Page 83 of Anything But a Duke
“Nick—”
He held up a hand. “Before you thank or chastise me, just know that the meeting never took place. I indicated the time and place, but I’ve received no reply to my correspondence.”
“I do appreciate your effort,” Aidan told him sincerely. “But I haven’t come regarding the exhibition or my desire to win Lockwood’s favor.”
Nick nodded. “Good. It’s better not to be too focused on one singular goal that might turn to disappointment.” As soon as the words left his mouth, Nick drew his head back in surprise. “I can’t believe I just advised you not to be single-minded.”
Aidan chuckled, and the lightness of it eased a bit of the tightness that had been riding his chest all morning. “You are quite the most bullheaded and single-minded man I’ve ever known.”
“Agreed.” Nick stared at the carpet as if trying to sort out his fresh change of perspective. “But I also know that there are some pursuits that are futile. If Lockwood can’t be bothered to answer a duke’s letter for a simple morning meeting, then I’m not sure he’s the sort of man you should wish to plan any event with.”
Aidan smiled. “My main interest is in the industrial equipment and inventors who’ll present at the exhibition rather than hobnobbing with Lockwood.”
“Of course,” Nick agreed. “But sit. Tell me why you’ve come today if not about Lockwood.”
Aidan lowered himself into the chair and wiped a hand across his mouth. He still found it difficult to think of anything other than Diana, the night they’d spent together, and the fact that she’d been gone when he awoke in the morning. No note. No early morning good-bye. Just a cold, empty space in his bed.
The rightness of being with her. That was what he held on to. She had chosen him and that moment, and he didn’t regret any of it. All he truly wanted was to find a way to have her in his life every day and his bed every night. His ambition, his hunger for success—that was a shadow of how much he wanted Diana.
“I need your advice.” The four words were nearly impossible to get out and he felt a weight in the pit of his stomach the moment they were.
Aidan was comfortable with Nick. He trusted Nick. But coming to Nick, to anyone, for personal advice was something he’d never dreamed he’d find himself doing. Aidan had once advised Nick on how to survive. Perhaps, in some way, Aidan was now asking for the same in return.
“How can I help?” Nick asked, and then steepled his fingers to rest his chin on top as he assessed Aidan. “This is about a woman?”
“Is it so obvious?”
“To me. I doubt others would see it.” Nick picked up and tested the heft of a paperweight in his hand. He kept his gaze focused on the polished stone, almost as if he sensed how difficult this was for Aidan and was giving him space to find the words. “Go on. Tell me everything and I’ll help you in any way I am able.”
“When did you know?” Aidan asked him. “When did you know you’d fallen and would give up anything to be with your wife?”
Nick lifted his head and stared at the back wall of his office; a smile tipped the edge of his mouth as if he was seeing the moment clearly in his mind’s eye. “I met her the day I arrived at the estate. We clashed instantly, but I knew then that she would change everything.”
“Yes,” was all Aidan could manage. He too knew what it was to meet a woman in unexpected circumstances and know almost immediately that she would remain on his mind.
“So you’ve found your noblewoman, but you’re not certain if she’s the right one?” Nick prompted when Aidan fell silent.
“No.” Aidan stood and began pacing Nick’s office, struggling to gather his thoughts. “She’s not a noblewoman.”
“I don’t understand.” Leather creaked and the springs underneath his chair groaned as Nick settled back and crossed his arms. “Your intent was to woo a blue-blooded bride, was it not? Who is this woman who has you virtually speechless?”
For the first time, Aidan realized Nick might find some impropriety in his relationship with Diana. Not that either of them had ever worried much about propriety before. But nor had either of them had much to lose for most of their lives. Since Diana was one of the inventors to present before the Den, and the first woman, Aidan hesitated to explain more to his friend.
“She’s an extraordinary woman, unlike any I’ve ever met before.”
“But she cares for you and you for her? Which is enough to make you overlook your goals?” Nick sounded dubious as he drew out the words, as if he was attempting to piece together a puzzle and none of it quite made sense.
“She doesn’t wish to marry.” Aidan turned back to face him, hands braced on his hips. “Any advice on how to woo a woman who disdains the very notion of wedlock?”
Nick’s furrowed brow and confused frown indicated he did not. “Iverson, what the hell have you gotten yourself into?”
Aidan closed his eyes and drew in a deep breath. Diana was there in his mind, and deeper, in his cold, walled-off heart. She’d proved all of his planning and strategies to be absolute nonsense. She’d proved that all the walls he’d thought he’d built were nothing but paper thin.
When he opened his eyes, he found Nick had stood. He wore an expression of such concern, Aidan let out a chuckle.
“I’m not sure because I’ve damned well never felt it before, but I think what I’ve gotten myself into is love.”
The smile that broke over Nick’s face came slowly, but finally spread into a beaming grin. “I’m trying so hard not to say I told you so.”
