chit’s long since set her cap. Wouldn’t even consider Haversham’s proposal if he managed to choke it out coherently with seraphim standing as witness.”
Which was saying something. Haversham was a well-set marquess, which was sufficient to elicit the enthusiasm of every other husband-seeking hopeful in town.
“Who’s the lucky lad, then?” And why had Julian never heard this before? His heart hammered in his chest, dreadful and steady as a death knell.
“Lord Bradley Carston, apparently. Do you know him?”
“I know his family. Bradley’s a bit younger, so we didn’t attend university together. Second or third son, isn’t he?”
Was it getting hot in here? Julian tugged ineffectually at his high collar, mentally cursing the extra starch his valet used.
“Second son. Bradley’s been on the Grand Tour, so Angelica’s been biding her time till his return. Won’t take any of the other gentlemen seriously. For which I’m grateful, but my reprieve is nearly done. Rumor has it, Lord Bradley has returned.” Daniel sighed dramatically as he chalked his cue. “And, so, my demise is imminent.”
Julian’s heart plummeted.
God, if it were true, then Julian’s life was about to become a misery. Just the thought of Angelica attached to another man was enough to send him into paroxysms of malcontent. But to watch her dote upon one with affection?
Julian finally swung the cue stick, though this shot wasn’t much better than his last. When Daniel stepped up and quickly cleared the table of the remaining balls, he was relieved. He’d lost the desire to play, too distracted to concentrate further.
For, he had a secret. Something he couldn’t talk about with Daniel, the man he loved in place of the brother he’d never had and the father who had died just after his birth. Daniel had taught him how to eradicate the nightmares that haunted long after the vicious battles in India had been left behind. By the time Julian had deployed to Bombay with a fresh commission in the army, Daniel had been there long enough to be numbed by it all.
No, Julian couldn’t—wouldn’t—sacrifice the filial bond that they shared because he was weak.
Because he was in love with Angelica.
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