What did it say about him that he wanted to take her pain away? That he felt her pain as if it was his own? He knew one thing: it couldn’t be good.
He pulled on his boots and felt a bit light-headed when he straightened. Food should correct that. He hoped Lord Raine was not in the parlor, but then that wouldn’t stop him from entering. He didn’t avoid confrontation. Actually, not quite true: he’d run from his eldest brother, but that would have to be dealt with when he returned to London. Or perhaps Oliver would have amnesia and forget the conversation entirely.
He doubted he’d be that lucky.
Thinking about what the earl had done, Daniel wondered if he would have lied to protect a sister from what he saw as an unsuitable match. He hated that the answer was very possibly yes.
Sisters did bring out strange protective emotions in brothers. Daniel loathed seeing his sisters upset or in pain, and often they asked things of him he didn’t want to do but usually did.
Pulling on his jacket, he left the room in search of food. Darkness had fallen, and he had no idea of the time, but as he’d arrived at the inn late in the afternoon, he hoped there was food on offer downstairs.
He passed several rooms on his way along the hall. Which one is she in? Taking the stairs down, he entered the dining parlor and stopped. Raine was there with a bottle and a glass at his elbow. He sat staring into the fire. Beside him was another chair.
“It is not a large place. There was always the chance we would see each other again, Dillinger. Sit before you fall.”
“I will not be falling anywhere, Raine, and am more than able to decide my own actions.” Daniel went to the chair and sat.
“Can I pour you a drink?”
“Thank you.”
“It’s my understanding from that viper who is travelling with her that Abby is getting quietly pickled for the first time in her life.”
Daniel heard the pain in his words no matter how much he tried to hide it. Both Deville siblings were suffering. This one deserved it; the other, getting pickled, did not.
“You’re her brother and may have done a foolish thing, but she will forgive you in time.”
Rather than take offence, Lord Raine sighed. Daniel looked at the bottle and thought the earl may be a few glasses into it, like his sister. His hands and words were steady, however, there was a look in his eyes when he’d glanced at Daniel that suggested he had lost a few inhibitions.
“I love my sister.”
“As you should.” Daniel took a mouthful.
“How do you handle having more than one to watch over?”
Not this again.
“I have several brothers to aid me in that quest, as I also told you earlier.”
“I do too.”
“And yet?”
“And yet I appear to fail dismally more often than not. The problem, of course, is my father.”
“As you hold the title, he has passed?”
“He has.”
“You have my condolences.”
“Thank you. I still feel his loss.”
They stared into the flames for a few minutes, the silence a bit strained and yet bearable.
“His last words to me were that I must ensure Abby is always happy and cared for and that she marries well to a man of noble blood. I had to assure him I would make these things happen so he could die happy.”
Daniel thought that an extremely heavy burden to carry, and if he was honest, unfair. He may not like the man, but he thought he was honorable in his own way. Being an earl surely came with plenty of responsibility, least of which was his siblings. Adding the burden his father did on his death bed had been harsh and unrealistic. How was a person to ensure another person was always happy? It seemed a foolish expectation and one doomed to fail from where he was sitting, which was next to the man who carried said burden.
“You do realize that’s not possible, don’t you, my lord?”
“What do you mean?” Raine turned his eyes on Daniel. They were more curious than angry.
“No one person can ensure another is always happy. Just as you cannot watch your sister’s every move to ensure she is safe. Take that day in the street when that man wanted to harm her. You did not see the knife or the man, and it’s not realistic to think you can see everything.”
“You saw it though and saved her.”
“I was looking.”
“But before that you were looking at my sister?”
“Yes.” He wasn’t going to lie about it. She was beautiful; who wouldn’t want to look at her?
“She hates me.”
Daniel regained his feet and went to order food. When he returned, Lord Raine was still staring at the fire.
“Shouldn’t you be in bed, Dillinger? I have no wish to put you back there when you fall to the floor weak and pale once again.”
“No, I don’t need my bed, and unlike you soft-bellied nobles, I have a hardy constitution that recovers swiftly. Thank you for your care, my lord.”
“Gabriel, and I am not soft-bellied.”
“I think not.”
“I assure you, my belly is not soft.”
“I cannot call you by your Christian name, my lord.”
“Why?”
“You’re an earl. I am a coal miner’s son,” Daniel said simply, which he thought would be the end of that.
“And I repeat, why will you not use my name when I give you leave to do so? I know you are on intimate terms with plenty of noblemen, all of whom have Christian names you use.”
Raine’s necktie was loose now, and his hair ruffled. Unravelling, Daniel thought. He doubted it was a condition he experienced often.
He’d heard rumors about the man, of course. That he liked to gamble and enjoy time with women,
