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Henry was silent for a long moment.“There is something more.”
The expression on his brother’s face had Ashford’s senses on high alert.“Do I want to know this?”
Henry’s smile held more than a hint of sadness.“Well, you already know about my lifestyle.”
“That you prefer to be with men.That became obvious to me when Benson approached me last night at the masquerade.”
His brother’s gaze was intent.“And that doesn’t anger you?”
Ashford shrugged.“I was in the army, Henry.It was impossible for men to hide such things for long.”
Henry’s jaw clenched.“I would have thought men such as I would have been shot rather than be allowed to pollute His Majesty’s armies.”
“Not on my watch.One of the best men I’ve ever known gave his life to save mine.Who he chose to spend his personal time with had no bearing whatsoever on his merit.”
“Father was beyond angry when he found out.”
Henry’s words had him reeling back.“He knew?”
“It was a few years after you enlisted.William was a footman at the estate.Father found us together.”
Ashford closed his eyes, the scene vivid in his mind.Their father was not a tolerant man.
“I’m sorry you had to go through that alone.What did he do?”
Henry shrugged.“He kicked me out of the house after he had me promise not to tell Mother or our sisters.But he did arrange for a small allowance so I wasn’t reduced to begging in the streets.”
Ashford could only shake his head, unsure he’d heard his brother correctly.“That doesn’t sound at all like our father.”
“Yes, well, it turns out that Father had that same… fondness for men.And he feared you might as well, which is why he never liked the idea of your becoming the next viscount.”
His whole world turned upside down with that revelation.In a way it made sense.He’d seen men overcompensate to hide their natures.And if Father… Well, that would explain why he was so strict.Why he hated the idea of Ashford inheriting.
“He told me once he hated the fact that, as heir, I was expected to go away to Eton.”
“Yes, which was probably why he had me tutored at home.I imagine he hoped that if he kept me away from other boys and young men, I wouldn’t develop what he called his curse.”
Ashford leaned forward and placed a hand on his brother’s knee.“It’s a hard life, but from the look of things, you’ve found a good man.”
Henry placed his hand over his brother’s and squeezed.“Yes.William was beside himself last night, worried his rash actions might have led to you shunning me.He knew that I’d always hoped we would one day reconcile.”
“Never again, brother.Now call in Benson.I’d like to get to know the man who was there for you when I… when the entire family wasn’t.”
Henry’s grin lit up the room.They both stood and embraced.Ashford couldn’t remember the last time, if ever, he had felt this close to his brother.
“Come into the back garden.William is probably murdering the rosebushes in an attempt to distract himself while we talk.I made him promise not to hover outside the door.”
Ashford laughed as he followed his brother into the small garden.
