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“It’s not a rumor.”
“What do you mean?” A scowl darkened her face.
“I have every intention of marrying Miss Drake. I have a special license already.”
Daphne’s mouth gaped. “How could you possibly have arranged that so quickly?”
Harry laughed. “I’m a duke. The archbishop was rather pleased to hear I would be marrying again.”
“I cannot bear that family, Harry. Her mother wanted nothing but to better themselves at our expense. At least the eldest Drake sister didn’t marry Father. But I won’t stand for that middle sister to marry you just to better their social position. If not for them, our father would still be alive. For all we know, Tessa urged him to get the poison for her husbands so she could marry Father.”
“Daphne, I know you loved our father. As did I. But you forget, he also murdered my wife in this very house. He was mad. Tessa had nothing to do with the murders and neither did Louisa.”
“But—”
“Mrs. Drake did not want Louisa to marry me.”
“What? Why?”
“Because she was more concerned with Emma marrying Bolton than Louisa’s happiness.” He explained what they knew about her mother’s schemes to keep them apart.
“But why would you want to marry her?”
“Daphne, I love her.” Harry poured two brandies and handed one to his sister. “I have loved her for years. I raced off to India to give her time to realize that she loved me. Instead, I married a woman I didn’t truly love. At least not like I love Louisa.”
“You went to India to get away from her?”
“Yes. I never told a soul that. I loved her from almost the first time we met.” Harry sipped his brandy and let it warm his belly. He finally told her the entire story of their relationship. “I don’t suppose you will ever understand, but I cannot live without her any longer. I won’t live without her.”
Daphne went silent and sipped her brandy. “I might understand more than you think. When I was nineteen, I met Lord Shipley. He was a rogue, to say the least, but the moment I saw him, I fell in love. We spoke of marriage but then...”
Harry vaguely remembered even though he’d been at Eton at the time. Shipley’s brother had been there when the accident happened to make Tom the new earl. “The carriage accident.”
Daphne nodded. “He was on his way to speak to his grandmother. He wanted her approval before speaking with Father. After that, I didn’t care who I married so I accepted Radley.” She looked over at him. “Please do not think ill of Radley. I have come to love him, perhaps not as strongly as Shipley, but we have a good marriage. I finally told him about Shipley. So, I do understand.”
“But can you accept her?”
“For you, I suppose I must try. At least you know your daughter adores her.” Daphne raised her glass. “Congratulations, Harry. Have you told Charlotte yet?”
“Told me what, Aunt Radley?” a small voice sounded from the threshold.
“What are you about, Charlotte?” Harry asked with a smile.
“Nurse brought me down to say goodnight. What are you going to tell me?” She scrambled up on Harry’s lap.
“I am getting married. You will have a new mother.”
Her eyes widened. “Who, Papa? Is it Miss Drake? Please say it is her!”
He kissed her forehead. “It is,” he whispered in her ear.
Charlotte clapped her hands and bounced on his leg. “Yay!”
“Would you like to pay a call on Miss Drake with me tomorrow?”
“Yes!”
“Then off to bed, poppet. I love you.” He kissed her cheek.
