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The smile widened. “Were we arguing?”

“I think we were about to.”

“Then, I guess, I do.” He pushed her braided hair over her shoulder. “Perhaps we should almost argue more.”

“Perhaps we should, but—” She did not get to finish her sentence about how unwise it would be for them to kiss again, only to find herself rising on her toes to meet his kiss. Her mind was awhirl with differing emotions, but her body…her body wanted more. Warm swirls of delight meandered down her back, arms, and chest. It was very pleasant. When he broke the kiss, it was for her to realize that she had her fingers in his glorious dark hair.

She stepped back. What had she just done? Panic rose. “I should go. Good night…Edward.” Then she turned and ran out of the room before she was tempted to kiss him again. Lord knew what she would have let him do had she stayed. It was bad enough that she had let him kiss her, and worse, she had then kissed him back.

She realized with some alarm that she wanted to kiss him, but she also wanted to slap him. Yell at him to do his duty as a father to Max, but she also wanted to hear his side of the story. A man did not abandon his child just because his wife died, did he? There must be more to it. There had to be.

Chapter Twelve

Tony met them at the bank where she was told nothing had changed, but then her monthly deposit was not due for two weeks. That a healthy sum had accumulated, and she breathed a sigh of relief. At least she could pay her bills if her brother had somehow stopped her allowance.

“Lord Anthony, do you think there is a chance my brother was just blowing hot air to scare me into returning to him?”

Tony looked surprised that she had asked him. “I am not experienced with wills, but as Brookhaven now controls the earlish purse strings, who knows what other strings he has pulled.”

“Even if he has altered the agreement, it does not mean it is legal,” the duke said, pulling at his cuffs.

Was that so he did not have to look at her directly? She had been avoiding his gaze ever since they got into the carriage this morning with Elsie. Her maid was in awe at being in a carriage and sitting with two handsome lords, if the stunned look on her face was anything to go by.

“He could have done it, hoping you would just accept the outcome of his devilry,” the duke continued. “We will drop you off at the house and continue on. Tony and I have some other business to conduct before we meet the solicitors.”

Rose nodded. “I cannot thank you enough for helping me.”

“We could not let a friend of Marianne’s be pushed around on our watch.” Lord Anthony smiled, and his summer eyes, so much lighter than Edward’s, were full of compassion.

“How fares little William?” she asked. They had gone home this morning, and there had been tears all around. The house had been so quiet after they left. She hoped the mood had lifted once she returned to the house.

“He is very…vocal when he is hungry, and when he has a sore stomach and when he is sent to bed. Pretty much all the time he has something to cry about. I could not bear it, but when I pick him up and he looks at me, all my annoyance disappears.”

Elsie sighed beside her, and she could not help but smile at how Lord Anthony’s features softened when he spoke about his son. She spared a glance at the duke to find him looking out the window. It must be uncomfortable for him, but he chose his path.

When the carriage stopped, a footman came and handed them down.

“Thank you again,” she said and walked up the stairs, Elsie at her side.

“Are you all right, my lady?”

“Yes, Elsie, I am fine. A little worried, but if Brookhaven has done something nefarious, the duke and Lord Anthony will figure it out. At least I hope so.”

“I will not leave you even if you cannot pay my wage.”

“Let us hope it does not come to that, but I thank you for your loyalty.”

“What would I do if I did not work for you? I have never worked for anyone else.”

“And I would not want you to work for anyone else, but you may have to.”

“I will keep all my arms and legs crossed.”

“It is fingers and toes, but I think I might just need to do so myself.”

“We will not go back to Brookhaven House, will we?”

“Absolutely not. I would rather become a governess than go back to my brother as if I had done something wrong.”