Page 17 of His Grace, the Duke
“What the hell does that mean? What ismorethan a wife?” James stiffened. “Oh... please don’t tell me you’re taking a page out of George’s book and seekingtwowomen—”
“No,” Tom said, raising a hand with a laugh. “I don’t—God, I don’t even... you know what I really want?” James raised a brow as he brought his glass to his lips. “I want a tree.”
James snorted. “You’ve lost me completely.”
Tom laughed again. “I think I’ve lost myself, but I’ve only just had the idea.” He mused for a moment. “Have you ever wandered through the forest and seen two trees growing together?”
“Of course,” James replied.
“Well... that’s what I want. I want to find someone who can grow with me, sharing in strength and purpose. I want roots buried deep. I want to be so entangled in another person that I don’t know where they end and I begin. I want—” He paused, taking in the look on James’ face. “I’m... not making any sense, am I?”
“It makes sense,” James replied. “But it also sounds bloody exhausting... all that twisting and bending and supporting of limbs.”
Both men laughed.
“I imagine that if I ever find the right person, it will feel as easy as breathing,” Tom replied.
James eyed him. “And... is Miss Harrow your tree?”
Tom groaned, snatching up his glass. “Christ, you’re relentless.”
“Answer the question.”
Another quiet moment stretched between them.
“She might be,” Tom admitted. “I’ve never felt this way about a woman, J. She is... she’s like a song I can’t get out of my head. But I can’t make her want the same things as me.
And I’ll not try to change her. If she is meant to be in my life, she will have to be the one to make that choice.”
James’ frown softened. “So you don’t intend to pursue her, then?”
Tom gave another exaggerated sigh. “You know, if lording ever loses its charms, you’d make an excellent hound. Always on the hunt—”
“Renley . . .”
“I have no intention of walking away,” he replied.
“You’re as bad as Burke,” James muttered. “He thinks he can have her without any question of marriage and no one will bat an eye. It’s madness.”
Tom just shrugged. “She’s her own person. Yes, she’s a lady. And yes, she’s a ward of this house, but she has every right to make her own choices. If she wants Burke on terms that are acceptable to him, who are we to stand in their way?”
“They’ll ruin each other, and you’re content to just sit back and watch?”
Tom huffed a laugh. “James, I’m going to tell you something my father used to love to say: ‘You can lead a horse towater, you can even make it drink... but you can’t lead a stubborn man anywhere.’”
James rolled his eyes again. “And I suppose I am the stubborn man?”
Tom got to his feet. “You are all the stubborn man,” he replied. “You, Burke,andRosalie. You are perhaps three of the most stubborn people I’ve ever met. And I will tell you this now, and pray you heed me: If they think they’re being managed, they will both dig their heels in and fight you every step of the way.”
James’ mouth tightened into a firm line. “You think I intend to meddle?”
Tom gave him a knowing look. “I love you, James. A better man surely does not exist... but I think you quite literally cannot help yourself. Not when it comes to Burke. He has always been your greatest weakness; the only knife worth twisting.” He drained his glass, setting it down with a clink.
“Icancontrol myself, you know,” James challenged.
“I’m not the one you need to convince, J. Best say those words again in a mirror.”
James scowled.
