Richard was a wastrel, a rake, and a reckless gambler; a man who charmed away wives of respectable men and ruined innocent girls of a lower class to avoid being forced into marriage. He was constantly in debt and chose lodgings for himself closer to his vices than was wise. The only benefit to his present location in London was that Harrison rarely had to hunt long to find Richard when something needed to be done.

He had paid off more angry husbands and creditors over the years than anyone should have to do, but if it would save his brother the risk of a duel or debtor’s prison, he could not keep from doing all possible to prevent such things.

How exactly his brother was even living without regular funds coming in, as Harrison had cut him off, he could not say. There was nothing he could do about the annuity Richard was getting, as it had been arranged in their father’s will, but nine hundred pounds was an amount his brother lost in a single game, not a living.He could have earned more and lived better than that.

Harrison had tried to explain this to his brother, had reminded him that, as a younger son, he was expected to have an occupation of some kind, but Richard had only ever thrown it back into his face. He was not the type of gentleman who could possibly be expected to have an occupation, and that there was plenty of funds in the Basset vaults to set him up adequately. It was always Harrison’s fault that Richard was in dire straits, always Harrison’s greed that prevented Richard from achieving his potential, always Harrison who judged Richard more harshly than he deserved.

Richard was their father’s favorite child, he’d said, and it was their father’s chief regret that Harrison was the firstborn.

The claim wasn’t unfounded, Harrison had to admit, but neither had it ever been proven. Their father had been exactly the sort of man that Richard was, though he’d also possessed a modicum of respect for his title and inheritance. The estate had done well under his care, though Harrison would not have called it flourishing, and his losses at the gaming tables had never put the estate in jeopardy.

Would Richard have found that sort of restraint if more had been expected of him?

Several of Harrison’s friends had advised him to stop helping his brother, to stop saving him, to stop reacting to his brother’s actions. But what more could he do, after removing all financial assistance from his own pockets? Yes, he still salvaged what he could of his brother’s debts, but Richard always seemed so ashamed of his actions, so penitent, so broken when Harrison found him.

And Harrison believed him every time.