Page 37 of The Duke's Treasure
“Lady Palencia?”
She started, turning at her name, her hand coming to her breast in surprise.
“I apologize. I did not mean to surprise you.” Rodrigo walked closer toward her, his hands clasped behind his back. “May I sit with you?”
“Of course,” she said, sliding over on the bench to make room. “What has you awake at this time of night?”
“I have never been able to sleep well when I am away from home,” he said, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees.
“Away from Peru?” she clarified, enjoying the opportunity to speak her native tongue with the man.
He smiled as he shook his head. “Not necessarily Peru,” he said, and she watched him, waiting for his explanation. “I have lived in many places throughout my life,” he said. “And I have travelled many places. Home has meant different places at different times of my life, but it is the place where I settle, where I decide to make my base, for a time at least. Does that make sense?”
“I suppose,” she said slowly.
“Home is where you make it,” he said simply. “And sometimes, who you make it with.”
“Are you trying to tell me something?” she asked suspiciously, wondering if Edward had asked Rodrigo to speak to her, but he shook his head.
“No. I know that you have decided to return to Spain. I know that the duke is miserable due to your decision. I have seen the two of you together, the way you speak to one another, look at one another. Is this what you truly want?”
“I do not want to have to fight for who I am,” she said. “And I do not want to make his life difficult. After a time, he will wish he had a proper English bride.”
“Will he, though?” the Peruvian said, lifting a brow. “He has had many years to find a proper English bride. It is not until he met you that he even considered marriage. I have known the duke for a long time – known him as a man, not as the duke. If he feels for you as I suspect he does, then I would say his life will be more difficultnothaving you in it.” He pressed his palms into his thighs as he stood. “What do I know, though? I have no title, no responsibility. I go where I wish and do what I’d like, changing my home as it suits me. You must do what makes you happy. From the sounds of it, you deserve it.”
“You make it sound so simple,” she murmured, even as his words resonated with her.
“Sometimes it’s simpler than we think,” he said. “Well, thank you for listening to my ramblings. Goodnight,DoñaPalencia.”
“Goodnight, Rodrigo,” she said, watching him walk off, considering his words and just what she was going to do with them.
Edward had spentall night trying to decide how to stop her.
In the end, he did what he always did when it came to such decisions, and went to his brother, although he waited until the next morning, just after Arthur had broken his fast, which happened at the same time as it did every day.
“Arthur,” he began, the two of them sitting alone in the study. This time, Edward made sure the door was firmly closed and no one was listening in the hall. “I need to speak to you.”
Arthur lifted a hand.
“I will stop you before you begin,” he said. “I know what you are going to say, and there is something you need to know before you say it.”
“Very well,” Edward said cautiously.
“I am not going to marry.”
“I said the same thing,” Edward responded. “But, eventually you will find the right woman?—”
“That is just it,” Arthur said, his voice dropping and his face softening. “I have found her. You were right about Lady Jane.”
“Then it’s perfect.”
“It’s far from perfect,” Arthur said. “She wants to marryyou, not me. And to have her settle for me… it would kill me to know she didn’t truly want me.”
“But Arthur?—"
“No,” Arthur said firmly. “I will not be the consolation prize. The truth is, Edward, neither of us have to settle for what is expected. So there isn’t a line of succession. They’ll find another duke somewhere down the line. Really, what does it matter to us? We will not care any longer when the issue comes to pass. You haven’t cared much about the dukedom before – why start now?”
Edward stroked his chin. “You are the last person I ever thought would say such a thing, but you most certainly have a point.”
