by Gaelen Foley
“If you really thought you’d left her unprotected, you should not have set sail,” Jason countered in a steely tone. “I protected her while you were gone, actually.”
“Gentlemen, please!” Felicity tried, but Pete shook his head with a low, bitter laugh.
“You villain.”
“Oh, come! Is that what you really think of me?” Jason burst out, his face reddening, his stomach in knots.
“It’s hard not to! Look at the two of you! I’m not blind!” Pete bellowed. “It’s more than obvious what you’ve been doing here! What, she actually spent the night with you? How long has this been going on? While I was away at the war, too?”
“Peter! Oh, for heaven’s sake. We are to be married! Look!” Felicity marched forward, lifting her hand to show him the gigantic engagement ring that had not yet been on her finger for twenty-four hours. “You see? I am going to be the next Duchess of Netherford. Isn’t that wonderful news?” she demanded, forcing him to focus on her words.
Pete stared at the ring, then furrowed his brow, apparently unconvinced. But he holstered his pistol. “Why? Are you pregnant?”
“Peter!” she cried.
“She’s not!” Jason bit out, though he knew he deserved that one.
Pete glared at his sister. “Why are you sleeping with him if you aren’t married yet? Our mother raised you better than that! I suppose this is our aunt’s influence on you.” He shook his head in withering disapproval. “Oh, Felicity. I always knew you had a weakness for this one, but after I warned you so many times how he treats women, how could you let him seduce you—”
“Actually,” she cut him off, “I’d say it was pretty well mutual, Peter. We seduced each other. And I will not apologize for that. I love him. I always have.” She took a step closer, striving to calm her brother’s fury. “Peter, try to understand. Jason and I are to be married. I’d hope you could be happy for us.”
He eyed her in stunned, brooding disapproval. “Happy?”
“Jason was there for me when I needed him. You were on the other side of the world, as usual.” She glanced over her shoulder at Jason, as though seeking reassurance.
When he nodded gently at her, she faced her brother again and continued. “You don’t know how close we’ve become in these past weeks.”
“Oh, I’ll bet.” Pete glowered past his sister at Jason, but for his part, all he could do was stand there, woodenly, feeling awful and numb, and thinking himself the worst, lowest bounder in the world.
Pete clearly agreed with that assessment. “So naive,” he said coldly to his sister. “You don’t know him like I do, Felicity.” His scowl swung back to Jason. “But I want to hear what this cur has to say for himself.”
The major took another menacing step into the room. “How long have you been scheming this little game of yours, Jase?”
“I didn’t scheme anything. And it isn’t a game! You weren’t here, you don’t know. And you obviously aren’t listening,” Jason mumbled.
Felicity maneuvered to keep herself between them, apparently worried that violence might yet break out. “Peter, I understand you’re only being protective, and I love you for it, but he’s good to me. I know he earned his nickname as the Duke of Scandal in the past, but it’s different between us. He’s changed.”
He scoffed at her. “Do you know how many other silly females have believed that before you?”
“It is different,” Jason vowed, starting to get a little offended. “It’s true. Everybody grows up sometime, Carvel. Maybe it takes a woman to force it on the likes of us.”
“Don’t compare me to the way that you’ve behaved! I haven’t peopled the world with bastards.”
“Peter!” Felicity smacked her brother lightly on the arm for calling the children that, but Jason merely shook his head.
“At least I’m not always running away,” he murmured to his friend with a knowing look.
Pete had no answer to that accusation, it seemed; he merely folded his arms across his chest and pinned Jason in a withering stare.
“Look,” Jason said in a resolute tone, “I know she’ll always be your baby sister, but Felicity is not a little girl anymore.”
“Not a virgin anymore, either,” Pete muttered in disgust.
“She’s a grown woman—and damn it, I adore her, as you well know!” Jason exploded. “I’m marrying her, so shoot me if you have to. She’d be worth it.” He swallowed hard and did his best to check his anger. “Just don’t ask me to live without her. Because I can’t. I won’t. She’s everything to me.”
