“Rowan is right, you do use such cold terms,” Sophie said with a sigh. “But perhaps with time that will change. After all, a great deal of emotion can grow from such passion.” She smiled. “I ought to know.”
“Oh, Sophie, not everyone gets a fairytale like you did.” Hannah ran a hand over her face briefly. “Duncan sought out marriage for his own reasons. He is offering me more freedom than I could have hoped for. And I do…” She blushed. “I do look forward to exploring more pleasure with him. But if I go looking for more, in the end I shall be hurt. I know how love can wound. So I’ll stick to the agreement we made. If I can form a friendship with the man over the years, I think that could be enough.”
It sounded silly when she said it, but she forced a smile nonetheless in the hopes she could convince Sophie if not herself. She waited for her incredulous friend to burst that bubble of hope, but instead Sophie slid across the settee and hugged her briefly.
“I only hope for your happiness. However you may find it,” Sophie whispered.
Hannah blinked back tears as she returned the hug with a tight embrace of her own. “Thank you.”
“Just be careful,” Sophie said as she pulled away and wiped a tear from Hannah’s cheek.
Hannah stifled a laugh. Careful was not exactly what had gotten her into this position. But she would have to work harder at using care if she was going to protect herself around a man like Duncan Cavendish.
* * *
Duncan entered his brother’s study and found Ian sitting at this desk, brow furrowed as he read over the ledger before him. He cleared his throat and Ian’s eyes, the ones so like his own, darted up to find him.
Ian smiled as he got to his feet and came around the desk, hand extended in greeting. “Duncan, there you are. I wasn’t expecting you.”
“You know I never give warning,” Duncan said with a chuckle as they moved to the chairs before the fire. “It drives Larson mad, which is half the fun.”
Ian arched a brow at him, but did not make the effort to correct him. He sighed. “So what brings you here?”
Duncan heard the hesitation in Ian’s tone. “We didn’t exactly part well last time I called, did we?”
Ian shrugged. “No. I’m sorry about that.”
Duncan tilted his head. “Does that mean you’ve reconsidered your position?”
“I never said that.”
“God’s teeth,” Duncan muttered, the same anger that had driven him out of his brother’s home the last time they spoke rising up in his chest now. “You are not my nursemaid, goddamnit. You have no right to manipulate my access to my inheritance in order to put me in line.”
Ian leaned forward, his lips thinning. “Then behave like an adult and I won’t have to act as a nursemaid. Do you think I enjoy it?”
“Sometimes,” Duncan barked, and jumped to his feet to pace away to the window.
They were both silent for a moment, and Duncan used the space of the cavern between them to regather his composure. When he felt he could speak without screaming, Duncan dug into his pocket and drew out the folded piece of paper he had spent the morning procuring. He held it out with a glare for Ian.
“What is that?” his brother asked as he got up and moved to take it.
“A special license,” Duncan said softly, and watched Ian’s eyes widen as he verified that statement by reading over the document. “I marry in three days’ time.”
“What?” Ian gasped. “What?”
“It is what you wanted, isn’t it?” Duncan tried to keep the bitterness from his tone. “For me to be settled. Marriage is the ultimate settler.”
Ian stared at him. “I told you to temper your wild ways, to adopt more discretion, and your response is to run out and find some young woman to marry? With a special license, no less, so that you may rush the entire affair! You thinkthatwill show me you are serious?”
Duncan glared at him. “Ah, so it seems you just want to control me. Why don’t you pick a lady for me, then? Set me up for a marriage like papas do their daughters. Find me a pleasant match that will further you. Because clearly anything I do will not be enough for you. Why don’t you just tell me that I will live on your good graces for the rest of my days?”
Ian shut his eyes. “I don’t want to control you, Duncan. I want you to control yourself. Jesus, a special license. A marriage contract.” He looked over the paperwork again. “Mr. Blankenship. The one who has been shopping for a match for his daughter for what…two years? What kind of woman can she be with a father like that? We could likely still get you out of it.”
Duncan flexed his hands at his sides as his mind turned to thoughts of Hannah. He had been angry at his brother and not really considering her in this announcement.
“I don’twantto get out of it,” he said, his voice rough. The words were true. Especially after his very interesting conversation with Hannah two days before, after their passionate night just before…the last thing he wished to do was walk away.
“Do you know her? Care for her?” Ian pressed. “Or was this just a tempestuous act taken on during a fit of pique?”
