Page 66 of The Best-Kept Secrets
“Grandmother is entirely capable of being peaceful, or at least not unkind,” Duke said. “I don’t understand why she so often chooses cruelty.”
“I fear she has allowed the habit to take deep hold, and she no longer notices how that continues to change her.”
Change her?“Did she used to be kind?”
Uncle Niles thought on that a moment. “By the time I met her, she was already rather inconsiderate and had no qualms about turning her children against each other in the hope of receiving greater attention herself.” It was, by far, the most unapologetic conversation Duke remembered having with his uncle on the topic of the Seymour family.
“I was frustrated when Father said I had to travel with Grandmother to this house party. I was worried about how she would treat the O’Doyle sisters.” He’d decided that referring to them together would be less revealing to anyone listening than if he talked about Eve specifically. “Grandmother wasn’t truly horrible on the journey, but she wasn’t pleasant either.”
Uncle Niles nodded. “There is a reason your aunt and I haven’t been to Dublin in years. A person can love his family and desperately need distance from them as well.”
It was the perfect return to the topic Duke needed to finally tackle. “I need distance too. It is the only pleasant future I can hope for any longer.” He certainly couldn’t hope for one with Eve. Her continued guesses about his dream-fulfilling future would all be wrong, no matter what they were, because she wouldn’t be part of them. “I’ll understand if what I’m about to ask is too much, considering how hard Aunt Penelope has worked to find peace and distance from the family’s troubles.” He took a quick breath. “Could I stay at Fairfield? Live here instead of at Writtlestone?”
Uncle Niles dropped a hand on his shoulder. “You are always welcome here, Duke. Whether you want to be with us permanently or temporarily, there isalwaysroom for you.”
“I’m asking to live with you,” he clarified. “Part of the household.”
Uncle Niles nodded.
“Instead of at my parents’ home.”
“I understand.”
Did he though? “My parents will likely be furious. They will, no doubt, blame and attack Penelope for my ‘defection.’” That had given Duke even more pause than the disapproval he himself would receive from them.
“When was the last time someone in this family fought a battlewithyou, Duke, rather than leaving you to trudge through the muck alone?”
“Likely never.” Why was answering that question proving an emotional thing?
“I think it’s past time that changed.” Uncle Niles nodded firmly. “I suspect you think I never stand up to any of them.”
“I wouldn’t saynever.”
Uncle Niles smiled a little. “Penelope has pleaded with me repeatedly over the years to not rebuke them in front of others, even you. And while I haven’t always managed to abide by that request, I’ve done my best. But no public dressing down is not the same as no rebukes at all.”
“You have chastised them without witnesses?”
“More times than I can recall. It helps for a little while.”
“Nothing ever helps for long.” Duke sighed. “And if I push back too much, they’re even more bitingly angry when they eventually do react.”
Uncle Niles nodded slowly. “To buy us all a bit of time before the inevitable arguments arise from this, I would suggest you go with us to London when I return in January to take my seat in Parliament. You would be staying with us, but I don’t think your parents would realize that it was part of a more permanent arrangement.”
Duke stood also. “I’d like that. And I would enjoy hearing what you’re doing in Parliament and what Parliament is doing in general.”
“Do you have an interest in politics?” Uncle Niles asked.
“I don’t know what I would do in that arena, but I do find politics intriguing. And I like the idea of being in a position to do some good.”
Uncle Niles smiled. “The gentleman who has acted as my political secretary during my previous times as a member of Parliament is looking to pursue his own political ambitions, and he and I have agreed it is time to train a replacement for him.”
“Truly?” That caught Duke’s attention.
“Learn from him what the position involves. If you find it’s to your liking, then we might have shockingly easily solved a difficulty for both of us. Though I must warn you it is not a pursuit that will secure a gentleman enough income for a leisurely future.”
Duke nodded. “I understand. I have known gentlemen who have worked in that capacity. Thrice-mended coats were the order of the day.”
Uncle Niles had walked back to the bag of hay. “I wouldn’t leave you in that state, Duke. Even if the position earned you only pennies, which I assure you it won’t, you’ll have a roof over your head that you needn’t pay for.” He gave the hay bag a succession of perfectly executed jabs. “You’ll be in a position to tuck a few of those pennies away while still having ample funds for a new coat should yours grow threadbare.”