Felicity gazed at him with tenderness shining in her eyes at his blunt confession. The love pouring out of her steadied him, even though he feared he was even now losing his best friend.
But if that was the sacrifice he had to make, the last remnant of his overlong boyhood, then so be it.
She truly was worth it.
Pete scrutinized the glance that passed between them. Jason looked at him again, ready to face whatever consequences came, pay whatever price.
Still, he didn’t want to hurt Pete. God knew the poor bastard had been through a lot. “Carvel, there’s no man alive I respect more than you,” Jason said. “I’ve known you all my life. I would never betray you. I stayed away from her for as long as I could. I know exactly why you feel this way—no one knows the sordid details of my past better than you do. But people can change.”
He paused, and swallowed hard. “Felicity loves me. None of those other women ever did, and I…I need her, you see. The two of us belong together, and I won’t apologize for that. Only for my timing. So hate me if you must. Call me out and shoot me if it makes you feel better. I’ll delope before I’d ever pull the trigger at you. But know this. Nothing you can do or say will ever change my love for her. I’d die for her without a qualm.”
“Well, don’t do that,” Felicity mumbled with a frown, glancing anxiously from him to Pete.
Pete stared at him, brow furrowed in skeptical confusion. He was well aware that Jason had never uttered such heartfelt sentiments about any woman—indeed, any topic—before in his entire life, cynic that he had always been.
“Well, well.” Pete glanced at Felicity, then back at him, suspiciously. “So while I was out taming the wilderness, it looks like little sis was back in Town taming the rogue from hell. Is that it?”
Jason lifted his chin. “Yes,” he said firmly, more than willing to swallow his pride for once and just admit it. “Felicity changed everything. You know how special she is, Pete. She brings out the best in me.” He glanced at her. “She makes me want to be a better man.”
“Well, you couldn’t be worse,” Pete muttered, but Jason and Felicity both ignored his sardonic quip, staring at each other.
“Sweeting,” she whispered, and came over to stand beside Jason, taking his hand.
Jason clung to it, staring at her with his heart in his eyes and emotions welling inside him that he could never have put words to. She was so precious to him. His life before this love had flowered between them seemed like nothing but a dark, restless dream. He had been asleep, indeed, until that morning she’d come banging on his door. She had woken him up in more ways than one, and he had never felt more alive.
She turned to her brother. “Peter, please. We both love you so much, but you have to understand. We need to be together. We’d like to have your blessing.”
Pete directed his answer to Jason. “Are you telling me she knows about your children?”
“I do,” she answered for him, nodding. “We spent all of yesterday taking care of Simon, who’s very keen to see you, by the way. I understand you are his godfather.”
Pete’s angry expression softened just a little at the mention of the four-year-old who idolized him.
“Peter, don’t you see?” Felicity pleaded softly. “We could all be…a family now. Jason’s never had that. Not like you and I did, though even ours ended too soon. Brother, please, don’t choose bitterness. You’ve been gone so lo
ng, and I’ve been so worried about you. So much has happened. I want to tell you all of it—”
“Er, some things I don’t want to know, trust me,” he interrupted, rolling his eyes and lifting a hand to stop her from revealing certain details that, of course, she’d had no intention of sharing.
Like the first time they had made love on that wonderful stormy night…
Lord, was that just two nights ago? Jason thought, amazed. He already felt as though their love had existed forever.
But Felicity had faltered at her elder brother’s reproach. Guilt flickered across her lovely face. “Peter, I know we should’ve waited, um, for marriage—but I didn’t want to! You know I’ve always been in love with him.”
“Aye. I know,” Pete finally admitted, starting to relent. He looked at Jason. “I’m your oldest friend, you idiot. You think I didn’t notice that my sister’s infatuation with you was hardly one-sided?”
Felicity glanced up at Jason in surprise. “It wasn’t?”
“Why do you think I took such pains to stay away from you?” he muttered.
“I just didn’t want you to hurt her!” Pete exclaimed. “I didn’t want you playing with her heart. She’s my sister. And she’s not like the women you are used to.”
