Page 25 of The Duke and the Widow
He shook off his thoughts and continued reading one of the recent newspapers. After breakfast that morning, Rosina took off with her friend, Lady Lily, and James decided it might be best to give the lady a bit of space. Perhaps he didn’t truly know his own mind. He was only three-and-twenty, too young by the standards of most to consider marrying so soon. Besides, he had his brothers to consider. They needed him.
Continuing to read the paper, he did his best to push thoughts of Rosina out of his mind. He read about the latest news for another quarter hour until he became restless and decided he could no longer sit in the high-backed chair in the Ockhams’ drawing room.
Coming to a stand, he placed the paper on the table and then stretched his shoulders. Before he could stop himself, he wondered where Rosina was and fought to think of an excuse for why he needed to remain by her side, even though he knew he shouldn’t. He was nothing more than a besotted fool. That dratted Demming had been right.
“Your Grace,” the Ockhams’ butler, Baxter, said, effectively pulling him from his thoughts. “There is a matter that requires your attention.”
James eyed the man curiously, uncertain of what he might be needed for. “What matter?”
“If you will come with me, your grace,” Baxter said, motioning for him to follow.
James did as the man asked and followed him down the corridor and to the foyer.
“Brother!” a familiar voice called, and before he knew it, he had two sets of small arms wrapped around him.
“What in the devil are you two doing here?” He practically shouted his question. “How did you get here?”
“Please don’t be mad, Brother,” Walter said, pleading with him. “William’s bad dreams returned and he was frightened. He needed to see you.”
James’ expression softened, but before he could speak, Baxter stepped in. “I shall alert her ladyship to the arrival of our guests and see that a room can be made up for them. At least for tonight.”
“I would appreciate that,” James said, nodding his appreciation to the man. “Please give my apologies to her ladyship for the inconvenience.” He made a mental note as Baxter took off that he would also need to express his gratitude to his hosts once he determined what his brothers were about.
Looking down at his brothers, who still had him in a tight embrace, he wriggled out of their grasp. “Come with me. We shall discuss the matter in my chamber.”
He led the boys up the staircase, then to the right to the wing where his chamber had been assigned. Opening the door, he ushered them inside the room and then closed it behind them. They each rushed over to the settee and plopped onto it beside each other, looking up at him expectantly.
James dropped himself into the chair across from them. “Now tell me about this bad dream of yours, William.”
“It was awful, James. I dreamt you were attacked on the way to this house party like Mama and Papa.” He sniffled as he spoke. “And then I dreamt the same thing again. I was worried something had happened to you.”
His heart broke that his brother had been racked with fear, but leaving school wasn’t acceptable.
“You should have spoken with your teachers, and they would have contacted me. You know I would have come straight away. Boys, you can’t leave on your own with no one aware of where you are. All manner of bad things could have happened to you both. You understand that, don’t you?”
Walter and William each gave him somber nods. “We’re sorry, James,” Walter said.
“I don’t want you to do something like this again, ever,” James said, sounding more like a parent than a brother, so he softened his expression slightly. “I shall write to your school so they know where you are, and then we will make plans to return you there.”
“James, please,” William started. “Can’t we just stay with you? You can hire us tutors like we did before. We don’t need to go to school.”
He could see how William trembled, and he rushed over to his brothers and knelt before them. “Do you both feel that way?”
William nodded, but Walter hesitated a bit before also giving him a nod. Each of their faces was in a pout that reminded him of when he had to tell them about their parents. He knew they needed to be at school and knew the three of them couldn’t spend every day together for the rest of their lives, but he couldn’t bear to cause them any more pain.
“Very well,” he said, questioning if he was making the right decision. “You may return home with me.” If only their parents were still alive, and none of them would be in such a position. The boys would be away happily at school, making friends and having the time of their lives.
“Thank you! Thank you!” each of the boys exclaimed, throwing their arms around his neck. He hugged them back.
“I need you both to be on your best behavior until I confirm when we shall depart,” James said, eyeing each of them.
“We will, Brother, we promise,” William said.
He hugged them again, but suddenly, an image of Rosina flashed into his mind. There would be nothing more between them once he left. She already barely let him in, and once he departed, she would harden her heart towards him completely. It was a very real possibility he wouldn’t even see her again. His heart fractured in his chest, and he released a sad sigh.
“What is wrong, Brother?” Walter said, eyeing him curiously.
“It’s nothing.” He lied to his brothers. Because it was everything.
