"I hope that is a good thing in your eyes."
"It is," Alethea confirmed, a bit breathless suddenly. "You have been kinder to me than I imagined any man in your position would be. I realize I haven't exactly been the easiest person to deal with, well I have so much to learn about this life. Yet you've shown me nothing but patience and respect. And with your family… seeing how you are with them…" She smiled, recalling the earlier scene. "It's clear how much you love your sisters and brother. They're very lucky to have you."
Oliver's eyes widened slightly. He looked as if he wanted to dismiss the praise, but something in Alethea's expression must have convinced him of her sincerity.
"They mean everything to me," he said quietly. "After our parents passed, I had to become something of a father figure at a young age. It was daunting, to say the least."
Alethea's heart squeezed at the thought of a younger Oliver suddenly responsible for raising young siblings.
"It must have been so hard," she whispered.
"There were challenging days, certainly," he admitted. "Nights when Clara was a baby when I walked the halls with her for hours because she wouldn't sleep. And then of course Theodore came with his own challenges. But I never regretted it. Theyare my family. I would do anything to ensure they felt safe and loved. I never wanted them to feel abandoned."
The honesty in his voice moved Alethea deeply. Without thinking, she lifted her free hand from his arm and gently rested it over the one he had at her back.
"You gave up a lot for them," she said. "Not many in your station would shoulder such burdens personally. They would leave it to nannies and governesses."
He shrugged one shoulder.
"I had help. We've a wonderful household staff. But some things I couldn't delegate. I was the eldest; it was my responsibility. And I suspect I needed them as much as they needed me."
Alethea felt an overwhelming tenderness well up. How wrong she had been to think him cold or unfeeling at their first meeting.
"You did a remarkable job," she said. "They're all such fine young people. A credit to you."
There was so much more she wanted to ask, perhaps even to reassure him that if he ever chose to have a family, he would bewonderfulat it. But those words felt too large to voice just now.
Alethea meant to look away. But something held her in place. Her hand still rested lightly over his, and it took her a momentbefore she blinked, belatedly aware of how long her gaze had lingered.
"Be careful," he said in response. "You look at me like that again, and I might get the wrong idea."
"I… what idea?" she managed, her heart thudding loudly in her chest.
Oliver's lips curved into a smile.
"A dangerous one."
"I wouldn't dream of misleading you," she said, flushed.
"A moment ago, you were looking at me as if I'd hung the moon," he smirked, seemingly enjoying her discomfort. "And I must confess, I found it terribly disarming."
"Well, I shall endeavor not to disarm you again." Alethea could feel her composure slipping.
"I doubt you could help it."
She frowned at him, not knowing what he meant by that.
"It's hardly your fault," he continued, utterly unbothered. "You were born with those eyes, after all."
"I think you enjoy unsettling me," she muttered.
"A tad."
"And you do it so effortlessly," she added.
"I am not trying to," he chuckled. The dance was drawing to a close now. "I assure you, Duchess, if I ever chose to truly unsettle you, you would know."
His words sent a shiver down her spine. Just the way that he said it made her mind spin with a thousand different possibilities.