“I know that, Pete. You must believe me,” Jason said sincerely. “I want no part of that mad life anymore. It was killing me, and I know full well it’s wrong. All I want from now on is Felicity, and for you to accept this as best you can. I promise you, I’ll treat her like a queen.”
“He already does,” she said. “You should’ve heard how he defended my honor when you were away.”
“Oh, really?” Pete gave her a skeptical frown and leaned down to prop his elbow on a nearby wooden chairback.
Felicity nodded. “He fought all the men in his club for my sake.”
“You’re jesting. The Grand Albion?”
“Yes, because those rogues made a wager over me.”
“What?”
“It’s all taken care of,” Jason assured him before Pete was inspired to vent his wrath elsewhere.
The major looked displeased and confused, arching a brow at this additional news, but he was clearly considering matters, and perhaps realizing there was nothing he could do to stop this. “Well, I suppose the chit could do worse than snare herself a duke. Even one who’s a bloody scapegrace of a bounder.”
Jason sighed and lowered his head, but with his gaze downcast, he missed the faintest hint of sardonic humor that had begun to gleam in his friend’s eyes.
“Well, damn me,” the adventurer drawled at last. “Looks like somebody finally brought the Duke of Scandal to heel. I’m proud of you, sis.”
Jason lifted his head abruptly, hearing the humor in Pete’s voice.
Her brother wasn’t scowling anymore.
“You’re not…angry?” Jason asked hopefully.
Pete snorted, then directed his answer to Felicity. “I’ve been waiting for years for this blackguard to get his head on straight so I could give him leave to chase you. But looking at the two of you now, well, I suppose the two of you deserve each other—a headstrong little vixen and Naughty Netherford. That’s just bloody perfect, ain’t it?”
“We think so.” Felicity grinned at her brother and hugged Jason’s arm, but then shot a mock scowl at Pete. “Don’t call him that anymore. He’s a good boy now.”
Pete scoffed, and even Jason feared that was taking things a bit too far.
“I’ll believe it when I see it,” Pete replied. Then he let out a jaundiced sigh. “Very well, if you two are fixed on this daft plan, I can hardly stop you. Who am I to stand in the way of true love? But I’m warning you, man—”
“I know,” Jason interrupted.
“As for you.” Pete turned to his sister. “It’s on your own head now. If your good boy breaks your heart, don’t come cryin’ to me.”
“Hold on—if I get hurt?” she shot back. “You think me marrying Jason is risky? This from a man who just spent six months in the jungle? With the tigers and the snakes and the malaria?”
“Don’t forget the headhunters,” Jason reminded her, then quirked a smile at his friend. “Well, she does have a point.”
“You do remember, brother, how I begged you not to go? But did you listen to me? Of course not. Maybe Aunt Kirby was right all along, and it’s just not in our blood to play it safe. Trekking off with the tigers was what you needed to do. And Jason was the one who made it possible for you, don’t forget.”
“Not that his generosity entitled him to my sister’s virtue,” Pete replied with yet another disapproving smirk.
“Not that that’s any of your business!” Felicity cried with a scarlet blush. “Anyway, it’s not like you can talk, brother. I mean, you’re not married, and I rather doubt you’re a virgin.”
Pete’s jaw dropped at her frank observation, while Jason grinned. “That’s none of your affair! Such talk!” The major snorted with a sheepish blush. “I daresay this blackguard’s been a bad influence on you.”
“Maybe. But he makes me deliriously happy, Peter, and I love him.” She slipped her arms around Jason’s waist.
He rested his arm across her shoulders in turn. “Pete, I’m marrying your sister, end of story,” he informed him, giving up on diplomacy. “I’d be grateful if you could accept it, but if not, too damned bad. I can’t do without her. I won’t give her up. Don’t ask me to apologize for loving her. I don’t regret a thing. Felicity is like no other woman in this world—and frankly, you’re not the only one who was dying inside.”
Everyone fell silent.
