Remmy waved his hand carelessly. “It’s a practical necessity. She’d literally have died several times without me nearby. Remember when we were ten, and she almost fell from the?—”
“And what near death experience”—Daphne wrapped her hands around the chair arms and leaned in until they were nose to nose, her distended belly nudging his knee—“did you save her from today? Inside her bedchamber?”
Herself. And him. Though she didn’t know it. She might guess it, though, considering…
“I think”—Kit replaced Daphne, and the chair arms creaked dangerously beneath his grip—“Remington is the danger to Tessa.”
Bloody mind reader.
Remmy pushed his brother out of the way and made for the door with a snort. “I have somewhere to be.”
“Don’t play with her feelings, Remmy.”
He stopped in the doorway, grasped the frame on either side and squeezed. “I’m not playing with her.”
“She’s like a sister,” Horace said.
“You’ll respect her,” Freddy added.
“We saw you.” Daphne’s voice was sweet as always but held a sharp edge he’d heard few times in his life, every one of them serious.
“Saw me?” Remmy turned around.
“On that rock,” Frederick said. “First day of the party.”
“And in the window seat,”Horace added.
“Don’t forget the stables,” Kit drawled, inspecting his nails.
“Bloody hell.” Were his family spies for the crown?
“What are you doing?” Kit demanded quietly. “What are your intentions?”
“We’ll not let you ruin her,” Daphne said.
“Unless he already has,” Frederick added.
That was it. He’d had enough. “I do respect her! I’m in love with her, you boot brains!” He thumped a fist so hard against his chest it would likely bruise. “Ishouldruin her. Who knows how many tickets ruining an innocent would sell. But will I? No! Because I’d like her to love me back and that will never happen. At least she looks at me like a man now! There’s that comfort, but for her it’s more of a convenience.” So she can have a comfortable fuck with a friend should she decide to be a spinster. “It’s mortifying. And it hurts. Here.” He thumped his chest again, dropping into his recently vacated seat. “And I’d rather not talk about it.”
In the following silence, he realized he’d said too much. His siblings stood like statues around him, frozen into poses between startled and amused. Damn Kit.
Remmy rubbed his eyes and brows. He’d already stepped into the waters of absurdity, why not dive all the way down?
“A week ago, I never thought to see her again, and now every cursed thought I’ve ever had about her has resurfaced, and I can’t seem to control myself. But no more. I promise. I’m not going to keep making a fool of myself over a woman who… doesn’t…”want his heart.
Another silence, this one just as heavy.
Remmy rose, trying to remain steady, to control the trembling as he brushed a hand through his hair.
“She could love you, I’m sure of it.” Daphne grasped his arm as he passed her on his way toward the door.
Remmy shook heroff.
“She’s right,” Kit said. “Don’t be so defeated. You didn’t give up this easily on the Folly. And if your love has lasted six years then?—”
“Six years?” Remmy scoffed.
“Are you going to pretend you haven’t loved her all this time?” Freddy asked.
