Page 76 of My Secret Duke
“The thing is,” he admitted, observing the color of the liquid in his glass, “I don’t know if I can stop. So many people rely upon me and the profits we make. Portside is a smuggling village, and the benefits are everywhere. Even Cadieux’s has a part to play. How can I just end it?”
Adelina gave him a droll look. “If you go to prison, then you will have to stop. And you can always bail out of Cadieux’s. I don’t know why you agreed to be Charles Wickley’s partner anyway. You don’t owe him anything.”
He hesitated. Was this the moment to tell her? It seemed to be a night for confidences. “Charles Wickley,” he began.
Adelina fixed him with a puzzled stare.
Ivo continued. “He’s our brother. Half brother. We have the same father.”
Adelina picked up her brandy and swallowed it in one gulp, and then proceeded to cough violently. Her eyes were still watering when she finally spoke. “I did see the resemblance. I thought it was just one of those things.”
“I’ve wondered for some time. Recently, I learned the truth from him. One positive thing is that he’s not worried about claiming a share of the estate or anything ridiculous like that. Legally, he wouldn’t be entitled. This is not the same situation as that of the Duke of Grantham. Though what does worry me is, if there is one bastard, there are sure to be others. Father had quite the reputation.” He had dismissed Jacob’s claim out of hand, but was he a half brother after all?
Adelina clenched her fists. “It makes me so angry when I think of what he put our mother through.” Then, with a wide-eyed look, “You’re not—”
“Certainly not!” Ivo responded sharply. “That is one trait I have not inherited from him.”
Adelina relaxed. “I’m glad to hear it. And anyway, I rather thought you had a tendre for Lady Olivia Ashton. You did seem smitten.”
Ivo laughed uncomfortably. “We are friends, but after tonight, she may never speak to me again.” He wasn’t going to discuss his deeper feelings for Olivia with his sister, no matter how good her intentions. Ivo yawned and rose to his feet. “I am going to bed. Thank you for… for everything.”
He was at the door when she said, “Friends don’t look at each other the way you and Olivia look at each other.”
But Ivo kept on walking.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Charles was in his usual place, the office at Cadieux’s Gambling Club. Ivo climbed the stairs, ignoring the interested looks of the staff. No doubt everyone had heard about his run-in with the Revenue Service. He knocked on the door and entered at Charles’s invitation.
“Northam,” he said and smiled. He was in his shirtsleeves and wearing his usual colorful waistcoat—this one a sapphire blue—but it appeared as if he had been running his hands through his hair, because it stuck up in all directions. “Thank you for coming to see me at short notice. I had wondered if you were busy.”
“Staying out of prison, do you mean?” Ivo replied dryly, closing the door behind him. “You said in your message that it was important.”
“Yes, it is.” Charles looked uncertain for a moment and then rushed into speech. “I am going to ask for Justina Ashton’s hand in marriage.”
Whatever Ivo had been expecting—a business discussion perhaps or the need for more French brandy—it was not this. “Congratulations.”
Charles smiled thinly. “Well, I hope so, but there is an impediment to our happiness called Gabriel.”
Ivo wasn’t entirely surprised. He remembered their discussion at Whitmont, when Charles had told him Gabriel was stuck in the past and did not believe Charles could be faithful to one woman. There was a time when Ivo would have believed that too, but he knew that sincehe set eyes on Justina, Charles had been a changed man.
“You thought that might be the case. Can’t you talk him around?”
“I haven’t tried. Yet. But there is something else, and that’s the reason I’ve asked you here. I need to be honest with Gabriel and Justina. I need to tell them that I am your half brother.”
Ivo considered this. Some months ago, he had been reluctant for the truth to come out, but now Adelina knew, and she had told Lexy. The three of them had discussed whether or not to tell their mother and decided not to. But he did intend to tell her eventually, when she had recovered from his arrest. Yes, she would be upset, but she was already aware of some of his father’s worst traits, so he was sure she would recover from this one too.
“If you want to tell the Ashtons, then you have my blessing.”
Charles looked relieved.
Ivo went on, feeling a little awkward, “Do you need me to be there? I have never had a brother before, but I believe that is the sort of thing they do for one another.”
Charles’s smile was back, and suddenly, it wasn’t awkward at all. “Thank you. That would mean a great deal to me. I’ve told Gabriel I will call on him at Ashton House at seven o’clock, although he doesn’t know why.”
“I will be there.”
Charles raised an eyebrow. “It may be a short visit.”
