“Good night.”
He walked down the stairs in a daze.Partly because of the power of that kiss, but mostly because she’d said what they had was special.And then there was the part where she saidwhenshe shares his bed, as if she’d already decided.
Ash and Benson were both in the drawing room when he entered, but Benson simply handed him a glass of brandy on his way out.That probably wasn’t a good sign.He sipped the brandy, preparing for whatever he had coming, before settling into the chair opposite Ash.
“I hope your intentions with her are pure.Allister will kill you if they’re not.I don’t mean that metaphorically.And I doubt even I could stop him.”
Trent snorted and took another drink.“Rip my heart out of my chest with his bare hands and tear it in two while it’s still beating.I believe that was the description he gave.”
“I expect he’s capable of it.”
“Probably.”And yet somehow, that felt like the least of his concerns right now.He sighed and placed his glass on the side table.“I don’t know what to do, Ash.”
“Do you love her?”
“Yes.That’s the one thing I am sure of.”
“Does she love you?”
He nodded.“I believe so.”He picked up his glass and downed the last of his brandy, but it didn’t ease his embarrassment over what he was about to admit.“I just spontaneously gave some shambolic, slipshod version of a proposal.”
“And?”
“She said she can’t marry me because she can’t give me children.”
Ash poured them both another glass then settled on the sofa and patted the seat beside his.
With another heavy sigh, Trent moved to the sofa.
“You’re a good man, Trent.”
“So everyone keeps telling me.”He accepted his refilled glass.
“Perhaps you should start believing it then.”
He looked at Ash in disbelief.“And what do you think when someone tells you you’re a good man?”
“Touché,” he said, giving a salute with his glass.
“Have you forgotten I’m the reason you carry that cane?”
Ash turned in his seat to look at him.“You most certainly are not.I’ve carried this cane since you were a toddler.This,” he said, holding it up, “is my reminder to never turn into our father.”
Trent’s stomach clenched.“Did he beat you with that?”
Ash nodded indifferently.“There wasn’t much he didn’t beat me with.But that’s neither here nor there.We’re talking about you right now, so stop trying to change the subject.Do you want children?”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shrug.“I’ve never even given it any thought.I basically already have a child.”
“I suppose the real question is, is it important to you to have children from your own loins?If it isn’t important to you, then it also shouldn’t play a role in your decision.After all, family can come from all kinds of unexpected places.As you’ve already said, you have a child now.Maggie may be your sister, but you’re the closest thing she’ll ever have to a father.”
“Of course I don’t care.I love Maggie.”
“I don’t just mean Maggie.If you and Samantha did wed, and wanted children, it would not be difficult to make that happen.At least twice a year, I have a young woman approach me asking if I can help them find a home for their soon to be born child.”
Trent was shocked by the revelation.“Do you help them?”
“When I can.”Ash took a drink.“I can’t help them all, unfortunately.But my point is, there is not a shortage of babies who need families.”
