“Did my darling sister-in-law really open up to you?” She seemed genuinely interested in his answer.
“Deena? A little, yes.” He averted his eyes; Selina was an expert at reading people, and just mentioning Deena’s name sent a flame through his yearning body. “My point is that I would never have to flee England because of some scandal with a married woman.”
A scandal about possible illegitimacy would be infinitely worse.
A sense of dread fell upon him as he really considered the downfall he would face if Deena chose to betray him or if news got out from whoever was blackmailing them.
“Sometimes, even the most powerful dukes pay for the consequences of others’ actions,” Selina said softly as if she read his mind. “Look at Dominic. After his first wife died, he carried that grief like a sentence. Thetoncalled him the Stone Duke, and he let them. That is until I came along and refused to let him stay stone,” she added smugly.
Austin’s mouth quirked. “You’retaking credit for that?”
“I am.” Her smile was bright and gentle. “And I’m telling you that even you could be affected if your past was splashed across every drawing room. Not because thetonwould shun you, they adore scandal, but because the right wife might hesitate. The right family might withdraw. Your plans could falter at the very moment you need them most.”
Austin stared at his tea. She was right, of course. He’d been counting on rumors sliding off him. But the right bride, one who was honest and decent, might not consider him a match if the scandals grew more salacious.
Percy burst back into the room, running away from his governess.
“Uncle Austin! There are ducks on the pond! Can we go feed them now?” he called out.
Austin looked at the boy and felt some of the tension uncoil. Selina was about to protest when he stopped her short.
He rose, scooping Percy up in one fluid motion. “You, young man, are the only reasonable person at this entire party.”
Percy giggled, wrapping his small arms around Austin’s neck. “Ducks!”
Austin glanced at Selina, who nodded with approval.
“Excuse us, Your Grace. We have important business to attend to.” Austin and Percy grinned down at Selina.
Her eyes were warm. “Go, chase the ducks, but my governess will accompany you both, and Austin?”
“Yes, my lady?”
“Think about what I said.”
Austin gave her a curt nod and carried Percy outside. The boy’s laughter rang in the drizzle. The pond lay at the bottom of the gentle slope, its reeds whispered in the wind. All the ducks drifted lazily across the surface, quacking indignantly as Austin set Percy down. The boy shrieked with joy every time a duck flapped away.
Austin watched him, then glanced back towards the house, where he spotted Deena and Dominic approaching Selina at the breakfast table. His heart leapt and, in that moment, he knew that finding a wife would be a disastrous task while Deena was around.
“Come on, little man,” he said to Percy, voice rougher than intended. “Let’s see if we can find the most perfect one of them all.”
Austin did not know if he was talking about the ducks anymore.
Deena paused at the edge of the path, watching Austin with her nephew. The Duke’s greatcoat was open, sleeves rolled to his elbows, dark hair tousled by the wind as he held onto Percy’s small hand and chased the poor ducks. He looked nothing like the Velvet Duke she was writing about.
Percy spotted her first.
“Aunt Dee! Look! Uncle Austin and I are going to feed the ducks bread and jam!” he yelled from the pond.
Deena laughed as she strode towards them. “Is that so, Percy?”
“Aha!” He turned back to a waddling duck and instantly chased it.
Austin faced her then, and his eyes found hers instantly. A sweet tension passed between them until her skin prickled under his gaze. Their last conversation was at the Gallop, and it left her sleepless and restless. She had come to him to remind him about the blackmailer and that there should be nothing more between them. She never wanted to hear about their kiss again. It already enveloped her mind every night and moment she was around him. She was done with the sweet, haunting reminders.
“Lady Dee,” Austin’s voice carried over the water and she shivered involuntarily. “Have you come to join the duck diplomacy?”
Deena crossed her arms over her chest to stop the morning chill. “I came to see that no one has drowned. But it seems more likely that you two would be pecked to death.”
