Page 146 of His Grace, the Duke
“Oh yes, that’s what is ridiculous about it,” James muttered.
“But in theory the idea should work—”
“Look around you,” James barked. “That’s not howanyof this works!Youare the duke.Iam your brother. That is the way it is.”
“If a king can abdicate, why can’t a duke?” George challenged.
James fell silent, utterly at a loss for words. George had often complained before, but he’d never taken his dissatisfaction so far. James raised a wary brow. “You would disclaim your title?”
“Disclaim!” he cried with a snap of his fingers. “See, you even know the proper word for it.”
“George, this is serious. Do you really want to disclaim your title?”
“Of course, I want to disclaim it,” he replied with an exasperated laugh. “I should have done it years ago. I’m wasted as a duke, and everyone knows it.”
Before James could respond, a sharp fist rapped on the door.
“In a minute,” James barked.
The knob rattled as someone tried to force their way in. “James, you let me in this instant!”
It was their mother.
“Don’t let her in,” George whispered. “I’m not ready. She’ll make me change my mind.”
“Well, if you can be talked out of this decision so easily, then perhaps it’s not the right decision—”
“Itisthe right decision!” George cried. “You know it too.”
The door swung open, nearly hitting James in the shoulder. He spun around as their mother pressed her way in, Burke and Rosalie on her heels. The archbishop stood in the doorway, sheepishly holding a key.
“Is someone going to tell me what is going on? George, get back out there at once,” their mother demanded. “The Queen is waiting!”
But George took one look at Rosalie, then puffed out his chest. “Mother, I have something very important to tell you. All of you.” He paused for dramatic effect. “I intend to disclaim my title in favor of James. We’re going to switch our roles. He will be the first son, and I the second.”
Their mother spluttered. “You—what?”
But James couldn’t think about her. He had eyes only for Burke and Rosalie. He held their gazes, glancing between them, desperate to glean their thoughts with a look. They were both shocked.
“George, you speak nonsense,” their mother cried. “You are the duke. You were born to be the duke.”
“But I don’twantto be the duke,” he replied. “It makes me miserable; it always has. Am I to have no say in my own life?”
“This is madness! You’re overtired. We will delay this wedding while you rest and—”
“We willcancelthis wedding because I do not wish to marry Piety Nash!”
“George...” Burke’s voice cut through their bickering. All eyes turned to him. “Just help us understand what brought you to this pass.”
George shrugged. “I suppose I’ve always resented my lot in life and wished mine and James’ roles were reversed. He makes a perfect duke. I have never tried to compete with him because... well... I can’t. And I suppose I tend to not try at all, rather than risk trying only to prove myself a failure.”
James didn’t miss the way George’s eye kept darting to Rosalie as he delivered that speech.
“But something must have changed,” their mother pressed. “What happened that you are now so willing to abandon your birthright, your family?”
“There will be no abandoning my family,” George murmured. “I am still a Corbin. If there is to be abandonment, it will come from you. As to how or why I now find myself at this pass, the answer is simple. It was all down to her.” He pointed his finger, and the group collectively followed the line with their eyes, landing on Rosalie.
Her eyes went wide, her mouth opening in surprise.
