She felt a sharp, unexpected ache.
I want this.
The laughter and chaos. The small hands reaching for her. And a house full of noise and warmth with people who belonged to her.
But she had spent so long believing it was impossible, believing herself unfit, unchosen, unmarriageable, that the wanting felt ludicrous. Like hoping for something only invited its destruction.
Selina touched her elbow. “You’re thinking too hard again, Dee.”
Deena gave a watery laugh. “I’m always thinking too hard.”
“Then stop.” Selina smiled. “And just try to enjoy this time. You’re safe now, remember?”
Twenty-Two
“You know,” Dominic said, swirling his brandy in his glass, “for a man whose scandalous past was splashed across every breakfast table and is now just recently married, you look remarkably unbothered.”
Austin leaned back in the deep leather chair of the gentleman’s smoking room and gave a lazy half-smile to his friend. “What can I say? I’ve always had thick skin. And a good tailor. The combination is invincible.”
Dominic snorted. “Invincible. Right. Theton’sbeen whispering about you for days, and now…crickets. It’s like the entire city collectively decided yesterday was the day they got bored of you.”
“Miraculous, isn’t it?” Austin lifted his glass in mock toast. He could hardly believe it himself. His plan had worked. Marriage silenced whoever was after him. “One quiet wedding to a duke’s sister and suddenly my velvet reputation is yesterday’snews. Who knew matrimony was such an effective scandal suppressant?”
Dominic laughed under his breath. “You should bottle it. Call it ‘Matrimonial Silence’. One drop on the tongue and all gossip evaporates. You’d make a fortune.”
“I’d make more if I sold it to your grandmother,” Austin replied dryly. “She’s been trying to silence half thetonfor decades.”
Dominic grinned, then sobered slightly. “Seriously, though. It worked. The legitimacy rumors? Vanished. No one’s asking questions about your parents’… recreational habits anymore. They’re too busy speculating whether Deena trapped you or you trapped her.”
Austin’s smile turned wry. He hadn’t readThe Daily Scribeand didn’t care to. All he knew was that the blackmailers were silenced and Deena was safe. So was his reputation…for now.
“Let them speculate. As long as they’re not speculating about bloodlines, I’ll survive.”
Dominic studied him for a moment. “You really don’t mind the attention on your marriage now?”
“I mind a great deal less than I thought I would.” Austin took a slow sip. “Turns out having a wife is much better than questioning my own birth origin.”
Dominic’s brows rose. “I never thought I’d hear those words coming out of your mouth.”
“You have very little faith in me, old friend.” Austin’s voice dropped, and he leaned closer to Dominic. “Jokes aside, there’s something I need to tell you.”
Dominic went still. “What is it?”
Austin set his glass down. “The Daily Scribedoesn’t accept letters. Articles must be delivered in person. That means whoever wrote that recent article is here.”
Dominic’s knuckles whitened around his glass. “You’re telling me the bastard who threatened my sister is walking around London right now?”
“I am almost certain about it.” Austin felt his anger, and the urge to look for the man was strong.
Dominic swore under his breath. “And you’re sitting here drinking brandy like it’s a Tuesday.”
“I’m sitting here drinking brandy because pacing the floor and punching walls won’t find a stranger faster.” Austin’s tone was calm, but his eyes were hard. “Whitman’s detective agency is watching theScribe’soffices. If the blackmailer, or his messenger, shows up again, we’ll have him.”
Dominic exhaled in relief. “You should have told me sooner.”
“I’m telling you now,” Austin said boldly.
Dominic stared at him for a long moment and quietly said, “Thank you.”
