When he looked up again, it was to find his father watching him with what could only be described as fond amusement.
After a convivial meal, George offered to help Freddy back to his bedchamber. He’d descended a whole flight of stairs to the dining room and now had to make his way back up with his ribs screaming at him.
“I’ll give your young man a tour of the library,” the duke said as George helped Freddy out of his seat. “There are some volumes on agricultural methods I want to look out for him.”
The walk upstairs to Freddy’s room was painfully slow, and Freddy seemed exhausted as George helped him ease back down into his chair.
“So,” Freddy said, when he was finally settled. “Is Theo Caldwell your Kit?”
George bent to remove Freddy’s slippers. “Yes,” he said, then added, just to hear the words aloud, “He’s mine, and I’m his.”
When he straightened, he was flushing a little, and Freddy was grinning at him. “So, is he going to live here, with us?”
And just like that, the moment was upon him.
George sat himself down on the side of Freddy’s bed, facing his chair. “Do you remember what I said before, Freddy? About you being my heir?”
Freddy looked wary. He didn’t say anything, just waited for whatever George was going to say next.
George took a deep breath. “I told you that I’m not going to marry. I’m really not. I’m going to make a life with Theo.”
Freddy blinked. “I see.”
“Theo’s property in Wales needs some care, and I’m going to help him with it. We’re going to live there, together. So…”
He saw the moment understanding dawned in Freddy’s gaze. “You’re leaving?”
George nodded. “Yes. We’re going to make Blackfriars our home. And since you don’t seem to want to return to your regiment, I thought that, well… you might want to consider staying here. Taking over from me. There’s a lot to do. A lot to learn.” He paused. “It’s all right if you don’t want to, but you should know it’s a choice available to you.”
Freddy searched George’s face, his gaze serious. “I don’t want to usurp you, George. What if one day you change your mind? I would never want you to feel resentful or pushed aside.”
George set a hand on his brother’s shoulder. “That won’t happen.” He smiled. “I’m getting everything I want. My only reservation would be if I was leaving Father to deal with all the ducal estates himself.”
“You won’t be, but even if you were, he wouldn’t mind,” Freddy said roughly. “He wants your happiness. He was so worried about you, George. We all were.”
“I know,” George said. “But there’s no need to worry about me anymore. I’m happy. I want you to be too. I think this would be good for you.”
Freddy huffed a rueful laugh. “I’m not sure what to say, George. I never imagined this sort of future for myself.”
“Does it appeal to you?”
“Of course. This is my home. I love it with all my heart.”
“There’s your answer then,” George said gently.
“I suppose,” Freddy agreed. After a moment, he added, “You know, this running off to Wales sounds much more like the sort of hare-brained thing I’d do. Does this mean you’re going to start getting into unspeakable scrapes, and I’m going to become all serious and sober and start reading Herodotus in the original Greek?”
George laughed. “Perhaps it does. Theo does rather bring out my more frivolous side.”
“I’m very glad to hear it,” Freddy said softly. Then he added, “But I’m not reading Herodotus.”
After he left Freddy, George went to the library in search of Theo and his father.
The duke was standing on the stepladder they used to fetch down books from higher-up shelves. His head was tilted, reading the spines of some of the volumes, while Theo sat at the big desk, leafing through one book, several others waiting at his elbow for attention. When George entered the room, he looked up, his smile immediate and unrestrained.
“Ah, there you are, George,” his father said. “Do you know where that text by Captain Williamson is, by any chance? I can’t find it anywhere.”
“I was reading it quite recently,” George said. “It might still be in my rooms. I’ll check. In the meantime, do you mind if I steal Theo?”
