His mother nodded. “I would like you both to join me in the gardens for some fresh air.”
Augustus and Willa looked at each other with dread. His mother smiled and headed toward the terrace, not doubting they would follow her.
Tillerson chuckled, and Willa, surprisingly, made a face at the man. He scowled back at her.
As they went out to the terrace, Augustus said, “You should be nicer to Till. He is our friend.”
She snorted. “Mr. Tillerson is your friend, not mine. Enough about that man. Mother wants to know all about Lady Gillings.”
He groaned. Willa asked, “Have you seen her? When we all return, Mother and I plan to invite her over.”
He nodded. “I did see her recently. I suggested she visit with you before she leaves town.”
Willa stopped and looked at him curiously. “And?”
“There is nothing there. But I think I have found someone I want to court—”
“It is the scholar!”
Willa raced down the terrace stairs straight to their mother. “I win the bet. You owe me a pound. He is mad for Rose Calvert.”
His mother glanced at him. She whispered, “That was our secret.”
Augustus reached them, folding his arms. “Placing bets on my life. Not very motherly or sisterly.”
They both rolled their eyes. Willa said, “The moment I saw you with her at Derry’s country estate, I knew you liked her.”
He sat on a bench and sighed. “Well, don’t get too excited. I’m not sure she will have me.”
They both frowned. “Why ever not?”
“Not every lady aspires to be a duchess.”
Willa nodded, her nose scrunching up. “That is true, especially for a lady who travels the world.”
Uncertainty filled him. Could he really ask her to give everything up for him? Would she?
“You can work it out,” Willa reassured him.
His mother quietly said, “What of Catherine? Perhaps you should meet with her before you decide—”
Augustus shook his head. “Catherine is my past. There is nothing there. Willa is right. Miss Calvert is the lady I want.”
His mother smiled softly. “I see that. Well, I suggest you start wooing her. Something tells me she won’t be an easy lady to catch.”
His mother was unaware that he’d already started. He wouldn’t share those details but silently agreed with her assessment. Rose had no interest in his dukedom, so he would have to convince her somehow that, despite all his responsibilities, their love was worth spending forever together.
The thought of love disconcerted him. He’d not dared to think of the word and Rose until now. But the sentiment was genuine; whether Rose would have him or not, he’d somehow given her his heart.
“Now that I know Till is fine, I will return to London tomorrow.”
His mother beamed at him. “Willa and I will go with you. My boy has finally found his duchess.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Rose smiled asshe heard Lisbeth’s children arguing with each other in the grand foyer of Seely House. The duchess had brought them with her and let them explore the building while she worked on the club’s finances. Rose suspected she was regretting it now.
“Let it go!” Alice shrilled.
