Page 86 of A Lady of Means
“If I were less stubborn, I’d probably be dead,” Devyn said, cleaning up the large shards of glass first and putting them in the dust pan with a handkerchief.
“If you were less stubborn, you’d have given up your commission when you were asked.”
Devyn could feel his face falling, and Peregrine’s regret was written in his eyes.
How much sleep has my brother lost over me?Why was I always taking from the people I cared for?What hadsheseen in me anyway?
A tremor shot from his hip through other parts of him and Devyn braced the side of the bed for support.
“You’re probably right,” Devyn said, his head falling backward onto the bed as he sat on the rug stretching out his legs, the fight leaving him.
“Holy shit,” Peregrine replied.“You’re worse than I thought.You hate admitting when I’m right.”
For the first time, Devyn gave him a half smile and watched Peregrine inhale a deep breath.
“I might have come to that conclusion myself, sometime between entering a shoot-out and being hit with a bullet.”
“I’m glad you’re stubborn, I’m glad you’re here.Devyn, I was sick with worry.”
“I know you would hate to live without your reckless brother causing you constant worry.”
“I would hate to live without my brother.That is all.”
Devyn’s dark eyes met his, lingered over the grey at his temples, the laugh lines at the corners of his eyes, his frown lines.“Even though I’ve cocked it all up?”
Peregrine took up the broom and finished sweeping the bits of glass, then sat beside Devyn.
“You didn’t.A man is alive because of you.I’m so proud of the man that you are, the leader that you are,” he placed a hand on Devyn’s shoulder.“You made a choice, it cost you.You didn’t take the easy route, you never have.There’s honor in that.”
“Honor,” Devyn said the word almost like a scoff, “Doesn’t help me walk.”
He crossed his arms and avoided Peregrine’s eyes.He was working to keep all of himself together, and letting Peregrine see might undo his efforts.
“Then it’s a good thing you have me.You’re stubborn, and I’m stubborn, we just won’t give up then.”
“And… Moria?”the word scraped out of his mouth.It hurt him to speak her name, yet he closed his eyes, savoring the sound.
“What about her?”Peregrine asked tentatively.
“She’s marrying him, isn’t she?The duke?”
Devyn looked at him now, unsure if he wanted the truth or if he desperately wanted him to lie.
“She is.”
“Then I’ll have to get back on my feet to spite her.”
The set of his jaw and the pain in his eyes, could Peregrine read the love there?Love and pain and loss and anger all stirred into one toxic brew that needed somewhere to go.
Peregrine stood, wrapping an arm around Devyn who, though his injury had taken a considerable amount of his bulk, was still so much larger than him.It took all his strength, but Peregrine pulled him to the edge of the bed and bore his weight to help his younger brother to stand.And he didn’t stop, didn’t let go, day in and day out, pushing his brother to move, pulling him up, and refusing to let Devyn fall.
ChapterThirty-Six
Raiseyour hand if you’ve ever been personally victimized by Lady M.
Did you find your name among those in the pages of her fiery book found bound and printed for mere pennies at every rag seller in Mayfair, or, like the Duke of A and many others, were you spared?
-Scandalous Lives of London scandal sheet
