Page 41 of A Mother for the Blind Duke’s Orphans

For a moment, Poppy could not speak.

“From now on,” he continued coldly, “I think it best that our interactions remain at a minimum.”

She stared at him, but he did not stare back.

“Unless it concerns the children,” His Grace said, “there is no reason for us to spend time together.”

His words should have relieved her, but instead she felt disappointed.

Perhaps it felt that way because her own husband chose to retreat from her. It should not have surprised her, even though it was a loveless marriage.

Poppy lifted her chin. “As Your Grace wishes.”

For the first time, his eyes came near her face, though not quite landing on her eyes. Her breath caught as he seemed to study her.

“Good,” he said and walked away, leaving her alone in the study.

Chapter Ten

“My dear Sterling,” Jasper Bowring announced as he entered Hector’s study.

Hector rarely needed company, but when he did, he always wrote to The Duke of Berkshire, his only friend who never failed to show up.

“I am starting to regret writing to you.” He glanced at Jasper, who shrugged.

“I came as soon as I heard you had ruined your life with marriage. Oh, and thank you for the wedding invitation.” He bowed in a mocking manner.

Hector scoffed. “It was a private affair; I invited no one.”

“I am deeply wounded.” Hector heard Jasper’s steps cross the carpet with easy confidence. “It was your wedding, and I was not permitted to stand nearby and look handsome.”

“That is precisely why you were not invited,” Hector replied smoothly.

“Married one morning and already cruel the next day,” Jasper muttered.

Hector heard the chair creak under Jasper’s weight. A moment later came the soft clink of glass. Jasper had found the decanter, as he always did.

“You may pour one for yourself,” Hector said.

“I already have.”

Hector’s jaw tightened. Jasper made himself at home, like no other man would have dared. He was glad that he had a confidant. When he told Jasper about his nieces, his friend arranged for private investigators to find them.

After a moment of silence, Jasper spoke again. “All joking aside. It was frightful receiving a letter that you are to wed, right after learning that you had a sister and nieces.”

Hector turned then, enough that Jasper’s shape gathered in his sight. His friend had dark hair and blue eyes; he remembered him mostly from when they attended Eton together. He was more like family to Hector. He would have loved to have his brother by his side during the wedding, but he had to keep it private for the girls.

“I did what had to be done for the children,” Hector eventually said.

Jasper did not answer at once, as a tense silence settled between them.

“How are the children?” Jasper asked.

Hector looked toward the fire. “They are alive, fed, warm, and safe.”

“I asked how they are, not whether you have completed an inventory,” his friend muttered.

Hector let out a huff of breath. “I do not know.”