“Why, Ash, are you hiding in a closet? This feels backwards somehow.”
“I invoked Ducal Privilege today. You can’t ask me these questions.”
“I caught you carrying dirty dishes earlier and now hiding in a cleaning cupboard. I also just saw a nightdress-clad Lady Felicity walk past. Which is an interesting coincidence, as it lines up perfectly with your odd behavior. I may be too concerned as your best mate to let Ducal Privilege stand.”
Ash glared at his friend. “Fine, but I will only tell you what’s going on if you use your massive stature to hide me and get me to my chambers without Lady Felicity seeing.”
Sam’s eyes widened. “Itdoeshave something to do with her. You’re hiding from her? Are you a Duke? Did you lose your ballocks? I can check for you if you’d like.” His eyebrows bounced twice, and he shot Ash a sly grin.
Ash pushed past him. “You are insufferable. I will walk”—he glanced at his friend and raised a brow in emphasis—“out in the open. Not hiding.”
“You know you love me,” Sam sang after him. Which was followed by the gleeful rubbing of hands.
Ash knew Sam was going to give him the ribbing of a lifetime. That was all well and good. But would Sam help him deter Lady Felicity? Or aid her? Sam was worse than a meddlesome mama. Gobbled up gossip just like one. But Ash had avoided Sam’s attempts at pushing him toward marriage for nearly twelve years. Lady Felicity wouldn’t be the final attempt that broke his resolve.
Once they were inside Ash’s room and the door clicked shut, Sam pushed Ash into an armchair before the low-burning hearth and retrieved them each a glass of whisky.
He plopped down in the seat opposite. “Out with it.”
“All right. You are right. I have been hiding from and attempting to avoid Lady Felicity.”
Sam’s dark eyes danced. “That is fantastic. I cannot believe you carried a servant’s tray to get away from her company. The poor chit probably thinks her father-in-law hates her.”
Ash grimaced, his stomach churning with acid. “Notfather-in-law.” Dear God, that thought made him sick.
Sam’s brows shot together. “Nearly, though.” He studied Ash’s face, lines etching across his forehead. “What…is going on? Why is she here?”
Ash drew in a breath and blew it out on large huff. “She is here to sleep with me.”
“What!” Sam jumped from his chair, whisky sloshing all over Ash’s trousers and light beige rug.
Ash pressed his lips together and glared at his friend. “Was that level of dramatics really necessary?”
“Yes!” The word exploded from Sam. “You brought her here to sleep with you? Don’t get me wrong, Colborn could use some tough love, but I’m not sure this is the way to go about it. I—I—”
“What the fuck, Sam? No, of course I didn’t! Sit your presumptuous arse down and give me a bloody chance to explain.”
Sam refilled his glass and dropped back in his chair, his feet picking up a rhythmic tapping. His gaze narrowed on Ash, and Ash nearly rolled his eyes. Had he said Sam was dramatic?
“I see you think quite highly of me.Shecame here to sleep withme.That is why I have been avoiding her.”
Sam shot Ash a look that Ash knew meantplease elaborate. Ash quickly filled his best friend in on Lady Felicity’s midnight rain-soaked arrival last night, her bold announcement of seduction, and the day’s events since then.
He left out some of the more intimate details. Like how she touched herself to thoughts of him. He shifted in his seat. That was something no one else needed to know. Something Ash really,reallywished he didn’t know.
Sam whistled low through his teeth. “Well, isn’t that something? Can’t make shite like that up. I’m still surprised that you are hiding from her, though. You have the restraint of a saint. You were loyal to Winifred, despite the fact that Iknowshe barely ever bedded you. You were together, what twelve years before she passed? And probably only had sex twelve times.”
Ash dropped his head in his hands. “Eight. Eight times.” He would never have been unfaithful to Winifred. He also hadn’t wanted to burden her with his lustful urges, since every time he’d bedded her, her response had been quite clear—she didn’t want his attentions.
Her words flew through his mind, so clear it was as if they’d been uttered in the room just now.Please, don’t touch me, just get it done. Quickly. It didn’t get any clearer than that.
Sam patted him on the shoulder. “Exactly, ei-eight times. Oh God, it hurts to say it.” His voice was heavy with sympathy.
“When I make a promise to someone, when I vow something, I will stay true to that promise. I wasn’t going to force her.” He glanced up at his friend, wondering if his friend heard the lie in his words. His wife had been willing, even if she hadn’t enjoyed it, because she had wanted more children. Except for the last time.
She was happy with her two sons, and she finally had herself a daughter. But the day Pandora came into the world, something changed for Ash. He had instantly fallen in love with his wrinkly, button-nosed infant daughter. He didn’t know why he hadn’t bonded that way with his sons, but he finally had aconnectionwith someone.
And as she grew into a crawling, then stumbling, then bounding little thing, already showing signs of her mischievous side, the love in his heart grew, and he swore it was as though he had been brought back to life. And he wanted more of that. Call him addicted to the love being a father could bring, and he wouldn’t argue.
