Page 14 of His Grace, the Duke
“Have you found that person?” she whispered. “The one who fans the flames of your heart and eases the quiet of your soul?”
His mouth went dry as his mind suddenly flashed with visions of his future—his deepest desires, all his unspoken cravings. What might it take to make those dreams a reality?
Clearing his throat, he gave a soft laugh. “That was my advice for you. I imagine my own path will look quite different.”
With a nod, he took his leave.
As he closed her front door, he heaved a sigh of relief. Standing in the shadow of her house, he resolved to leave Marianne and everything she represented resolutely behind him. Striding off down the street, he didn’t look back.
8
Burke
Burke and Rosaliewaited another quarter of an hour in the library, expecting Tom to arrive.
When he didn’t, Rosalie asked if she could call a coach to go to her aunt’s house.
“Would you like to come with me?” she asked, her voice quietly hopeful as she kept her attention on her cup of coffee.
Something inside Burke’s chest clenched tight. “You want...meto meet your aunt?”
“Of course,” she replied, taking a sip.
“Not... not James or Tom? You want it to be me?”
She set her cup aside with a huff. “Did you expect to stay in the shadows?” Crossing her arms, she leaned forward, dark eyes narrowed. “You don’t get to pick and choose which parts of my life you claim. If you’re in my life, you areinmy life, Horatio Burke.”
God, he loved this woman. Heaven help him, he was mad for her. He smirked. “Agreed. And I heartily look forward to claiming all parts of you... day and night.”
She ignored him, which made his smile broaden.
“It’s unlikely my aunt will even be home at this hour,” she explained. “But I think she would like to meet the people with whom I now share a house and a life.”
“And a bed,” he added with a grin. He couldn’t help himself. He loved making her blush. His effort was rewarded with a flash of pink in her cheeks that faded into the dark curls framing her face.
“We shall not be shocking her with scandalous falsehoods,” she replied, rising to her feet. “I have never shared a bed with any member of this household—family or staff or even canine... though, during my first week at Alcott, one of the hunting dogs slipped into my room and hid under the bed. He made a valiant effort to join me, but was rebuffed.”
“I consider myself rather cleverer than a hound and harder to bully,” he replied. “Let your maid try and drag me out by my scruff, and we’ll see who has the stronger mettle.”
“Two things, sir,” she said, collecting his cup with hers and placing it on the tray. “First, I have no maid, so I will be doing my own dragging.”
He chuckled, reaching for her, but she stepped away, her brows still lowered in mock seriousness.
“Second, if the moment ever arises when youarein my bed with my hands on your scruff, you will beg me to bully you. Now, are you coming with me or not, because you can’t wear that.”
He barked a laugh, glancing down at his evening ensemble. He’d long since loosened the knot of his cravat and unbuttoned his waistcoat. She was right: He didn’t want his first impression with her only living relative to be marred by the fact that he was wearing day-old dress clothes.
“Give me ten minutes to change,” he said, rising to his feet. “I’ll meet you in the entry hall.”
9
Tom
Tom returned toCorbin House to find it bustling. Two carts were parked in the courtyard with footman hurriedly unloading crates. The staff had no warning to expect the family’s arrival, and Mrs. Robbins was clearly overcompensating. She’d ordered enough food to feed an army.
Entering through a side door, Tom was nearly bowled over by a delivery boy.
“Easy there, lad,” Tom grunted, stumbling out of the way.
