Page 87 of A Duke Changes Everything
“First, never mention Mina’s breasts again. Second, stop thinking about yourself for a moment, you selfish bastard.”
“Yes, of course.” Huntley stood, nodded, and inhaled sharply. “I’m here for you, my friend. To help you out of this muddle.” He began ticking off items on his fingers. “First, we must find a way to keep Fairchild from murdering you.”
“He’s just being protective.”
“Indeed. The boy’s heart is in the right place, but he truly does loathe you at the moment. You’ll need to smooth that out. Apologize. Finance his thresher. Whatever it takes.”
Nick rolled his hand, urging Huntley to go on. It was almost as if the man was beginning to make a modicum of sense.
“Then we have to begin planning.”
“Planning?”
“Because of your title, everyone will expect something lavish, but you can do as you wish. The only requirement is haste. You do know you must marry her?”
If mention of love put Nick in mind of traps, the wordmarriagefelt like a noose tightening around his neck. Husband? He’d never imagined himself as such. And he’d known few men who hadn’t failed at the task. What if he failed Mina?
He lived in the underbelly of a gambling club, in a room without windows. He was moody and unfriendly to all but three people. And now Mina, though heaven knew he’d behaved like a fool with her more often than not.
“I take it this means you’ll reside at Enderley Castle on a more regular basis.”
“No. Maybe.” His throat went dry. “I don’t know.”
“What will become of the club?”
“I don’t know.” Lyon’s was a part of him. His creation. His only true success.
“My sister knows more of all this than I do, of course, but I suspect the first question will be whether you want a church wedding or something more private. What do you prefer?”
“I don’t bloody know!” Nick hated not knowing. He always knew what his next step would be. It’s how he protected himself. How he ensured that no one could catch him off guard.
Huntley bit the corner of his mouth but couldn’t keep his lips from twitching up into a grin.
“What’s so damn amusing?”
“This is how I know it’s true, whatever you feel for this Miss Thorne. You have no strategy.” Huntley stepped forward. “You claim you don’t have a heart, but I’m fairly certain you’ve just made a decision with the rusty old organ.”
“I want her.” Words welled up, like a confession he couldn’t hold back any longer. “As I’ve never wanted anyone—or anything.”
“Well, then I’ll leave you to it.” Huntley gave Nick’s shoulder an encouraging pat.
Yes, leave.If everyone would just leave, he could go back to Mina and the indescribable joy of being with her and locking out the world.
“Now go. Your next step is the most daunting of all,” Huntley said before he headed toward the door.
“Is it?” Nick frowned. His next step was going to be returning to bed with Mina and making love to her again before the sun came up, if he had anything to say about it.
“You need to go and ask Miss Thorne to marry you.”
Nick’s frown deepened to a glower.
“Good luck,” Huntley said from the threshold, adding a wink. “Ladies are changeable. One never knows what they’ll say.”
Chapter Twenty-One
“Colin, please calm down.” Mina emerged from the dressing room she’d found through a low, concealed doorway hidden behind part of the red velvet drapery in Nick’s bedchamber.
Her cousin had woken her with a series of knocks loud enough to bring the entire club to attention. She was only grateful that he’d brought the traveling gown she’d worn to London. Taking a few minutes to wash and change into the skirt and bodice had given her an excuse to escape her cousin’s tirade.
