Monty is a duke. Can I really forgive him for keeping that truth from me?
Carefully, I roll over to face him. The sight of his handsome face quickens my pulse, as it always does. But now, even in sleep he looks stressed. There is a furrowed line in his brow that I ache to smooth away.
Monty. My Monty. My lover. My boyfriend.
I know his kindness, intelligence and personality are not lies. I can feel the truth of that in my very bones. The only thing he hid from me was his title. Nothing else has changed. I know him. I see him. I understand him. If he had his way, he’d live in his campervan and study alchemy forever.
That’s the true Monty. Not the duke version.
My boyfriend simply wanted some freedom before taking up his duties. A gap year, of sorts.
I can understand the desire for that. Especially after meeting his mother. And his brother.
I’ve only known them for a day, but the dynamic is clear to see. I sigh as I ponder that mess. Monty is going to have a hell of afight on his hands when he arranges a kind and decent husband for Laurie. His mother is going to try to demand status above all else.
My thoughts fall quiet as Monty stirs and opens his eyes. A sleepy warm smile spreads across his face as soon as he sees me, and my heart skips several beats in response. He leans forward and gives me a soft, lazy and tender kiss.
“Let’s go down to breakfast. Annie makes the most wonderful pancakes. I’ve never figured out how she does it,” Monty says in a tone of genuine awe and respect.
But I can’t think about pancakes. Far more pressing thoughts are consuming me.
Monty is talking about breakfast, in a breakfast room, with his family, and servants. I bite my bottom lip as uncertainty washes over me.
“Do you want us to go down separately?” I whisper hoarsely.
Monty’s blue eyes flash with a multitude of emotions. All passing far too quickly for me to name. Then he finds my hand and brings it to his lips for a quick kiss.
“No,” he says firmly.
I stare at him helplessly. “Are you sure? Because blatantly carrying on with an unwed vessel…”
“Pink,” he interrupts. “You are my greatest pride.”
It’s a damn good thing I’m lying down because I am pretty sure I would be collapsing in a swoon otherwise. As it is, my head is spinning and I’m all shaky and weak.
“In that case, let’s go get those pancakes!” I somehow manage to say.
Monty grins in delight, and it doesn’t help my dizziness at all.
We get out of bed and share a quick shower. One that feels far more companionable and comfortable than sexy, and I love it all the more for that.
I put on a pair of light brown corduroys and a white polo shirt. Monty dresses in cream chinos and a navy blue linen shirt.
He smiles at me and takes my hand. And he keeps a hold of it all the way down the stairs. He only lets go of it when we reach the door of the breakfast room, and I don’t blame him at all. His mother is scary.
She is sitting at the table when we enter. Dressed all in black. The sight makes me wince. I should have thought of that, but I don’t have any black, smart casual clothes.
Monty guides me to the serving table and points out the pancakes. I take an empty plate and slide a pancake on it. They do look amazing, but I think I’m going to be far too nervous to eat more than one.
We join his mother at the breakfast table. She sips her coffee and gives us a vaguely disapproving look, but says nothing.
I drop my gaze and focus on eating my pancake as unobtrusively as possible. The room falls silent, apart from the gentle clink of cutlery against crockery.
After a while, Monty asks. “Where is Laurie? Is he not joining us?”
“Lawrence,” replies his mother sternly. “Is not home.”
Monty carefully puts down his knife and fork. “What do you mean?”
