Page 34 of Under the Earl's Wicked Spell

“Leave them for now,” Sebastien rasped. “I’m sure I’ll be asking you to close them again in a moment when I’m freezing.”

“All right.”

Rafe didn’t know what to say. Lots of things were going on in his head. Mostly despair and panic. The thought of losing his brother as well as his father within days of each other was too much for him to think about. He pushed that away. It wasn’t going to happen.

“It’s true, then?” Sebastien asked, his voice still croaking. “Father’s dead? I know you told me. At least, I think you did.”

“He’s dead.” Rafe swallowed. “He passed away this morning.”

“Oh, God. I was…I was hoping I was hallucinating.” Sebastien licked his lips. “Water? Please?”

Rafe realised his hands were shaking as he poured a glass of water and helped Sebastien to rise up onto his side, keeping his head up as Sebastien awkwardly took a sip. It had him coughing again, and he fell back against the pillows.

“Forgive me….”

“It’s fine. It’s just getting harder.” Sebastien wheezed as he adjusted himself again, pushing the sheets down to his chest. He had demanded that his nightshirt be taken off, and his bare chest was covered in sweat. He was bright red right all over, something Rafe tried not to stare at. “I don’t think it’s going to be much longer before I join him.”

“What? What are you talking about?” Rafe put the glass down. “You shouldn’t talk like that. You’re going to get better, and then you are going to take charge. You’ve got a wedding to be at in ten days, don’t you? I’m sure they can’t do anything without the groom.”

“Please don’t try and make me laugh. It hurts too much.” Sebastien ran his hands over his face before his arms flopped onto the bed. “God, this is horrible. I can’t wait to die so I can feel better.”

Rafe frowned.

“Sebastien, I know you’re sick, but you shouldn’t speak in that way. We all feel like death when we’re ill. You’re going to be better soon.”

“You’ve never had scarlet fever, have you?”

“I’ve been lucky in that regard.” Rafe took his brother’s hand. “You’re going to be fine. And I’m going to say it over and over again until you believe me.”

Sebastien’s mouth twitched. He closed his eyes for a brief moment, his breathing getting raspier.

“Will you promise me something, Rafe?”

“Of course. Anything.”

“Will you honour my commitment?”

“Commitment?”

“To marry Victoria Hayward.”

Rafe stared. Had he heard that correctly?

“You are hallucinating again, aren’t you? Why would I do that? She hates us.”

“She doesn’t have a choice. Neither of us do, really.”

“You have a choice. You could always say it’s not going to happen. Why would…?”

“Please, just listen to me.” Sebastien suddenly gripped his brother’s hand with a strength Rafe didn’t realise he possessed. “Victoria is an innocent in all of this. She doesn’t deserve this, but she doesn’t have a choice.”

“What are…?”

“Thetonsees Victoria’s family as cursed. Richard’s death…it made everyone think there was something wrong with them, especially when Victoria never entered society. She has no prospects. Nobody wants to marry her with the death of her brother looming over the family.” Sebastien swallowed, the sound making Rafe hurt inside. “Her life is done for. She doesn’t deserve to live with parents who are eventually going to resent her. Perhaps they already do.”

“Sebastien….”

“Richard was my friend. He made me promise that I would look after Victoria if he wasn’t around. I don’t think he…I don’t think he meant when he was dead, though. I said that I would, even if this wasn’t how I planned.”

---