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Gabriel waved his hand dismissively. “No, this time, it is real.”
“Well, she is beautiful, I’ll give you that.”
Gabriel scoffed.Beautiful. “She is gorgeous.”
Vane tilted his head and studied Gabriel curiously. “Are you in love then?”
One side of Gabriel’s mouth kicked up in a smile. “No. I did not succumb to the disease yet. But if I was to choose, she would definitely be on the list of people I could fall in love with.”
“Hm.” Vane leaned back, continuing to stare at Gabriel intently. “And how many people exactly does this list contain?”
Gabriel stood and walked to the sideboard. He filled his glass once more. “How have you been, Vane?” he asked, instead of giving an answer. “Are you ever going to rejoin us in the social whirl?”
Vane ran a hand through his hair, looking miserable. “It seems like I do not have much of a choice.”
Gabriel raised a brow. “What happened?”
Vane heaved a long sigh. “It’s Millicent.”
“What about Millicent? She is not out in society yet, is she? I’d think she’s too young.” Gabriel chuckled at his own joke, and Vane just regarded him wearily. “Good God, you’re not truly venturing her into society, are you?”
“Heavens, no, St. Clare, she is five years old!”
“Oh, good. I thought I became too old and haven’t noticed. I even started reevaluating my life.”
“I doubt it,” Vane grumbled.
“So, whatever’s wrong with Millie?”
“Nothing’s wrong with her. She’s a perfect angel. But she’s growing up so fast, and I do not completely understand her at times. She doesn’t suffer any governess I hire for her, she skips her schooling, she rebels at etiquette lessons—”
“Shouldn’t we all?”
“Do not encourage her when you see her tomorrow.”
“I would never!” Gabriel took a sip to hide his grin.
“I think she needs a mother.”
Gabriel almost choked on his drink. “You’re looking for a wife,” he said in between the fits of coughs.
“Not yet. I’ve been avoiding it, although my servants have been hinting at it for a good year or more. I think I’ll have to heed their implied advice.”
“You are too familiar with your servants.”
“And don’t I know it. It’s too hard not to be, though, when one spends most of one’s time at one’s estate.” Vane heaved a sigh. “But the truth is, they are right. There are things I cannot talk to Millie about, things she’ll have to know about before she has her debut. It’s a decade in the future, but she needs to learn things now. I am not going to be here forever either. What if I perish before her debut?”
“Good gracious, man.”
“You have to think about these things when you’re a parent. You’ll understand soon enough.”
Gabriel sipped on his drink silently. He wasn’t about to tell the marquess about the bargain he’d made with Evie. No children were part of it, unless, of course, she changed her mind. He heaved a sigh.
“Apologies for keeping you so long,” Vane said, misinterpreting his sigh. “You must be tired. And I am keeping you from your gorgeous young wife. Why are you still here?”
If you only knew. “You’re right.” Gabriel stood briskly and put the glass on the side table with a loud clunk. “I’d better go and… debauch my wife.”
“Don’t be too loud.”
