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‘Not really. I have not asked her yet because... Geoff has not been dead a year. A respectful period of time should be waited. He is—was my brother. And truth be known, I pursued her before he died. Geoff just did not know it. He never missed a soirée where she attended that he did not ask her to dance. He told me he would win her some day—but that she thought him too rakish and said she could not imagine him forsaking his mistresses for a wife.’
Winter’s chill settled in her bones, even though the temperature was warm. ‘You and Geoff pursued the same woman and he did not know?’
‘I have not had a woman in my bed since Louisa said a man must give up his mistress for her.’ He picked up the paper with the alphabet and handed it to her. ‘Geoff had told me what she’d said to him. I mentioned to Louisa, later, that I had made certain conclusions and that I wished Geoff understood my unwillingness to traipse about with him—to disreputable places. She certainly had to know what I meant.’ He made a loose fist and tapped it on the table. ‘I pursued her with more determination than Geoff. I selected every word before I said it to her. Now that he is gone, I don’t know what I think any more. Except I do not like what I did to my brother. When he died, I received the message at her father’s house.’
She looked at the page of letters and wanted to crumple it up, but she didn’t. ‘I believe I have met Louisa. She is one of my sister’s closest friends. We went to the shops. She chose slippers with pink rosettes. When she laughs, no one near can frown.’
‘That would be Louisa.’ Rhys turned away, suddenly fascinated by the unlit lamp. ‘When my brother left the room, I often talked with her. I made her laugh. I did whatever it took to get those smiles. I thought her worth the risk.’
‘The risk of hurting your brother?’
She thought his silence meant he would not answer. He didn’t need to. He’d not wanted to pursue the same woman as Geoff.
‘The risk of—more than that. By then my sister had died. To lose her had been so unfair. I imagined the fire taking her. The pain of it. We’d all loved her so much. I still cannot dwell on it. I did not want to repeat such a thing, and if I married Louisa, how could I keep her safe? But I eventually pushed those fears aside. And then my brother died. And now that I am the duke...’ He tailed off.
‘You should always be a person before you are a title,’ she said, then turned to leave. She’d reached the door when he responded.
‘That is not how it works.’
The quiet emphasis of the words rang in her ears and when she looked back, he still gazed at the lamp.
She wondered if he imagined Geoff’s face or Louisa’s smile.
Chapter Nine
After his morning ride, Rhys walked to the library. A rustle in the room alerted him that someone stood inside.
Entering, he felt a surge of disappointment that Bellona wasn’t there. Guilt replaced the displeasure, but then he truly felt pleased. His mother fussed with a curtain. She’d not shown any care of the house in a very long time and to have her standing with the sunshine about her brightened his own heart.
‘You would think the maids would have learned by now how to arrange the folds.’ She moved them this way and that, frowning.
‘Now I am crushed.’ He moved beside her. ‘I thought you were here to see me and it is only the windows you wish to inspect.’
‘Well, I might inspect you a bit, too. Now that I see you in the light, it appears your valet does not know how to keep a man’s hair properly trimmed. Or you have been leading him a merry dance again.’
‘Guilty.’
She reached up and patted his cheek. ‘Rhys. I am not here to merely note how you have let yourself go because it is possibly a good thing.’
He chuckled. ‘How’s that, Mother?’
‘When you are truly well groomed, it would be so hard for a young woman to keep from losing her heart to you.’
‘You must be sure to tell the young women this. I don’t think they are able to realise it on their own.’
‘Nonsense.’ She frowned and fussed with the curtains again. ‘I think we have one under our very roof who is becoming rather taken with you.’
‘I am certain she might be a bit fond of me, Mother, but I believe she is also fond of the stable master as he has secured archery targets for her. She’s also had Cook prepare a poultice for one of the footmen.’
‘Your valet talks too much of the other servants.’
‘Just as a lady’s maid talks too much to the mistress of the house. You should not believe idle talk when someone suggests Miss Cherroll is taken with me.’
