“What have you been doing?”

Rafe ran a hand through his hair, sighing heavily. “Nothing I haven’t done before… gambling, drinking… women.”

Henry nodded slowly, shaking his head in disapproval. “You know this behavior is not what father would have wanted for you. You have been given an incredible opportunity here to succeed, but you seem determined to throw it all away on foolishness. Do you realize what kind of consequences this will have on your career? You are facing prison time and possibly a dishonorable discharge from the Navy.”

Rafe hung his head, shrugging.

“Admiral Ackerman is speaking to a few people, and I believe I will be able to have you released tonight. But if you think I will leave you here in London to do this all again…”

Henry stopped himself. He pinched his brow and sighed. He didn’t wish to be here, didn’t wish to have to clean up after his brother’s poor choices. He wished to be with his new bride.

“Come with me to Cliffstone Manor. I’ll be leaving after the new year, and I have a lot to manage. I will take care of the ledgers, and you can help with tenants and the property.”

“No.”

Henry drew back, offended. “Why not?”

“You couldn’t pay me enough to drag me away to fix wells or birth goats or whatever the hell they do in the country. I belong on a ship.” He blinked, looking for a moment as if he would be sick. “I think I do. I did at one point.”

“I will settle your debts. Consider that payment enough. I will return tonight, and you can stay with me until we leave next week.”

Rafe patted at his jacket, frowning. “I need a cigar.”

His brother only needed to sober up, and in time, he would see how close he was to throwing an excellent opportunity away.

“What day is it?”

“It’s Boxing Day.”

Rafe finally stood, wavering on his feet. “Not what I had in mind for the holidays. Where have you been?”

It was shocking really, the way everything within Henry suddenly ached to tell his brother all. He wished to share his joy with someone. He wished to announce he had a heart after all, and despite giving up the law to focus on his new title, he was happy.

Instead, he swallowed his pride down and cleared his throat. “A house party.”

“That’s very social of you.”

“I am full of surprises, Rafe, if only you wished to know me.”

His younger brother nodded, returning to his search for a cigar. “Those blackguards stole my cigars and wallet. That’s very disappointing.”

“Can I count on you, Rafe? Will you come with me, even for a few months, and help sort out the estate?”

“That depends. Will you have scones?”

“I will see what I can do.”

Rafe stuck his hand out through the bars. “Then set me free, and I promise to be a good boy.”

“Are you certain?”

His brother leveled him with a disgusted stare, then laughed. “A rake never lies.”

Black and white. That was how Henry had lived his life up until now. Not in the messy in between. But suddenly, he found himself there. He didn’t know the right thing to do all the time, and there was a certain level of fear that came with that. But he was willing to push on because his family counted on him.

And Tilly loved him.

“Then I’ll take my chances, Rafe.”

EPILOGUE

The past few days in London were a blur.

Henry had finished packing his apartment, sorted out the trouble with Rafe, and very nearly sobered him up. He had received word from Stephen that Roger was on his way to Plymouth to live with his mother.

In a week’s time, Henry had secured a wife, grew his family exponentially, and handled the first wave of trouble as the new Earl Devlin.

He would miss his life as a barrister, but there was no way he could responsibly juggle the duties of both positions. Anything worth doing was worth doing right, after all. And he would stand by that.

“Are you going to join us?” Tilly called from the doorway.

Henry paused, his hands clasped firmly behind his back. The winter air nipped at his cheeks.

“You’re pacing, dear.”

His frown melted. It always did around her.

“You’ll let out the warmth,” he replied before cursing himself at how foolish that was to say when he never wished for her to move. There, with the warm light of their London home glowing behind her, she was heavenly. Her red hair burned bright against the backdrop of a dark December evening.

New Year’s Eve, to be precise.

In the morning, he would be leaving. As would the rest of the… well, she wasn’t a Brennan any longer.

He laughed to himself. No, she was his wife, and he had married into a large family. He had his hands full enough with Rafe, but no doubt his mother would adore having a loud bunch around once more.

“Come in, will you?” She placed her arms akimbo, her eyes drawn in challenge.

Henry nodded, glancing up the stairs. Behind Tilly, the sound of a piano and singing and laughter and fighting slipped out around her. And his heart felt funny. He didn’t prefer it being ice, but he also didn’t know what to do with so much merriment.

He cleared his throat, suddenly feeling like the sky was falling around him as he marched up the stone steps to the front door. By some miracle, he stopped himself from drawing her into his arms and kissing her well and good, as he had dreamed of doing since he had left her at Haddington Court.

“I shouldn’t stay long,” he whispered, his eyes focused on her mouth.

“One day,” she said.

He nodded. “One day, sweet.”