The Accidental Countess (Accidental #2)(84)

Julian glanced out the window to see them coming up the walk. His stomach sank. Perhaps he should’ve insisted that Mother and Daphne remain in town. They should hear this, too. However, part of him was glad that he would be able to hear it first, break it to them gently if necessary.

He took a deep breath just before Pengree came to the door of the study and announced the Hunt brothers.

Derek and Collin entered the room moments later. Both looking somber, they shook Julian’s hand.

Collin took a seat on the sofa while Derek remained standing. Julian moved over to the window but remained standing, as well. The duke paced in front of the fireplace, his hands clasped behind his back. “As you might have guessed, Swift. We have news.”

Collin’s gaze remained trained on the rug.

Julian braced himself. He placed a hand on the back of the chair in front of him.

“We found them,” Derek breathed.

Julian’s heart clenched. Hunt hadn’t said the one word he’d been hoping for. He hadn’t said “alive.”

“Rafe was badly beaten, tortured. We took him to a surgeon in Brighton. He’ll make it, but he’s in bad shape.” Hunt eyed his friend carefully. “Very bad shape.”

Julian nodded once. “I see. And Donald?”

Derek shook his head. “Rafe told us that Donald had accidentally given himself away. That’s why they were captured. Cavendish did everything he could to save him.” Hunt stopped, strode over, put a hand on Julian’s shoulder and squeezed. “He’s dead, Julian.”

Julian bowed his head. He’d known it in his heart but the word was so final and heavy and difficult. Dead.

Julian raised his gaze to Derek’s. “You found him. You’re certain?”

Derek nodded once. “Yes. We brought back his body, for your mother and for Daphne. For you.” He pulled his hand away from Julian’s shoulder.

“Thank you for that, Hunt,” Julian replied. “Mother will be grateful. So am I.”

Hunt barely inclined his head. “It’s the least I could do.”

Collin’s jaw was clenched. “I’m so damned sorry, Swift.”

“So am I,” Derek said. He reached inside his coat and pulled an envelope from his inside pocket. “This is for you. It’s from Donald. He’d given it to one of the clerks at the War Office to deliver to you in the event … of his death.”

Julian stared at the document unseeing. Then, he slowly pulled it from Derek’s hand and made his way toward the window. Facing the street, he ripped open the seal and began to read.

Julian,

If you are reading this, then I am dead, you are alive, and you, no doubt, have many questions. The War Office asked for a volunteer. They sent word to Parliament looking for someone, someone who would bravely go off to France. I want you to know that I did hesitate. After all, I am an earl, I have no heirs, and my only brother is at war. But I knew it would be all right, younger brother. I somehow knew you would survive. Don’t ask me how. I just did. You’ve always been a survivor and I have no doubts.

There’s something I need you to know. It’s quite important to me, hence, the reason I am writing this letter. I’ve always admired you, Julian. I know you looked up to me and wanted to be more like me, but the truth is that I’ve always wanted to be like you. You left for war, fought, nearly died. You showed tremendous courage and fortitude. I never had that in me. I think Father always knew it. It’s not particularly dangerous to sit in the House of Lords week in and out. Well, except in August when the stink of the Thames gets to be far too much. So when the call came for a volunteer, yes, I hesitated, but in the end, I knew I had to. I am my father’s son, but I am also my brother’s brother. I hope I’ve made the Crown proud, but more importantly, I hope I’ve made you proud, Julian. I may have spent my life being groomed to inherit a title, but that was nothing to be proud of. Circumstances of birth are not chosen, but bravery and courage are, and those were all things you chose. The earldom is lucky to have someone as strong as you in the lead. I heartily approve. My only regret is that I did not get the chance to shake the hand of the man you have become.

Give my love to Mother and Daphne. As for you, I suggest you marry Lady Cassandra and see to the business of having heirs as quickly as possible.

Yours,

Donald

Julian took a deep, deep breath. His brother admired him? He’d never known it. Damn it, if only Donald were here for one moment so that he might tell him the same. Julian turned back to his two friends, fighting the sting of tears in his eyes.

“You know what this means?” Derek said in a low voice.

Julian took another deep, shaky breath. “I am the Earl of Swifdon now.”





CHAPTER FORTY-EIGHT


One month later


Cass, Julian, Lucy, Derek, Jane, and Garrett all rested in the blue drawing room in the Earl of Swifdon’s town house. It was Julian’s town house now. He was still waiting for the official paperwork to make its way through Parliament, but he was already performing the duties of the earl. A bittersweet thing, indeed.

Donald’s funeral had been a state affair. Much of the ton had returned from their country houses for it. It had been attended by Wellington and the Prince Regent himself.

Daphne and her mother had been beside themselves with grief, of course, but at least they had been comforted by the fact that Captain Cavendish had lived. Apparently, the poor young man was distraught for not having saved Swifdon, too. Cass had done everything she could to comfort the three remaining members of the family, but in the end she knew there was little she could do. They needed time to grieve.