“I’ve been staying at home to tend to my own affairs.”
“And what of you, Caroline?” Charles asked.
This time, it was Levi who intervened. “Address her properly or not at all,” he said firmly. “She isYour Graceto you.”
“Well, for pity’s sake. Aren’t we family?” Charles asked.
“In what way do you imagine that the two of you are family? You and I are only distantly related. I know we’ve been close—like brothers sometimes. But she doesn’t know you yet, and you’ll give her the time to decide for herself what sort of relationship the two of you share. You won’t presume to simply address her by her first name without so much as asking her permission first!”
“It’s all right,” Caroline said quickly, not wishing to create any further discord. “Caroline is just fine.” She turned to their guest. “I don’t mind a bit…Charles.”
She meant to show him that she would be just as informal as he was determined to be, and she saw at once that it had worked. “I like her,” Charles informed Levi. “She’s got spirit. You’re lucky in love, I see, just as you are in so many other things. Truly, it boggles the mind how anyone could ever question your devotion to this fine lady—but I see the truth of things now. Of course, your marriage is in no peril. I should not have asked.
“I’m glad you see it,” Levi said.
“Tell me, Charles, how is the season treating you?” Caroline asked him.
“Oh, it couldn’t be any better,” Charles said. “With all the members of the ton preparing for their various balls and festivities, business is positively booming right now. Of course, you’re well aware of that, Levi. How many seasons have you and I gone through together.We used to be quite the team.”
“That’s right, we did,” Levi murmured. “It will always be a significant part of my life, even though it’s behind me now.”
“Nothing lasts forever, I suppose,” Charles said.
“Well, I for one am pleased to hear you’re having such a successful time of it,” Caroline said. In fact, she had no stronginterest in Charles’ financial affairs, but she hoped to tell him things he wished to hear so that he might go away quickly. She could see that Levi was a bit bothered by his presence, and she wanted to do something to make him feel more at ease.
It seemed to take forever, but at last, Charles did go, wishing them both a good day as he departed. Levi and Caroline stood in the doorway as he took his leave. The weather had turned, and a misty rain was beginning to come down, just light enough that it wouldn’t be a problem for Charles to ride home in it.
“I don’t remember him being like that,” Levi said, watching him go.
“Being like what?”
“So aggressive. He really was a pleasure to be around when we were younger.” Levi sighed. “I would like to think that things might be like that between us again one day, once he gets over the fact that I inherited this dukedom neither one of us ever expected to have. I don’t know how to make him see that it was never something I wanted.”
“You think he’s angry at you for it?”
“He isn’t angry at me, I don’t think, but there’s an unspoken tension, certainly. Why did I inherit and not him? I’m sure it must feel unfair to him. After all, he is my cousin, even if the connection is very distant, and it’s easy to imagine that the late duke might have selected him for this life instead of me. I still don’t know why he made the choice he did.”
“He must have thought you would be better for the title,” Caroline suggested.
“Perhaps, but I’ve never had aspirations of improving my rank. Even when I was a commoner, I was more than happy with my lot. Charles was always the social climber of the two of us, and when an opportunity arrived, he was passed over—it must be difficult for him. That’s all I mean to say.”
“Well, it’s good of you to have him to visit.”
“It’s not as if he gives me a lot of choice in the matter.” But Levi was smiling. “I don’t know what I would have done without you around today, Caroline. You kept me sane while he was here.”
“I’m just glad I was able to help,” she told him. “Besides, I owed you one, after all you’ve done for me with my family.”
“Nonsense. You don’t owe me anything. Neither of us owe each other anything—or maybe we owe each other everything,” he mused. “The point is that we don’t exchange favors as husband and wife. We rely on one another We know that we’ll take care of one another, no matter what may be going on around us.”
“That hardly sounds like something you would have said when we were first married,” she teased him gently.
“Well, I’ve gotten to know you better. I’ve come to rely on you more.”
“Don’t worry,” she told him softly. “I feel just the same way.”
She wondered if he was going to kiss her again. In fact, she would have liked to kisshim, and she seriously considered just doing that. But it felt too forward, too risky. She had no idea how to force herself to take a chance like that with a man, to trust him with her heart. It was one thing to stand here and to have feelings for him. But to be so forward?
No, it was too difficult. She couldn’t do it.
