Page 42 of How to Seduce a Duke this Autumn
Adam leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his knees. “She dislikes me. Strongly. She has reason to.”
His mother tilted her head. “And yet, you do not wish for her to dislike you.”
A muscle in his jaw ticked. “No.”
“Why?”
The question was deceptively simple.
Adam stared at the patterns on the carpet, his thoughts tangling together like a knotted rope. Yes, why? Because Charlene made him wish to feel like his old self again. Because she also challenged him. Because the thought of walking away from her left a hollow ache in his chest.
Instead of saying any of that, he exhaled sharply and murmured, “Because I’m an idiot.”
His mother chuckled. “That is a given. All men are idiots when it comes to any matters that are not from the head.”
He shot her a dry look. “Who said anything about it being anything but?”
She merely smiled. “No one had to.”
Adam groaned, dropping his head into his hands. “This is why I never speak to you about these things.”
“Oh, my dear, if you did, your life would be infinitely easier.”
“I rather doubt that.”
His mother nodded thoughtfully. “Perhaps that is where you must start, Adam. This doubt of yours. What is it that you truly want from this woman?”
The answer should have been simple.
And yet, it was anything but.
He wanted her forgiveness.
And especially her trust.
Most of all, he wanted the chance to see if they could be something more than enemies.
His mother must have read the conflict in his face, because her expression softened. “If you seek to change her heart, Adam, then you must be willing to risk your own in the process.”
He swallowed.
Risk.
He had never been afraid of it before. But this? This felt like a battle he had no armor for.
His mother rose, smoothing out her skirts. “Well, I can introduce you to a lady or two if you wish?”
“Please don’t.”
She chuckled. “Well, perhaps after your duties.”
Suspicion instantly rose. “What do you mean?
She turned toward the door but paused before exiting, glancing back at him. “Why, you need to do the rounds of the family estates.”
Right. He had forgotten about that.
Bloody ducal duty. This almost made it seem like he couldn’t be with the one who was perfect for him because his brother did, in fact, ruin it. Her and Adam’s chances with her.
