“Very well. I agree to your terms,” he said. Then he took out a document from his briefcase and set it down on the table closest to him. “These are the annulment papers. You will have the Duke sign them today, and then you will go to the carriage across the street. I will not be in it, of course, but it will take you to me.”
Violet nodded.
Her father’s eyes narrowed slightly, and then he turned, pushed aside the chair under the door handle, and pulled the door open. He turned back to her one last time before leaving.
“I will see you tonight, Daughter, with the signed documents.”
And then he swept out of the room as quickly and silently as he had entered it.
Chapter Twenty-Three
“You look less angry than I have seen you in some time,” Nathan noted, glancing at James over his glass of scotch. “In fact, if I didn’t know better, I’d think you were actually happy.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” James said, smiling despite himself. “Dukes don’t allow themselves to feel such common emotions ashappiness.”
“Then thank God I am not a duke!” Nathan laughed and threw back his scotch. “I very much enjoy allowing myself to be happy now and again. Another drink?”
He signaled to one of the waiters darting around the tables that he should bring them two more drinks.
“Why not?” James said, chuckling before downing the rest of his half-full glass. “Although you are to stop me after this one. I can’t go home drunk tonight.”
“Oh? Is your wife expecting you to perform in any way that drink might make difficult?”
James raised an eyebrow. “I would ask you not to speak of my wife in that way.”
“I’m merely hoping that after the meltdown I witnessed the other day, you are making it up to her.”
James groaned and had to resist the urge to bury his head in his hands. “You saw that?”
“Of course I did. Half the tonwitnessed that.”
James made a face. “An unfortunate scene, but not without its upsides.” They were finally able to break down some of their walls and speak to one another, it was the first time he felt like they were partners.
This made Nathan sit up straighter and look at him seriously. In fact, James had never seen his friend look at him with so much hope.
“Really? You let your wife break down some of your walls? You, who loves to remain mysteriously shrouded in the reputation of the Devilish Duke?”
“Don’t use that nickname, please. It’s embarrassing.”
Nathan laughed. “I’m just impressed that you let the Duchess in! You usually keep your cards close to your chest. It’s one of the reasons you and Eavestone get along so well. You’re both unwilling to let others in, so you respect each other’s space.”
James thought about this as the waiter arrived with their second glasses of scotch. Only once they were alone again did he say, “Am I really like that?”
“Of course you are. You know this about yourself, surely?”
“Well, with Violet, yes, I have been reserved. But I thought I was better at letting my friends get close to me.”
“I’ve had to break down your walls with a hammer,” Nathan sighed. “The same has been true for my relationship with Eavestone, although it has been much easier with him ever since he fell madly in love with his wife. Perhaps that’s what you need as well. Perhaps love is the cure that will finally make you go from the Devilish Duke to the Dashing Duke.”
“Please, stop,” James said, even as he had to stifle his laughter.
“The Dapper Duke?”
“Oh God.”
“The Disgustingly Smitten Duke?”
Nathan burst into laughter, but he eventually grew serious, the look in his eyes more wary. “But really, it sounds as if you might be falling for your wife if you let down your walls around her. Or am I misreading the situation?”
