Page 134 of His Grace, the Duke
“Shut up, and let me finish,” he growled, taking a step closer.
James set his mouth in a firm line.
“To admit that I love you goes against everything we’ve been taught,” he went on. “Men are not meant to say those words to another man. It is an expression of sentimentality denied to us. Wrongfully so, in my opinion,” he added. “Because the most resounding truth of my life is that I love you. I’ve stayed by your side all these years. I help run your estates—not because I care whether the Corbin name shines like silver—but because I fucking love you. I handle the tempers of George, a man I loathe, out of unyielding love foryou.”
He closed the distance between them. “I am standing here with you, not out of any lack of love or concern for Rosalie. I love that woman more than my own life. In fact, I know with a surety marrow-deep that she is the love of my life... but your lovegivesme life, James. Without it, my lungs will falter. Without it, my heart ceases to beat. So, I will not be with her now. I am going to stand here... with you.Thisis my place, James. By your side. Always.”
James was utterly still. “Burke, I . . .”
The men stood feet apart, and for the first time, it felt like James was looking at him. James wasseeinghim. Words failed them both as James reached out with both hands, clinging to Burke’s lapels as he pulled him closer. The men bowed their heads together, foreheads touching. Burke didn’t move. He just stood with him, breathing his air, waiting for him to collect his thoughts and emotions. Burke could wait. He’d been waiting for twenty years. What was a few more minutes?
“That was... a lot for me,” James admitted at last.
“I know.”
“You know I’m no good at this—”
“I know,” Burke murmured, raising a hand to gently cuff James’ neck. His fingers brushed the curls at his nape.
James lifted his head away, meeting Burke’s gaze. “But... you do know I love you too... right?”
Burke sucked in a breath as relief crashed through him. He dropped his forehead to James’ shoulder. “You’ve never said the words. Not once.”
Then James was hugging him. He held him close, his arms like bands of iron around his back. “I have failed Rosalie enough. I cannot possibly fail you too,” he said, his breath warm on his cheek. “Horatio Burke, I love you. For everything you do... everything you are. I’m sorry if I’ve ever made you doubt it.”
Burke turned his face towards James’ neck. His lips brushed the exposed skin there as he let out a slow exhale, his entire body trembling. He pulled away, needing to see James’ eyes. He had to know. “But are youin lovewith me? Could you ever learn to love me in that way?”
“I... think I already do,” he muttered. He glanced back up, eyes wary. “But I... Burke, I don’t like men. Hell, I hardly even tolerate them.”
Burke chuckled. “I don’t either,” he said with another shrug. “The thought of being intimate with one never crossed my mind until...” He paused, worried to admit too much too quickly. James was like a startled fawn at the edge of the forest. He had to be coaxed slowly. “George has always made jokes about us, and I always just ignored them.”
“George is an arse,” James muttered.
“Heisan arse... with a level of intuition that runs almost occult,” Burke corrected. “He saw what was between us all even before we did. He’s been pulling the strings for weeks.”
James scowled. “What do you mean?”
“The letters he gave you, dragging Rosalie out a window, inviting Marianne to the engagement party—”
James’ brows shot sky high. “Hedid that?”
“Aye, I cornered him about it the next morning and threatened to burn all his ugly paintings until he confessed. And you already know he told her about our stupid game with the names in the hat.”
“Why would he meddle to bring us all together? What does it gain him?”
Burke shrugged again. “Your happiness, perhaps? And we all know he’s created an odd attachment to Rosalie. He takes being her benefactor surprisingly seriously.”
James grew quiet, shifting away from him. “Is she alright? She must hate me.”
Burke just rolled his eyes. God, how he loved them. But they were fools. “James, she is so completely in love with you that I think she might shatter beyond repair if you dare deny her again. Run from our girl again, run from your feelings, and I’ll break both your legs like I promised.”
James paced away. “Burke—I can’t—I can’t bear it. Shesaid she’d give me anything.” He spun around. “She wants to give me everything. She said it without saying it... but I think she’ll marry me.”
Even a week ago, hearing those words might have broken Burke’s heart. He wanted her so badly for himself. But this made sense. This way, they all got what they wanted. With Rosalie and James married, thetonwould be appeased, and Burke and Tom could continue in their bachelor ways with everyone none the wiser. There might be gossip, but Rosalie and James could behave so much in love as to quiet any rumors.
Burke sighed with relief. “That’s good—”
“It’s the opposite of good! To her, marriage is a cage. Marriage is violence. It is losing oneself to the whims of a husband who will be like a master holding all the keys. You’ve heard her yourself, Burke.”
