AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Rafe snorted.
“Whatever you and Richard agreed to doesn’t involve me. What about you? You said you had no choice as well. You’ve got more choice in marrying….”
“That’s the thing. Nobody would marry me, either.”
“What?”
“The…the scandal…it affected me, too.” Sebastien’s breathing was coming out in a wheeze. “I’m the brother of someone who is called a murderer. Who’s going to associate with me?”
Rafe could feel the tears building. This mess had affected his family more than he thought. He hadn’t realised it had affected Sebastien as well.
“I…I didn’t….”
“I know you didn’t kill Richard. I don’t know who did, but I know it wasn’t you.”
“I don’t even know if I….”
Sebastien squeezed his brother’s fingers tightly.
“Don’t say it. I know my little brother didn’t kill anyone. Certainly not your friend. I said to Richard I would look out for Victoria. Us getting married will work out. We didn’t even need to live together. We could do whatever we wanted once we got married. There didn’t need to be anything else. Victoria knows, and she understands.”
“But….”
“She’ll be in good hands with you. I know you’ll look after her.”
“But….” Rafe tried to find the words. “But she believes I killed her brother. How is that going to work?”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Sebastien’s eyes were beginning to flutter closed. “Just…just promise me you’ll look after Victoria. Take my place. Marry her, protect her, do whatever you can.”
Rafe couldn’t believe what he was hearing. Sebastien had to be stupid to think this would happen. He was certainly delirious.
“Please, Rafe.” Sebastien’s voice was barely a whisper as he pleaded. “Please, just promise me.”
“All right, I promise,” Rafe said quickly. “But you don’t need to do that. You are going to recover, and you’re going to be waiting for her at the altar. Things are going to be fine.”
He really believed it. Sebastien was going to live. His brother might have given up, but Rafe hadn’t. Rafe knew it was going to be better.
“I love you, Rafe,” Sebastien whispered, his eyes now closed. “I always loved you.”
“I love you, too.” Rafe squeezed his hand, bringing it to his face and resting Sebastien’s fingers on her forehead. “And you’re going to get better. You focus on yourself for now. Then we’ll talk more about this.”
And then he would be able to tell Sebastien that he should keep his mouth shut when he was ill, so he didn’t say anything stupid again.
