Perhaps that was the greatest trick of them all, Richard’s crowning glory in his choice of lifestyle, miserable though it was.

Harrison would always be there to drag him out of trouble and believe that he would change. Thus far, he had not.

Would he ever?

Richard knew nothing of Emblyn, and Harrison had no hesitation in keeping it that way. Should Richard ever make his way back to Trevadden, perhaps Harrison would see the half-siblings introduced. If he continued to avoid anything to do with Cornwall and the family, there would be no point in bringing a new connection into it, just as he had no plans to introduce Miss Dyer to Richard. It would not be outside of Richard’s nature to take up with her in some torrid affair simply to spite Harrison, and while Miss Dyer was surely sharp enough to see through the guise of his wastrel brother, he would not underestimate Richard’s ability to act the part of a proper, if roguish, gentleman.

And if Miss Dyer wasn’t careful, she would be the perfect arrow for Richard’s vengeful bow. Not that Harrison had any great affection for her as yet, but she was his bride. He would take a possessive interest, if not a protective one. His heart would not be so wounded as his pride, but there it was.

Miss Dyer was his bride, his woman, if he felt so barbaric; she was the one woman in the world his brother absolutely could not have.

Well, one of two, he supposed. He really ought not to have Emblyn, but as Richard knew nothing of her…

All in all, it was simply better that Richard knew nothing. Or, at least, as little as possible.

Which brought Harrison around once more to the selfsame question he had asked himself half an hour ago: why was he doing this?

Unfortunately, he still had no better answer other than because Richard was his brother. That, it seemed, was enough to keep his feet moving.

Walking this path was strangely like walking through a peculiar dream one is not particularly fond of. He knew the route without needing any reference, did not have to think about his direction or progress, and there was nothing he could see or hear that would distract him sufficiently to alter his course. Everything was as it had always been, and he was no longer even aware of the filth or unfortunate creatures around him. He didn’t even hand out coins anymore, as the regulars around Richard’s lodgings only used it for gin. He had walked this path in rain and in sunshine, in despair and in resignation, and he never left feeling better than when he’d arrived.

He did not anticipate any of that changing today.