“You were against this from the start. You promised me that you would keep an open mind.” Rodger’s voice was dispassionate.
“I am keeping an open mind, but this is the future of the duchy we are talking about.” Luke snapped back.
“I am not a duke.” Rodger looked up briefly from his book.
“You are notyeta duke.” Luke reminded him. “I will not be here forever, and you must carry on the family line.”
An odd look flitted across Rodger’s face, but it was gone too quickly for Luke to understand its meaning. “You could always have your own family. Your own wife and children. I might never inherit the title.”
“I will never marry. You know this, Rodger.” Luke pressed the bridge of his nose. It was all because of that infuriating woman; she riled him up and now his temper was short. “You will be Duke or at least your children will be. Which is why it is important you marry well. End of discussion,” Luke insisted.
Such a shame second sons cannot inherit.The words came floating to the forefront of his mind, and Luke shook his head.
“Look, we have agreed to be here for the fortnight, and I for one am curious. Perhaps the two of you could talk some more during the garden tour.”
“You are too determined to see the good in people.” Luke sighed.
“You say that like it is a bad thing.” Rodger’s eyes narrowed in confusion and then he caught sight of the clock and stood. “Oh goodness, is that the time? We should get dressed for dinner. I shall go find Haversham and Thatcher.”
“Do not think this is the end of this conversation, brother.” Luke called after him, but his brother was already out the door.
He scowled at the window. His brother simply did not understand the way of the world.I should not have sheltered him so much. I thought it a kindness at the time but now I am not so sure.
Absently, he rubbed his upper arm, the smell of stale whiskey briefly filling his nose. He pushed the memory violently away. He would make his brother see sense. He had to.
I will not let him marry Miss Pembleton, not if it is the last thing I do.He would not let her ruin his brother’s future.
Chapter Three
“Icould have sworn my sisters said that Lord Baine was the man they wanted to introduce to me, not you, Your Grace.” Emily grumbled as Duke Warren fell into step by her.
“And I am certain I read somewhere that ladies shouldn’t swear.”
Lord Baine was further away, near the duckpond of Emberly castle, admiring the resplendent beauty of the early spring splendour. Rose and her husband Alexander, Jane and several of Emily’s nieces and nephews had joined them and were scattered about.
Despite the tour of the gardens starting out as a chance for her and Lord Baine to better acquaint themselves, it became clear that the duke was not done with his inspection.
“I think we are both past the point of pretending I am prim and proper, though it hardly matters.”
“How do you figure that to be the case?”
“You don’t really care if I am the embodiment of social propriety. As long as I appear to be so in social situations and do not cause scandal, I am sure you couldn’t care less about my character in private.”
His thick brows cast a shadow over his eyes as he stopped, and leaned over her. “You seem to assume that my reasons are selfish. I am doing what every brother ought to.”
“Controlling and dictating their sibling’s life?” Emily turned to face him.
“Protecting them and ensuring their happiness. Even when they are too blind to see it.”
Emily had to suppress the rolling of her eyes. “I am sure your brother’s affection for me has not grown so much over an afternoon as to blind him.” She started walking toward her favourite section of the garden, and after a few seconds the Duke followed suit.
Though she swore he grumbled something about how she’d be surprised.
Yet, her attention was preoccupied as Emily looked around at the flora. Vibrant tulips and colourful pansies that were chaotically mixed with local wildflowers.
At first Rose’s gardeners had not trusted her with her ideas, so her sister had given her this corner of the gardens to experiment with, since their mother did not let her have any input in Pembleton Manor.
“You’ve done a lovely job.”
