For so long, he’d been a single father doing it all on his own. Smuggling brandy. Raising children. From the moment Désirée moved in, everything had changed for the better.
He could employ a new governess at the drop of a hat—the best governess in all of England, thanks to her—but no one could replaceDésirée. He would have to overcome his fear of repeating the past if he hoped for a second chance for the future.
“All right.” Jack shoved the map back toward Redmire. “Send me letters with little hearts and try not to get killed. Double your cut. I’ll wrap things up on my end, one way or the other.”
“See that you do.” Redmire lit his cheroot.
Jack led him back to the dining room.
Désirée leapt from her chair. “Oh, good. Let me show you what the problem was. My brothers caution against…”
As soon as she and Redmire went out of the front door to inspect the newly repaired carriage, Jack took the dining chair opposite his children.
“I have a question.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I’ve asked you it before, and the answer was no, but I’d like to raise the topic again.” He took a deep breath. “How would you feel if I… remarried?”
The twins exchanged glances. “Do we get to pick who?”
He tried not to smile. “Let me guess. Clever with ‘remèdes,’ fearless with frogs, bearer of burnt-biscuit hair?”
They nodded.
“You can make her stay?” Frederick whispered.
Annie leaned forward. “Do you promise?”
“I can’t make her do anything,” Jack admitted.
It would not be an easy task. He wasn’t just asking her to spend her life with him and his family. He’d be asking her to give upherfamily. Their dreams. Their shared future. Jack wouldn’t blame her if her answer was to choose France.
Damn it. He shoved his fingers through his hair. It was a good thing he still hadn’t responded to any of the governess queries.
He needed time to think of a plan.
