Greys patiently provided explanations to all her questions, describing recent advancements, and how inspired he was by the writings and discoveries of William Herschel. “The larger the mirror, the more light can be collected to deliver a better image. Astronomers are always looking for ways to capture more light.”
Words he’d spoken before, and yet, speaking them tonight stirred something in his soul.
More light.Was that whatheneeded?
“You may dance to the tune of theTon, my lord.” She laughed. “But you are a fraud.”
Greys blinked, not understanding. Was she complimenting or criticizing him? “Explain yourself, madam.”
She relaxed her focus away from the eyepiece just long enough to send him a teasing glance. “You are not the stodgy old marquess you pretend to be. You are an explorer.”
Greys appreciated the sentiment, but at the same time, resented the stodgy old marquess part of her observation.
“I’m not pretending to be anything,” he said.
She turned away from the telescope and was staring down at his drawings now. “You were pretending to court me.” She spoke softly. Their scheme wasn’t really pertinent to this conversation, but Greys didn’t point that out since she was finally getting to the reason for her visit. “But when it became more real than either of us expected, you quit.”
“Why would you think that?”
“I asked you not to meet with Chaswick.” She stared down at her hands. “But I wasn’t ready for it to be over.”
“I—” Greys ran his fingers through his hair, frustrated as hell. They’d been alone together for at least an hour and he still wasn’t sure what she wanted.
“I understand,” she said. “And I’m not mad.”
Greys cocked a brow. She’d asked him not to go to Chaswick. Had she changed her mind, then?
“I just missed you,” she added. “I wanted to talk with you.”
Greys exhaled. “You came her to talk?”
“Yes.”
Incredulous, he searched his mind for what to say. And then, he knew.
“I told you my parents died when I was young,” He met her gaze. “That my grandfather raised me.” He’d been wavering all day. Perhaps talking with her about this would help him find some answers.
She nodded silently.
“Grandfather cared about two things in this world. The marquessate, and me. In that order. My parents, on the other hand, cared only for themselves. Before they died, I knew little peace between them. They loved each other, but they also hated each other.” He shook his head, remembering…
Diana kept right on staring at him, nodding, her eyes wide and understanding, her lips full and inviting.
“But that’s not really relevant.” Greys cleared his throat, trying to remember the point he’d been trying to make.
“Your grandfather became responsible for you.”
He cleared his throat again and glanced across the room. Many of the books he owned had belonged to his grandfather. Mathematics and astronomy were the only passion his grandfather had approved of. “He did. He said he’d failed his duty to my father and my father’s younger brother, but he wouldn’t fail with me.”
Diana had taken one of his hands in hers and was stroking the length of his fingers. “And in turn, you believe you mustn’t fail him.”
Greys jerked away from her. “It would be the height of disloyalty if I did.”
