Bride for a Night(134)

“I do not suppose you managed to wound the bastard?”

Gabriel shook his head in regret. He had managed a shot in the direction of the Frenchman, but before he could even consider reloading his pistol Harry had been hit, and he had forgotten everything but carrying his brother out of the line of fire.

“Not to my knowledge.”

“A pity.”

It was, of course, but not as great a pity as witnessing his brother stretched on the ground with a bullet lodged in his flesh.

“Why did you do it, Harry?” he demanded.

“Do what?”

Gabriel hissed out a painful breath. Never so long as he lived would he forget the sight of Harry leaping in front of him.

“Take a bullet that was intended for me?”

Harry turned his head, remaining silent for so long Gabriel thought he might ignore the question. At last he heaved a sigh and turned back to meet Gabriel’s worried gaze.

“Do you remember the Christmas morning that I slipped away from my nurse so I could show father I was old enough for the new pair of skates you had given to me?”

Gabriel shuddered. It had been a Christmas he had never forgotten. He had purchased the ice skates from a local craftsman, never considering the notion his father might consider Harry too irresponsible to own a pair. Of course, the moment the earl had forbidden his youngest son to keep them, Harry had taken off with the intent to prove his father wrong.

Gabriel had followed him, but he’d only arrived just as Harry skated toward the center of the lake where the ice was the weakest.

“You fell through the ice,” he said, vividly recalling the terror that had seared through him as his brother disappeared from sight.

“And you pulled me out.” Harry managed a tight smile. “You saved my life that day. Tonight I repaid my debt.”

“There was no debt.” Gabriel frowned. “You are my brother. It is my duty to protect you.”

“You have always done your best.” Harry’s smile became oddly wistful. “But, you could never protect me from my own demons, Gabriel. They are mine to battle.”

Gabriel tensed. God almighty, how many endless, miserable years had he waited for his brother to take responsibility for his failures? To at last realize that his troubles were of his own making? And yet, now that Harry had spoken the words he had waited to hear, he felt none of the satisfaction he had anticipated.

Hell, they only managed to make him feel more guilty.

“I should have done more,” he muttered.

“The fault was not yours.” Harry reached to squeeze Gabriel’s hand, genuine regret adding a hint of maturity to his slender face. “It has never been yours.”

Gabriel shook his head, refusing to debate the issue. Not when his brother was wounded, perhaps even dying, and they were trapped in enemy territory.

“Now is not the time for this discussion,” he said gruffly, a surge of relief racing through him at the soft call from the distant shore. Obviously his captain had indeed seen his signal and sent a boat. “Thank God. We shall soon be safe.”

Harry grimaced, his hand lifting to press against his injured shoulder.

“I will never make it down the cliff.”

“There is no need to worry. I will return in a moment with one of my crew to carry you down to the shore.”

As Gabriel began to straighten, Harry’s grip tightened on his arm with surprising strength. “Wait, Gabriel.”

“Harry, we must not delay,” he growled, his brows drawn together with impatient concern. His captain was not a trained surgeon, but he was capable of tending to most wounds. “Your injury…”