Despite his best intentions, their predicament was entirely his fault. He should never have said that they were married or used his real surname. The moment those words came from his mouth, he had ruined Julia’s reputation. And there was only one way to retrieve it: a real marriage. The thought of marrying her did not dismay him as it would have only a few days before. He longed to bed her and he enjoyed her wit. And as her husband, rather than her legal representative, Devin would have an easier time obtaining her yearly income from her trustees. He was only sorry to have taken away their choice in the matter and for the rift it would inevitably cause between himself and his only brother.
How he wished that he could go back three days and stop himself from his foolhardy declaration that Julia was his wife!
But then, he would not have gotten to spend so much time with her. Nor would he have discovered her penchant for interesting insults and her clever tongue. Groaning inwardly, he realised that this time the gossip and scandal would be entirely his fault. Not hers. He deserved to lose clients.
Devin prepared a speech in his head. The coach was uncommonly silent. The Macks’ behaviour grated on his fraying patience. Neither Mr nor Mrs Mack would look Julia in the eye as their daughter sat happily between them holding the dolly that Julia had made for her instead of screaming like she had on their first journey. But it appeared that the Macks had already forgotten her goodness and kindness. All that mattered was her damaged reputation, which Devin was determined to restore.
When the coach stopped at a posting inn in Pickwich, Devin got out and helped Julia descend. Then he carried both of their trunks into the warm inn, where he saw Sir Eustace’s driver standing near the bar. The man was no doubt waiting to take Julia to Broadwick Abbey. Devin couldn’t allow her to go alone and face the disgrace. He set down the trunks, took Julia’s elbow and whispered, ‘I will take care of everything.’
‘You will lay information about Mr Rhys and Mr Pip?’
He shook his head. The jewel thieves were the least of their worries. ‘I meant about us. I will speak to your father and we will wed immediately. You needn’t worry about anything.’
Julia jerked away from him, causing his hand to drop from her arm. ‘Oh, Devin. I don’t need another man in my life telling me what to do. I will go home by myself and contact you, as my barrister, when I return to London for help with my trustees. I’ve already paid you an entire ha’penny.’
He stepped towards her but didn’t touch her. ‘But your reputation—’
‘Has survived worse. Happy Christmas, chaw-bacon.’
Devin watched her walk away and he could not stop her. Nor could he protect her. Shoulders sagging, he went to the constable’s house and reported the stolen necklace. The constable went at once to the mail coach and, with the help of three grooms from the inn, hauled Rhys and Pip out of the carriage and into the local roundhouse.
Once he ascertained that thieves were in custody, Devin picked up his trunk and left the posting inn for the barn where he hired a horse to take him to Riverdale House. The ostler tied his luggage to the saddle and Devin rode home feeling colder and more miserable than he ever had in his entire life.
He was met by a groom at the front of his brother’s house, who took the horse’s bridle and promised to bring his trunk up to his room. Devin walked into his brother’s home empty-handed and alone.
Joshua strode forward to meet Devin and swept him up in a tight hug. ‘I was so worried about you, brother.’
Behind them stood Roger Ashby, his brother’s steward. ‘I nearly had to restrain the baron from riding out into the snowstorm to find you.’
Stepping back from his brother, Devin forced himself to politely smile at the man. ‘I am glad you were so prudent, Mr Ashby, but would you mind if I spoke privately with my brother?’
Joshua jovially clapped him on the shoulder. ‘Of course. Of course. Why don’t you come into the library and I’ll pour us both a glass of sherry? And Roger can go back to reading his book. He hates to be interrupted during the good parts.’
Devin could use a little fortified drink right then. He followed his brother down the grand hall and into the library. Books lined every wall and as a barrister, Devin couldn’t help but appreciate how much wisdom had always been available at his fingertips. But what he needed to know now only his elder brother could tell him. Turning toward the credenza, he saw Joshua pouring them both a tumbler of sherry. His brother handed Devin one first and then lifted his own glass. ‘To safe journeys.’
Devin tried to echo the kind sentiment but found himself tongue-tied. To ask his brother about his broken engagement felt like tearing the scab off an old wound to watch it bleed again. Yet Julia had insisted that she broke off the engagement because Joshua loved another. And Devin now trusted her: he believed that she had told him the truth.
His brother’s eyebrows furrowed. ‘What’s wrong, D?’
One side of Devin’s mouth quirked up at the old nickname. He took a long sip of sherry and then forced himself to ask ‘Why did Julia break your engagement? Is it true that she found you in the arms of another woman? And if so, then why have you not married that woman?’
The smile faded from Joshua’s face and he set down his glass on the nearest side table. ‘Why do you ask?’
Devin drained the rest of his drink and then placed his empty tumbler next to Joshua’s glass. Nervously, he raked his hands through his hair. ‘Julia was on the mail coach with me. I—we were snowed-in together for two nights and I grew to know her…and to appreciate her wit and beauty. She insisted that she ended the engagement for your happiness and I need to know the truth because…because I’m falling in love with her.’
Joshua inhaled sharply. ‘Julia is a very loyal person and I am grateful for her silence on the subject. It is not one that I ever meant to speak to you about. Perhaps I should have, only—’ his elder brother swallowed and his face was tinged with red ‘—it is a private thing and I am not embarrassed by the person that I love, but the world would not understand. And I am afraid that you will not either.’
Rubbing the centre of his chest, Devin was a little hurt that his brother did not trust him with his confidences. ‘I am your brother. You can tell me anything. And I don’t care if you want to marry one of your former mistresses or turn a milkmaid into your baroness. I’ve never sought your title or your inheritance. I only care about you, Joshua.’
‘And Miss Julia Sullivan, it would seem.’
Devin felt his own cheeks growing hot and he tried not to think of their terrible parting. ‘Yes.’
His brother turned away from Devin, his gaze out the window, rather than meeting his brother’s eyes. ‘I think it is important for you to know that I have always been this way—for as long as I can remember… I have found men attractive rather than women.’
