“I am well. You?”
He shrugged. “Well enough. Any news?”
She shook her head. “It is too soon to tell.”
“But there’s still a possibility?”
She knew what he was asking; whether she had had her courses. She hadn’t, but her face flamed at the intimate question. Silly! As if they had not discussed, and done, a lot more intimate things.
“Yes, the possibility still exists,” she whispered and saw the glimmer of satisfaction in his eyes.
Dinner that night was more animated than she could remember it being in a long time. She acknowledged she had been feeling apprehensive about it. How would the two men get along? Would there be any resentment, animosity? Ever since she had returned after her time with Gabriel, the guilt she’d harbored made her mortified to even refer to the weeks she had spent away. Whenever the duke asked her, she had stammered a response and changed the subject or left the room. It had been awkward.
Now she realized there’d been no need for any of that. Her relationship with Gabriel did not bother the duke. If he’d ever had any husbandly feelings towards her, they had died a long time ago. Long before he had suggested this deal. Now Harold’s focus was on building a relationship with his son, in making up for past wrongs and lost time.
And Gabriel? At first, she noticed he was ill at ease as well. But soon, the duke’s earnest interest in him, coupled with his own curiosity for the man who had given him life, had overcome any lingering doubts.
Now they conversed easily, laughing occasionally as Gabriel entertained them with news from London, or with little tidbits of his life abroad. The duke shared a few scandalous escapades from his youth that he had never shared before. She was happyfor them. Content listening to them talk, enjoying the easy camaraderie that had developed between them, and noticing how alike they were.
Oh, it was not obvious to a casual observer. But she noticed the similar gesticulations, the tilt of the smile, the way they laughed, the way they held their heads. It was amazing, really, given that Gabriel had not grown up with the duke, and therefore could not have copied his mannerisms. It really was a case of breeding manifesting itself beyond upbringing. She wondered if her child would share the same features. And then caught herself. There was no child yet. Better not get ahead of herself.
After the meal, she excused herself. “I will leave you gentlemen to your port and conversation,” she said, standing up. Gabriel stood when she did, his eyes snapping to her, but Harold merely nodded.
“Thank you, dear. We will join you soon.”
“No need to rush. I’m sure you two have much to talk about. I think I will retire to bed now. Good night.”
GABRIEL WASN’T SUREwhat kind of welcome he had expected. How he would feel coming here, seeing her again. But the hardest part had been when he had arrived and she had almost run into his arms.
The effort to act formal and distant, when all he wanted was to lift her in his arms and never let her go, almost made him regret his decision to visit. But then the moment had passed, and they had shared a few words in private. It was enough for now. He was finding he would rather be in her presence, even when he forbade himself the pleasure of her touch, than to not see her at all.
The duke had been another pleasant surprise. He had known the man for five years now. He had already liked and admired him. However, the fact that he had sired him, that they were related by blood... well, it made a difference. He felt a distinct sort of connection with Stanhope. He feared their bond would be strained by his relationship with Hannah. That there would be rivalry, tension between them. Even a measure of resentment.
But it was not so. The duke had no romantic love for Hannah. Caring? Yes, but not the sort of love that is between a man and a woman. Was it because of Stanhope’s age, his illness, that prevented him from feeling desire? Perhaps, but Gabriel suspected he would still love Hannah when he was old.
“You love her, don’t you?”
Gabriel looked up sharply, his gaze colliding with the duke’s at the unexpected question that so closely mirrored his own thoughts. He looked around, afraid servants may be about. The duke waved a hand to dismiss his concerns.
“I ordered the servants to retire. I tire of their constant presence, and I would rather converse with you without an audience.”
Gabriel nodded, still not answering the question. How to answer it, anyway? He kept thinking of her in terms of love. Had even called hermy love. A term of endearment, no more. And yet, it was more than that.
“You don’t need to answer. I can tell you do. But I wanted to hear you say it. I suspect you haven’t admitted it to yourself.”
The duke might be more insightful than they gave him credit for. “You are right, I haven’t. I don’t want to admit it. Least of all to you.”
“Why not? I want you to love her. I want her to fall in love with you, too. Which, by the way, I think she is. I’m just not as good at reading her. You, on the other hand, I can read easily. You are so much like myself.”
“Not so much, or you would have never suggested this bargain. I could never relinquish her to another man. Not even when we are older.”
“Ah, but you two will grow old together. I was already old when I married her. And she was barely more than a child.”
Gabriel’s mind seized on the words ‘grow old together.’ How he wished that came to pass. If only...
CHAPTER 35
WINTER IN THE COUNTRYwas the saddest, most lonely season of all. Or maybe it was just his mental state. In a life marked by loneliness, Gabriel couldn’t remember ever feeling this melancholy before. After spending a week at the duke’s estate, he had returned to his estate right after New Year’s. That had been over a month ago, and he had received no news.