Jason and Felicity exchanged a heartfelt look while Pete pondered his confession.
“Well,” her brother muttered at last, “I guess there’s only one thing left to say.”
They both looked at him anxiously.
“Congratulations,” he grumbled.
Felicity let out a soft cry of gratitude and released Jason, rushing forward to hug her brother.
Pete returned her embrace awkwardly after a moment, then took a deep breath and met Jason’s gaze over her shoulder, sending him a nod of begrudging assent to the match.
Felicity kissed him on the cheek. “Welcome home, brother. Your friends and family missed you. But, Lud, you smell!”
“Well, pardon me, little miss duchess! I was on a ship for the past two months, if you don’t mind.”
Jason smiled ruefully. “Do you want some breakfast?”
Pete eyed him warily for a minute. “I could eat. I have missed Hannah’s cooking,” he admitted.
“Yes! Come, sit down and eat with us,” Felicity said. “I have so much to tell you. Sad news about Great-Aunt Kirby, I’m afraid. That’s how this all started…”
Behind him, Felicity launched into telling him all that had happened and cajoled her brother into taking the chair across from her at the table.
Jason went to the doorway and beckoned to Woodcombe, who was waiting anxiously in the corridor.
He rejoined the Carvels with his worried old butler just a few steps behind. He gestured at Pete. “Tell Woodcombe what you’d like Hannah to make you for breakfast. Then we want to hear all about your discoveries. And those elephants.”
“Oh, yes, did you see any out there in the wilds?” Felicity seconded, since all of them were rather desperate for a change of subject.
As Pete glanced over to tell Woodcombe what he wanted Hannah to make for him, Jason sent his bride-to-be a private look of relief.
She reached over discreetly and gave his hand a reassuring squeeze. Slowly exhaling, Jason sat down beside her, turned his palm upward under the table, and linked his fingers through hers, out of sight.
Funny how one touch from her made everything better. But, ’sblood, that could have turned into a tragedy just now, he was well aware. Pete seemed better than before he’d gone away, but it was hard to tell for sure, given the rude homecoming he had just received.
Having told Woodcombe his b
reakfast order, Pete accepted a cup of tea from Felicity but still studied Jason with a certain degree of wariness, as though weighing whether the changes in him were real.
Jason returned his stare openly with nothing left to hide, not even the slight twinge of envy that while his friend got to go traipsing round the world having adventures, duty and fatherhood kept him here.
As for the matter of their pending marriage, though, Jason’s stoic gaze told Pete the one simple fact: He and Felicity were going to be together, come what may.
And on that point, he was as immovable as the great stone mountain that her brother had named after him.
EPILOGUE
As It Should Be
The stars twinkled over Moonlight Square, but Netherford House was lit up brilliantly on the night of their engagement party.
Felicity had chosen a pale green gown for the grand occasion, while Jason looked dashing in a plum-colored tailcoat. Given the sensation their match had created, they had decided on throwing a rout for the event.
This brisk-paced style of gathering would move guests in and out quickly, for there were hundreds of people who wanted to attend.
The wedding, by contrast, would be a small, private affair, and would take place at Jason’s ancestral pile in the country. After playing on the castle grounds throughout her childhood, Felicity could barely believe the place was about to become her home.
Tonight, however, given the erstwhile Duke of Scandal’s popularity as one of the leading rakehells in Society—former rakehells—it was a crush.
The noise was deafening, and everybody came. Jason and she stood in the receiving line for hours. Felicity relished greeting the ton by his side, having everybody know they were together now.
She also enjoyed revisiting everyone who had been involved in their finally getting together and finding out how their own affairs were progressing.
Cousin Gerald, for example. Her ruddy-cheeked, fortune-hunting cousin was finally beginning to grasp that Mrs. Brown had no intention of ever marrying him. However, the lady had bailed him out of the sponging house when his creditors had recently caught up with him. So, rather than trying to land a rich wife, plump, pushy Cousin Gerald had resigned himself to becoming the world’s most unlikely kept man.
