Page 78 of My Secret Duke
Ivo couldn’t help himself. “You may have known the child you lived with at St. Ninian’s, Grantham, and your partner at Cadieux’s, but this Charles is a changed man.”
Gabriel looked even more unimpressed. “Is he indeed?”
Ivo took a steadying breath. Charles needed his help. After a lifetime of cock-ups, he was determined to redeem himself.
“Furthermore, I have the right to speak for him, because he is a Fitzsimmons. Charles and I are brothers. Well, half brothers, if you wish to be technical.”
“Good God.” Gabriel looked shocked, which was amusing in a way because Ivo knew how much alike he and Charles were in appearance. “Are you serious?” He looked from Ivo to Charles and back again, and then gave a huff of laughter. “I see it now. When did you find out, Charles, and why on earth didn’t you tell me?”
Charles shifted uncomfortably. “I found out after the picnic at Grantham when I accompanied Northam back to Whitmont. There was a portrait there of his father… our father, and it was like looking into a mirror. I didn’t tell you because it wasn’t something Ivo had spoken about to his mother and sisters, and I thought it should be left to him. Not that I believed I needed to take out an advertisement inThe Times,” he added irritably. “It makes no difference who my father was to those who know me well.”
Gabriel seemed to accept that, but he still sounded reluctant when he said, “Nevertheless, my sister—”
“Yes, your sister,” Ivo interrupted, deciding it was time someone took control of what seemed to be a stalemate between the two men. “Charles wants to marry Lady Justina. He is sincere in his affection for her. I have seen that firsthand. Now he is a proprietor of Cadieux’s, he takes his responsibilities very seriously. I think you are aware of that too, Grantham, or you would never have sold him the club. You trust him. I can’t speak for yoursister, but I assume she trusts him too, and is ready and willing to be his wife. Is that not so, Charles?”
Charles looked a little rattled by the turn of events. “She does… she is.”
“Yes, I am aware of the affection you hold for each other.” Gabriel’s voice had gentled, but he wasn’t giving in yet. “I had hoped it would pass.” He must have heard how blunt that sounded, because he pulled an apologetic face at Charles. “Sorry, but I find it difficult to accept you are a changed man. I remember too well your nights on the town.”
“We are both changed men,” Charles retorted. “Why is it so hard to believe I could fall in love and want a happy life? Family, children, a home. We never had that, Gabriel, did we? Now you have it, and I want it too.”
No one said anything for a moment. Gabriel mulled over his words, and then abruptly he held out his hand. Charles clasped it, and his relief was palpable. “You have my blessing,” Gabriel said. “I will speak to Justina in private, and if she is content with the arrangement, then you have my permission to marry her.”
Ivo watched them hug, pounding each other on their backs. He was very happy for Charles, but he once again suspected that, had it been he who requested permission to marry one of Gabriel’s sisters, he would not have been given a favorable answer.
There was no point in thinking about it anyway, not when he was dealing with the matter of Mystere/Rendall. He couldn’t even fight for Olivia, because who knew what would happen next? Ivo loved her too much to involve her in this dangerous situation. For now, he would keep her at a distance. That was safest, melancholy as it felt to be without her.
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Olivia and Roberta had been waiting with Justina ever since Gabriel and Charles closed the library door. They had started off in the blue sitting room, but Justina hadn’t been able to remain seated patiently in her chair. After Roberta came to inform them that Ivo had arrived and gone inside to join the two men, the girls took up a position outside the library. Olivia wasn’t sure what Ivo being here meant, but Justina wondered aloud if he had come to protect his gambling club partner in case Gabriel turned violent.
Roberta said that was silly. “Gabriel would never hurt Charles. Although, he did get into fisticuffs when he owned the club. I wonder which one of them would win?”
“Roberta!” Olivia reproved.
Justina wailed. “If they fight, Gabriel will forbid me from ever seeing him again.”
As the minutes ticked by, Olivia and Roberta did their best to keep their sister’s mind off the worst scenarios.
“A Christmas wedding,” Roberta said in a falsely cheery voice. “I don’t think you should wait too long.”
Justina stared at her with glassy eyes. “Or I might die a spinster.”
“Maybe you want a long engagement?” Olivia suggested, slightly desperate now.
“I don’t care, as long as Gabriel lets me marry the man I love. If he says no, then I’ll… I’ll elope!”
As if on cue, the door opened and Gabriel led Charlesout, with Ivo following. The men were smiling and looking pleased with themselves, and Olivia wanted to collapse with relief. Justina hurried over to Charles, and he then proceeded to lift her in his arms and swing her in circles. Gabriel snorted a laugh, and Ivo grinned.
Just then, his gaze found Olivia, his green eyes sparkling, and her heart leaped when he moved as if to come and join her. It was like the night at the Longhursts’ all over again, and she could already feel his arms encircling her and his mouth covering hers. She had missed him so much.
Then, very deliberately, he looked away, and everything seemed to stop and then crash to the ground. He half turned his back, his shoulders stiff, his hands clenched at his sides. As if he was holding himself back from her. And she knew then that he wasn’t going to approach her. He wasn’t going to talk to her. He was cutting himself off from her, and from whatever feelings existed between them.
But those feelings still existed. Oliviaknewthey did. She loved him, and he loved her. She was almost certain he had used a dare to propose to her at the supper dance. Why was he doing this? Had Gabriel warned him off? But Olivia did not think Ivo was afraid of her brother.
Ivo was speaking to Charles and Justina, congratulating them. “I’m very glad for you both.”
“Thank you.” Charles’s voice was hoarse with emotion, and his blue eyes filled. “And thank you for being here, even if you were late.”
