Page 102 of Cocky August Rake

But Reginald saw the shift—and as the truth settled over him, he understood why.

The Domus worked because they all cared what happened to each other. Much like the crew on his ship.

That was what made it safe.

Reginald finally lifted the glass to his lips. “If I had not been so determined to wash my hands of the place, I might have understood that sooner.”

Harry held his gaze. “But you understand it now.”

There was no accusation in his brother’s voice. Not even a hint of anger.

Marriage and fatherhood really had changed his brother.

“I saw the plan,” Harry said. “For the record, I never doubted your intentions.”

Reginald’s jaw tightened. “I don’t trust the buyers. Nor Sedgewick. But I trust you.”

With this, at least.

Neither of them needed to say more. The distance between them had never vanished entirely, yet there was trust enough to put these people’s lives back in his brother’s hands.

Harry nodded. “I’ll see that you stipulations are enforced. You needn’t remain in London on account of The Domus.”

Harry had always known how to command, and if he promised to oversee the sale, he would.

His brother studied him, wondering perhaps why he was not already out the door. “If you go quickly, you can still catch the tide.”

But Reginald lifted his chin, unable to let go of an idea now that it had occurred to him. “You should take it back.”

Harry’s expression didn’t change, so Reginald pressed.

“It’s yours. You built it. Take it back.”

“No.”

“I can’t keep it. It’s a brothel.”

“I know what it is, Reg.”

Harry walked around his desk, but instead of sitting, placed his palms on the gleaming wood, staring down at nothing.

“Our father hated women,” he said.

Reginald gave him a flat look. “He hated everyone.”

“Not like he hated women,” Harry said.

Reginald dropped into the nearest chair. Their father had wounded his sons.

He had destroyed women.

The worst of it was knowing. Seeing what the old bastard did to their mother, to the servants—and being unable to do a damned thing about it.

“People believe I opened The Domus to humiliate him,” Harry continued. “To make a mockery of the family name.”

“Didn’t you?”

Harry’s mouth shifted. “That was an agreeable consequence.”