“Have you changed your mind altogether, then? You wish to put off marrying?”
“No.” Addison clenched and unclenched his fists. He wouldn’t put it off, but he would make the decision as towhen. And more importantly, he, andonly he, would decidewho.
“Of course, you haven’t. You’ll be a good duke and provide no less than three strapping heirs—legitimate heirs—that is.” Rowan chuckled.
Addison watched Hera walk around in a few tight circles and then curl up to enjoy the sun. Zeus had already found a spot to lounge.
Relaxing, indeed.
“A young woman refused me a few weeks ago.” He surprised himself with the admission.
“Ah. Well then. I was unaware that you were courting anyone. Do I know her?”” His brother ran a hand over his head, which all but gleamed in the sunlight.
“I wasn’t courting her. I compromised her.”
Rowan raised his brows in disbelief. “Why, you devil. When did this happen?” He obviously found this morsal of information more amusing than Addison had.
“She’s one of the teachers at Fiona’s school. We were locked in a stairwell together for over an hour. Alone.” Saying it out loud made the incident sound even more tawdry than it did in his own mind.
“It’s about time you broke a few rules.” Rowan sounded quite impressed. “Who is she, some daughter of an earl playing at being a bluestocking?”
“One of Chaswick’s half-sisters.”
“You offered a teacher, an illegitimate woman, no less, the chance to be your duchess and she said no?”
“That rather sums it up nicely.” Addison shoved his hands in his pockets in frustration and paced to the opposite side of the terrace.
“She sounds… interesting.” Rowan turned his back on the view, propped his elbows on the railing and narrowed his eyes at Addison. “Do you fancy her, then?”
Did he? “We were alone for over an hour. Asking for her hand was the honorable thing to do.” Although if he wasn’t smitten, then why did he find himself dwelling on a single kiss weeks later? It was annoying. That’s what it was.
“Ah… So there was a scandal then. Why have I not heard about this?”
“There was no scandal.” Addison rubbed the back of his neck. “Our situation went undetected. No one knows but the two of us.” Which, as he’d told her, made no difference. Only an unscrupulous cad would have failed to offer for her.
“And you, being you, had no choice but to do the honorable thing. Wait… you werelockedinside of a stairwell? Did you suffer one of your attacks?”
Of all those who knew him, Rowan was the only person who realized the full extent of Addison’s weakness.
Addison set his jaw. “I very nearly did. She… She managed to… divert my attention.” The memory of the subtle scent of vanilla and mint, along with delicate fingertips drawing lines on his hand was one that had plagued him far too often over the past month.
Rowan watched him, nodding slowly.
“I am considering meeting with Chaswick.”
“What do you hope to accomplish by doing this?” This was why Addison had come to Rowan. Because he would challenge him on any foolish ideas he might have.
“I was not only locked in that stairwell with her, Ikissedher.” And he might have done more if given half the chance.
“You kissed one of Fi’s teachers? Is she a beauty then?” Of course, this was what Rowan would home in on.
Was Miss Jones a beauty? Addison hadn’t considered her anything more than pretty at first sight, but her looks had improved greatly over the course of their acquaintance.
“Yes.”
“What is this delightfully intriguing woman’s name?” Addison didn’t correct his brother because, for some damnable reason, that was precisely what she’d become to him.
A delightfully intriguing miss…
