Mercy yipped, lifting his head to snuggle beneath Harbury’s chin.
“Mutt negotiations?” Adrian lifted his brows and shook his head. “That’sallyou discussed?”
“We discussed the past, too. Briefly.”
“Briefly?” Adrian’s eyes narrowed. “Would you have me believe you reminisced with Lady Pennington and felt nothing?”
“I wouldn’t saynothing.” He rolled his shoulder to ease his discomfort. “Seeing her will always be, oh, I don’t know…like witnessing a memory come to life. No longer painful, merely distant. And, before you even ask, no, I wouldn’t have gone over there if I hadn’t wanted to make clear my intention to keep Mercy. He was Lady Pennington’s by right, but he’s stolen Cassie’s heart.”
Adrian raised his brows. “I’m glad you were able to settle the matter. But are you actually saying you’ve finally realized I was right allalong where Viv is concerned?”
Harbury snorted. “You never did like Lady Pennington.”
“No. I didn’t likeyouwhen you werewithVivianne.”
Harbury cocked his head. Harsh words. Painful, too.
“Oh, don’t look so hurt.” Adrian elbowed him. “You know very well once you set Viv on a nonpareil’s pedestal, you had no choice but to become her rabid, growling guard—a guard who would nip and snarl at anyone who threatened to topple her, especially your father.”
Adrian had placed a thumb against a scale Harbury had already abandoned.
But he wasn’t wrong.
“Frankly,” Adrian continued, “you were exhausting.”
Harbury frowned as different scenes from over the years flashed through his head. Yes, he’d repeatedly made a fool of himself for Lady Pennington. And some of that may have had to do with rebellion.
“I don’t think I liked myself much then, either,” Harbury said finally.
His younger self had wanted what he’d thought he’d found in Lady Pennington—an idol to worship. Perfection to admire. When his wrung-out rag of a heart had lost the will to worship, he’d chosen pretty dutiful, sweet Cassie as an alternative.
But, even then, there’d been the glimmer of something more, hadn’t there?
A diamond no one else could see, sparkling in the corner of his eye.
Marriage had been his aim. An ornamental duchess. But marriage, he’d since discovered, was not just a state of being, but the melding of lives. And Cassandra was not a decoration, but a lady with needs and desires, too.
A lady he loved.
And a lady he’d deeply disappointed.
“I miss her, Adrian. And I’m not sure I can make amends.”
Adrian scoffed. “Don’t be an ass.”
“I’m not being overly indulgent! I really am uncertain. I’ve bungled everything from the start…not that I expect you to understand. You and Eliza communicate so easily, you hardly need words.”
“A good thing, too, as, unlike you, we’ve had little time to ourselves since we wed. Not that I’m complaining. Between my sister and Wainwright ladies, the house has never been so full of chatter. You of all people understand what a drastic change that makes from the home I remember.”
Harbury nodded. “I’m glad. But howdidthe two of you form so quick and easy a bond?”
Adrian chuckled. “Even if I told you the whole story—which I amnotat liberty to do—you wouldn’t believe me.” He smiled an enigmatic smile. “We are simply meant for one another.”
“Simply meant for one anotherisn’t much help.”
Adrian snorted. “For a romantic, you don’t know much about romance, do you?”
No.Harbury feared he did not.
