Page 130 of The Secret Love of a Gentleman
‘I should have known you would fall for a woman who was in need. You are like your father.’
‘I need to speak with Harry, Mama. If Caro wakes, tell her I will be back soon.’
She nodded.
Rob climbed the stairs to his brother’s room and knocked on the door, emotions rattling around in his chest.
There was no answer. Rob did not knock again but tried the doorknob. It turned, and the door opened. The shutters were still closed, covering the windows, darkening the room, and the air stank of stale liquor. Harry lay naked amid tangled sheets, lying on his stomach with his arms folded beneath the pillow.
‘Harry!’ Rob slapped Harry’s bare leg, then went to the windows and folded back the wooden shutters, letting in the daylight. He pulled one window up and let in the crisp cold air, too. Harry had not moved. ‘Harry!’ Rob shook his shoulder.
He groaned.
‘Come on. For once in your life I need you to do something for me. I have bailed you out of a million scrapes. You owe me one.’
Harry rolled onto his back, his forearm covering his eyes. ‘What are you doing in my room?’
‘Waking you up. I need your help.’
‘You never ask me for help.’
‘I know, but you are the only person I trust to stand with me in this and I need your canniness. But you must swear you will tell no one.’
‘What are we doing?’ Harry had not risen. He still lay in the bed looking up at Rob.
‘I shall tell you when you swear.’
‘Very well, I swear, I will tell no one.’ He sat up, the sheet slipping to his hips.
‘We are calling on the Marquis of Kilbride.’
‘Why?’
‘Caroline is carrying my child and is terrified of losing it because he came here, and he threatened me. I did not fall from a horse,’ Rob admitted. ‘Kilbride paid three thugs to beat me.’
Harry stood up, the sheet slipping off him entirely. ‘What?’
‘They left me in the street for dead. I was embarrassed so I insisted Papa and Mama made up the lie.’
‘I would not have judged you for losing a fight to three men. You could have told me.’
‘I will go downstairs. As soon as you are clothed come down and we will go.’
73
Rob walked out of Pembroke House with Harry. He had told the rest of his family he was going to visit the doctor, to ask for his advice on Caro’s care.
‘We will go to Kilbride’s house first, and if he is not there, we will find him.’
‘This subterfuge is not like you, Rob.’
Rob glanced at Harry. For all their differences, they were still brothers who loved one another.
‘I have done a lot of things that were unlike me this summer. You should know, though, that when we find Kilbride, I am going to call him out. A duel is the only way to silence him. Will you be my second?’
Harry’s eyes widened. ‘You…Lord.Well, yes, of course. But are you sure? What if he is as good a shot as you? If you are caught you will be hung for duelling.’
‘As you said, I am a good shot, and these threats cannot continue. But Kilbride is just as likely to begin a brawl, so have your fists ready.’
