Belonging To The Earl

3.

A deal. Something he can use to get himself rid of Emily. He's willing to give up the earldom if that can happen. He's most definitely ready to sacrifice everything he has for Alyssa. His Alyssa. His stepmother. And currently the mother of his unborn child.

"A deal?" Jason asked carefully, his gaze drifting from his brother to the surprised faces in the study. "Why do we need to have a deal?"

"Do you want to have everything I have right now?" Jordon said desperately. He had gotten a possibility to get out of the web he had created, and he had no intention of letting it slip right through his fingers. "I can give you the title I have now. Besides, you're the eldest."

"And what price am I paying for that?"

"A price?" Jordon scoffed, and sat carefully beside his twin, ignoring the alarmed look on his friends face. "All you have to do is pretend to be me. And you can have absolutely everything I have right now. Excluding Alyssa, of course."

"Ahh," Jason said, nodding his head in understanding. "I believe that, to the little I've been told by our Aunt, she's our stepmother."

"You don't have to worry yourself about that. I can deal with it. But I need your help to do that."

"You don't just expect me to pretend to be you. I have no idea how different you are to me, and I most definitely have no idea why you want me to do that."

"Listen," Jordon was despondent. Everything seems a whole lot messier than it had when he had started having an affair with his stepmother. He hadn't thought of the consequences, and now, as he weighed his options, he realized that when the word gets out, there would be hell to pay. "All you have to do is pretend to be me. I'll leave London with Alyssa, and you can pretend to be me over here."

"That's bullshitting!" Anthony growled angrily. "I've been listening to your spurn of nonsense all these while. But that has got to stop, right this moment, Jordon."

"Do not tell me what to do, Anthony," Jordon snarled curtly. "If you were in my shoes, you'd have done exactly as I'm planning to do right now. Now, do not lecture me and let me get a hold of things."

"Jor..."

"Don't," Jordon barked at Charles. "Do not say a word."

A stifled laugh escaped Jason's lips as he watches the drama unfold in front of him. His brother must be very crazy to even think of that.

"This is not a matter to laugh about, brother."

The feeling of being addressed as 'brother' was eerily pleasing, and Jason had no idea when he held out his arms to his brother. A hug. He needed a hug.

Jordon's throat tightened at the gesture. He had no idea he had a brother. No idea he existed somewhere. He had never thought a day would come that he'd be so pleased of having someone to call 'family' beside his father and his Aunt. A father he had loathed throughout his life and had strived only for ways to hurt him either directly on indirectly. He knew he wasn't good with emotions, and so, instead of the hug, he shook his brother's hand.

"I'm glad I've got another family. Thank you for appearing when I most needed you,"

"It's nice getting to meet you too. But," he said as he let go of Jordon's hand. "I can't possibly do what you expect me to. I'm sorry Jordon, but I can't help you."

"You have to!" Jordon said exasperated, his face suddenly looked older than his age. His dark brown eyes were exactly like his brother's, and he knew that had been to his advantage. Even the colour of their hair was the same. Dark curly hair cressed even on their foreheads.

"I'll leave London as soon as everything is settled, and you can pretend to be me. I don't care how you do it, but you have to. You can have Emily, after all, she's one of the reasons I'm cramped up in this mess. All you have to do is pretend to be me, and marry Emily."

"Oh," Jason scowled, realization suddenly dawning on him. "Is the sole reason I'm going to be you about a woman?"

"Yes and no," Jordon replied hesitantly. "I like Alyssa, but father said I had to marry Emily to complete my social status for when I become an Earl. That was the plan initially, but Emily's family suddenly lost everything they had. I have no full details on what happened, but father didn't want it to happen anymore. And I was trying to be defiant, so I held onto the deal. Even though I had only met Emily twice ever since our betrothal two years ago, she left for America some time ago and I was relieved, hoping that she would meet someone else and call off our betrothal."

"I don't understand what all these have to do with me," Jason said, his brows knitted in confusion.

"What this has to do with you is simple," Anthony offered without being asked. "Jordon here, being as reasonable as he is got his stepmother pregnant. And now, he has to keep that hidden. But how? He loves Alyssa and not Emily, but Emily is his wife to be and Alyssa his stepmother. He's tangled in a web of mess."

"You got who pregnant?" Jason asked in shock, his voice had an edge to it as he remembered something he had done in America. He shuddered violently and shove the thoughts away from his mind. "What have you done?"

"It's nothing. I Love Alyssa, and that's all that matters."

"I don't really think so. If that's all that matters, then you wouldn't have been trying to get me into your tangled web of a mess, Jordon."

"I only held on to Emily to hurt father!"

"Then you shouldn't have gotten yourself involved with Alyssa. Goddammit! You know how manipulative that woman is. She only married your father because she wanted what he has, and also wanted you. But you had no title attached, and she stuck to your father. Why did you think she seduced you when he became ill?"

"She obviously knew he was going to inherit what father has, of course." Jason provided.

"Exactly. Which is why I strongly suggest you get rid of her, rather than bending to her wishes. Do you think she'll stay with you when she realizes you're giving up everything to run off with her?"

"I would not allow any of you to keep disrespecting Alyssa. She loves me as much as I do. Do not say anything more to hurt my feelings," his voice was suddenly cold z devoid of any emotion.

"It's okay. What do you want me to do? Take Emily and run off with her?" Jason asked jokingly, trying to ease the uncomfortable silence in the study.

"For a start, there would be a masquerade ball three nights from now. The Westermols are the hosts. I'd like you to be there, and I'll show Emily to you. You can decide after seeing her. Deal?"

"Deal."

Jason had no idea why he had agreed to this. But he knew that one way or the other, he wanted to help his brother. To see him happy.

But he had to come to London for two reasons. One, to find his brother who he had been lucky to have found as soon as he arrived. And two, Her. The one woman who had taken up every bit and pieces of his heart and soul. What would he do if he finds her after helping his brother from his mess?

He quickly shoved the thoughts away from his mind. One thing at a time, Jason. He murmured and smiled at his brother.