“And my sisters, Ladies Lucinda and Lydia.”
His sisters curtsied prettily, as did the woman who’d just climbed out of his bed.
Luke couldn’t help but watch Naomi approvingly. Even in this late stage of her confinement, she was graceful and poised.
When the time came, he would claim her as his own.
But then Blackheart extended his free hand toward the third woman. “Violet, love.”
Love?
"Allow me to introduce you, Luke. This is Violet Cockfield—my wife. The Duchess of Blackheart.” Luke had never heard Blackheart speak with this level of affection. “Violet, this is my brother, Lord Major Luke Cockfield."
Luke stood momentarily speechless.The Duchess of Blackheart? How could it be that his brother had married without so much as a word to him?
"Your wife?" Lucas repeated, incredulity lacing his voice as he stared between Blackheart and the dark-haired beauty. "When did this happen?"
"I sent word," his brother replied in a tone that was maddeningly calm, as though discussing the weather. "I can only assume my missive never caught up with you."
The cool wind swirled around them, but Lucas hardly felt it now.Married.His brother, the Duke of Blackheart, had married—and without so much as a hint of it reaching Luke’s ears. He glanced at his two younger sisters, who seemed entirely unperturbed by this shocking news. Of course, they’d been in town to witness the impossible: Blackheart falling in love.
And it was a love match. The look in Black’s eyes left Luke with no doubt as to that.
Luke opened his mouth, then closed it again as his astonishment quickly turned into something close to laughter. "Well, I’ll be damned."
Violet, the new duchess—his brother’s wife—laughed softly, the sound deep and melodic as she stepped forward, extending her hand. "My Lord Major Cockfield, it is a pleasure to finally meet you.”
Lucas blinked down at her, then back at his brother, before finally taking her offered hand. He bowed over it, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Your Grace, I must confess, I’ve had many shocks in my life, but this… this is quite the accomplishment, even for him."
“Call me Violet,” she said. “And I apologize for the surprise, but?—”
“They couldn’t delay the wedding, not without knowing when you’d return.” Lucinda finished for the duchess, revealing an affectionate camaraderie amongst his sisters and their brother’s new wife.
“She thought he was the Marquess of Greystone’s butler!” Lydia added.
Lucas laughed again. He vaguely remembered Blackheart had lost a bet to the marquess.
Even after Blackheart’s startling news, Luke had to resist pulling Naomi closer.
“I should have realized the truth earlier—considering he organized everyone, including my cousin, the marquess.” Violet smiled, teasing Blackheart—a married man, by God! Lucas was struck by the gentle confidence in her gaze.
"That comes as no surprise,” Lucas said with a chuckle, stepping back to take in the sight of his brother once again.
Blackheart gave a small, measured sigh, though there was a spark of amusement in his eyes. “One can’t excel at everything.” Meaning that Blackheart did, in fact, excel at running a dukedom.
The wind rustled again, and Naomi straightened beside him. "Won’t you all come in?" she said, opening the door wider. "Mymaid is away temporarily, but I’ve put some water on for tea..." She trailed off, apparently realizing what she’d just revealed.
But Blackheart responded as if all was perfectly normal. “That would be most appreciated. Perhaps Violet and my sisters could provide their assistance while I speak privately with my brother?”
Naomi looked surprised but hid it quickly enough with a welcoming smile toward the women. “But of course.” She sent Luke an anxious glance and then backed up, gesturing for his family to enter. “The kitchen is this way.” Naomi hugged her arms through a shiver. “Winter will be here soon enough, won’t it?”
After Lucinda, Lydia, and Blackheart’s duchess disappeared to the back of the house with Naomi, Luke led Blackheart into the parlor, wishing he’d taken an additional thirty seconds to at least don his boots.
His brother dropped onto the single chair, leaving the settee for Luke. Which, of course, had him sitting lower. Luke wondered if Blackheart did this intentionally, and then immediately decided that of course he had.
As if he hadn’t already caught him at sixes and sevens.
Annoying, but typical.
