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“Ignore them. It’s been rather tense for everyone lately.” Vanity’s expression softened as she reached up, brushing her fingers over Nathan’s smooth jaw. “Look at you. I’m so glad you’re alive.”
“I’m good at what I do, Mother.” Nathan grinned. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”
“Good.” Then Vanity made a face. “I wish I could get rid of the smell, though.”
“Don’t worry. I’m going to have a bath once it’s ready. I only had enough time to have a shave.” Nathan moved to sit in the chair vacated by Desiree. “Better?”
“A little bit.” Vanity sat up, shifting around to put her feet on the floor. She patted her hair, not a curl out of place. “I wish you didn’t have to go to war, Nathan. You should be here.”
“It’s my calling and I’m serving my country. I know you understand that.”
“And your title means nothing?”
Nathan sighed. They had been through this before. Nathan had hoped they could let him have a bath and something to eat before this started up.
“I’m sure you can do things in my absence. You have done them since Father died. And I hope that’s not why you requested that I came home, because if it was…”
“I’m dying, Nathan.”
Nathan broke off. Vanity was looking at him with an expression he had never seen on her before. Fear. Genuine fear.
“I…” Vanity licked her lips. “I don’t have long to live.”
“Then you need to get rid of whoever said you were dying, Mother.”
“You doubt my physician?”
Nathan rolled his eyes. “I don’t mean to be rude, Mother, but not even Mr. Fallowfields can tell if someone is dying until they’re moments away from meeting Saint Peter at the pearly white gates. He’s not stupid enough to declare that when he can’t say for certain.”
“Mr. Fallowfields isn’t wrong on this.”
“And I’ll be having a word with him about that. Besides, the last time you said you were dying, you only had a bout of influenza, and it wasn’t even that bad.”
Vanity blinked. She faltered.
“But you still came,” she murmured.
“I’m only here because I suspected something was wrong. I’m here to put it right. Once I have, I’m going back to France. I left a platoon who needs me to follow your whims.” Nathan didn’t flinch as Vanity winced. “They’re my responsibility. I made a promise to make sure all of them came back alive.”
“Your responsibility.” Vanity pursed her lips. Now she was beginning to look like her former self. “What about your responsibilities here?”
“That is your duty, not mine, Mother. We’ve been over this.” Nathan sat forward. “Why did you send for me? And don’t say it was because you’re dying, because we both know that’s not true.”
To her credit, his mother didn’t say that again. She placed her hands in her lap, straightened her back and pulled her shoulders back. The perfect society woman. She did look the part. Nathan had to admire her for putting that mask on when she needed to.
“I have someone for you.”
“Someone?”
“A young lady.”
Then the penny dropped. Now Nathan knew why he was here. He scowled. “You brought me back for a marriage?”
“Would you have come back if I told you outright?”
“Of course not.” Nathan shot to his feet. “Because you don’t have any control over me regarding that. I’m a grown man!”
“A grown man who’s been shirking his duties for years.” Vanity pointed out. “You need a wife, Nathan.”
