Page 60 of Dare to Risk it All

“Well, that’s—” Raphe let out a sigh of relief. The idea of facing the ghosts of his past and the god-awful state the property was likely in had been giving him nightmares. “Thank you, only Ollie really ought to be at university.”

Ollie pulled a face, disregarding this. “I’m not the least bit academic, Raphe,” he said frankly. “I loathed school and the opportunity would be wasted on me, but I like the idea of helping you with the estate. I think I might be good at that.”

“That sounds a splendid idea,” Greer said, taking Raphe’s hand and giving him a moment to gather himself. “It would make me happier to know you weren’t there all by yourself, at least. Though I wish I was going to be there to help too,” she added with a forlorn sigh.

“We’ll get it fixed up for you as quick as we can,” Ollie said earnestly. “We want you to get married as soon as possible, you see.”

“In case you come to your senses in the meantime,” Sylvester murmured with a sly smile.

Everyone laughed as they were meant to do and Raphe relaxed, letting the conversation flow about him as he regarded his brothers and his new family getting on so well. With amusement, he noticed Lady Aisling, who had been frosty towards his brother Sylvester since they’d met, overcome her natural timidity and thaw a degree.

“T-That was well done of you,” she said quietly to Sylvester. “I’ve no doubt your support will be a great comfort to Lord de Ligne.”

“Good heavens,” Sy said, never one to realise when it would be better to keep his fool mouth shut and simply accept the compliment. “Don’t tell me I’ve actually done something you approve of? The ice maiden melteth. Is this the beginning of a beautiful friendship?”

Aisling blushed furiously, and the temperature plummeted again.

“No,” she whispered, turning away from him.

Sylvester ploughed on, undaunted, his eyes twinkling wickedly. “Oh, come on. I’m not that bad. In fact, I’m very well-liked by most people. Charming and intelligent are words often used to describe me. So, you see, you ought to like me too. I cannot help but think it is a character defect in you that refuses to see all my many admirable qualities.”

Raphe gave a quiet groan as Lady Aisling’s eyes widened. His brother’s rather tactless sense of humour was clearly not to her taste.

“It’s m-my fault?” she stammered.

“Must be,” Sylvester retorted. “There’s certainly nothing wrong with me.”

Abruptly, Aisling got up and moved to the other side of the room. Sylvester’s gaze followed her departure. He put Raphe in mind of a forlorn puppy, scolded for having chewed someone’s favourite slipper and not understanding why.

“Did you ever consider taking a different tack?” Raphe asked his brother dryly. “This one seems to have the opposite of the desired effect. Unless you were hoping to drive the lady as far away as she can get.”

Sylvester shrugged, unrepentant. “No point in being anything but myself. Besides, she ought not be so damned stuck up.”

“She’s shy,” Raphe pointed out, though he thought that much ought to be obvious.

To Raphe’s surprise, Sylvester shook his head, his expression fierce. “Not so shy as she’d have you believe,” he said, a private note to his voice Raphe did not understand.

Before Raphe could ask what the devil he meant by that, Mr Cadogan called everyone’s attention by tapping the side of his glass with a spoon. The ringing sound had everyone quieting and turning to face him.

“Ah, now I have your undivided attention, Bonnie and I have one last gift to give,” Mr Cadogan said. His wife got up to stand beside him, slipping her hand through his arm as he reached into an inside pocket and withdrew a piece of folded paper.

“Raphe,” he said, gesturing to him to get up. “This is for you.”

Raphe swallowed, unease prickling down his spine. He hoped to God they’d not done something embarrassing and tried to give him more money or something of the sort, for it would force him to refuse the gesture, and he hated the idea of offending them. Reluctantly, he got to his feet and crossed the room, taking the paper from Jerry’s hand.

“Well, open it,” Bonnie said, almost bouncing with impatience. “And before you start fretting, Rothborn knows and approves.”

Raphe turned to glance at Greer, wondering if she had any idea what this was about, but she returned a blank look, shaking her head a little. Well, at least she hadn’t conspired with them for whatever this was. Looking down at the neat square, Raphe unfolded it with care, and stared at the writing with increasing shock.

“What is it?” Greer demanded, leaping to her feet.

Raphe let out a breath of laughter, hardly able to believe it. “A special licence,” he said faintly, not understanding why they’d done it.

Greer clearly didn’t care. She gave a squeal of delight and launched herself at first her father, then her mother, and finally Raphe. Not caring who saw, she kissed him soundly.

“We can get married!” she yelled.

Raphe turned to her parents, utterly bemused. “But you wanted us to wait. My home is likely a pile of rubble. I’ve nothing to offer her—”