Page 109 of Once More, My Darling Rogue
“Absolutely,” Drake said. Grabbing four glasses, he set them on the corner of his desk.
“Where’s Mother?” Andrew asked, as the duke wandered in.
“With Grace and Lovingdon, ordering people about, making sure all is in order before the festivities start. It means a great deal to your mother that you allowed her to have a role in planning tonight’s unveiling.” The duke poured two fingers into each glass. As Drake reached for his, the duke said, “Oh, wait, something else first.”
He slipped a hand inside his jacket and withdrew a small leather case. He extended it toward Drake. “Just a little something to mark your success.”
Drake hesitated a moment. Fine things came in leather boxes. “I haven’t had the success yet.”
Greystone winked. “But you will.”
Drake took the offering and slowly folded back the hinged lid. Inside he found nestled among velvet a gold pocket watch and chain. On the cover, finely etched in exquisite detail, was a dragon. He wasn’t certain he’d ever received such an exquisite gift. He had no words. “It’s remarkable.”
“You and I have always had the dragon in common. It seemed appropriate.” Greystone patted his waistcoat pocket where his own watch was protected. “A father passes his watch down to his firstborn son, so of course mine will go to Rexton.”
“Not for many years yet, please, Father,” Rexton said.
Greystone grinned. “Not for many years yet.” Sobering, he gave his attention back to Drake. “But I wanted you to have a watch as well. Doesn’t come with a storied past, but each watch must begin its tale somewhere so it can be carried on down the line. There’s an inscription.”
Taking the watch from the case, holding it in his palm, Drake carefully opened the cover and read the words etched in delicate script.
To my first son
—Always, with love and pride
Drake swallowed down the hard knot that had lodged in his throat. His chest tightened. His eyes stung. He lifted those eyes to the man standing before him. “I don’t know what to say, Your Grace.”
The duke nodded slowly, his lips curling into a slight, wry smile. “ ‘Thank you, Father,’ would be nice.”
Drake shook his head, or he thought he did. He seemed incapable of moving. His voice was locked. Every muscle in his body was locked. He had stood in a crowd and watched his father hang. He saw his father’s fists, his rage, his ugliness. He saw...
He saw...
He saw the duke holding his hand the first time they boarded a ship. He’d been terrified, but hadn’t voiced it, yet the large, sure hand had been there all the same, calming his fears.
He saw the duke crouched beside him, pointing out and explaining Stonehenge, the pyramids, the Roman Colosseum, the Great Wall of China. He saw the duke climbing a mountain with him and revealing the world from its summit. He saw the duke teaching him to ride a horse, correcting him with a stern voice when he misbehaved, insisting he learn his lessons, never allowing him to shirk his responsibilities, patting him on the shoulder for encouragement, carrying him on his back when he was younger and grew tired.
He saw now that the man on the gallows had merely given him life. The man standing before him had gifted him withalife, and a remarkable one at that. But more, he’d always shown him kindness and love.
Everything within Drake unknotted, unlocked. Swallowing hard, he held the duke’s blue gaze. “Thank you, Father.”
Greystone smiled, his own eyes misted, and he blinked them several times. It wouldn’t do for a duke to be caught weeping or displaying unbridled emotion. “You’re most welcome. A bit of advice, though. Never look at your pocket watch when you’re waiting for a lady to ready herself so that you might go out. It will drive you to madness. A woman’s five minutes are never fewer than twenty. Now let’s get this on you, shall we? See how it looks.”
Taking the watch from Drake, the duke leaned low and close, striving to hook one end of the gold chain around a button.
Drake’s heart went out to him as he watched him struggle. “I can do that.”
“I’m not blind quite yet.”
“I’d give you my sight if I could,” Drake told him.
Greystone succeeded in securing the chain to the button and stuffed the watch into the proper pocket on the waistcoat. Straightening, he patted Drake on the shoulder. “I wouldn’t take it. A father always wants better for his son than he had for himself. You are well on your way. And now it’s time for the toast.”
Rexton passed around the glasses.
Drake’s father lifted his glass high and in a strong voice said, “To your success, my son. May tonight be merely the first step of a remarkable journey.”
“Hear! Hear!” Rexton and Andrew said.
