“How?” Ian sounded incredulous.
“Sex has always been enough,” Duncan said with a shake of his head. “More than enough. But right now…it almost feels like a wall between us. When she reaches for me rather than talk to me…something in me breaks.”
Ian’s lips parted in surprise. “So you truly think you are in love with this woman.”
“I know I’m in love with this woman,” Duncan said. The words hung in the air between them, said out loud for the first time. Truer than they’d ever felt trapped in his head. “But you’re no fool. No matter what I tried to tell you, Hannah and I married for mutual benefit, not emotion.”
“Of course you did. You wanted your inheritance. I assume she wished for her freedom to escape that dreadful father of hers who keeps haranguing me about our newfound familial connection.” Ian shook his head. “To know you were so desperate you would make such an arrangement, I wasn’t about to continue to keep your inheritance from you. Especially once I met the young lady and saw what a good influence she could be over you. I never imagined you’d fall in love with her, nor so swiftly, but I am happy for you.”
“I would be, as well, except that bargain we made initially hangs over us. Do you know how many times she has reminded me that she has no expectations of our future?”
Ian flinched. “Oof.”
“Yes, thank you. That’s the exact sound my lungs make as all the air goes out of them every single damned time. She makes it clear on a regular basis that she intends to honor our initial bargain and wants nothing else from me. So how do I fight that? Because Father never could and he died of a fucking broken heart.”
“I have no more experience in such matters than you do,” Ian said. “Does she do as Mother did and use your affection to get what she wants?”
“No!” Duncan said instantly. “She would never.”
Ian lifted his brows at the protective anger in the response. “I see. Then if I were to imagine this scenario, I would say that you ought to do something you’ve never done with any other lady.”
Duncan wrinkled his brow as he tried to think of what that could possibly be. His confused expression must have amused his brother, for Ian chuckled. “Great God, I mean woo her. Openly and passionately and romantically woo the woman. You’re handsome enough, despite all the good looks of our family going to me. She likes you, it seems. You don’t know why she is so set on denying a connection. It could have nothing to do with a lack of feeling. So woo her, Duncan. If you want to win her, take a damned risk.”
“I thought you wanted me to settle down, not take risks,” Duncan grumbled.
Ian got up and moved toward him. He stopped a foot in front of Duncan and reached out to grasp his arm. “I want you to be happy. You’ll be settled when you’rehappy. So take the risk to win her. And if there’s anything I can do to help, tell me.”
Duncan let out a long breath. Ian had only given him the advice he had been trying to ignore from inside his own head. He’d admitted he loved Hannah. He knew he wanted her forever. He wanted to earn her love.
And now he would have to do so.
Ian smiled at him. “I have a meeting with my solicitor in an hour, so I should go. I’ll send an invitation to supper for later in the week, though, and I shall regale the lady with tales of how wonderful you are. I’ll make up stories if need be.
Duncan grinned as he followed his brother to the hallway, where they shook hands. “I appreciate that.” He met Ian’s eyes. “Truly. Thank you. I know things between us have been…strained…since Father’s passing. But I do appreciate you.”
“You, too.” Ian slapped his arm. “Good day.”
Duncan drew in a long breath as his brother strode down the hallway toward the foyer. He was about to go back into his office to make a list of things he could do to woo his wife when a footman came around the corner, silver tray in hand.
“Mr. Cavendish, this just arrived for you,” the young man said, holding out the tray so he could retrieve the folded missive on top.
“Thank you,” he said, taking the note and heading back inside. As he turned it over, he stopped walking. He recognized the handwriting instantly, though he had no idea why the writer would have reached out to him.
He unfolded the note and read it.
Duncan,
I’m sorry to reach out to you like this. You know I’m not the kind to trade on what we’ve been to each other, but you are the only person I can turn to. Will you please meet with me today at one? The same place where we used to rendezvous.
Your Vanessa
Duncan frowned. He had parted ways with his former lover a month before and settled her well. He did not think her the kind of woman who would reach out with no reason, so he had to believe she was truly in some kind of trouble. And even though he had no interest in ever renewing an affiliation with her, he did feel an obligation to make sure she was well.
He tossed the note onto the desk top and left the room to have his horse brought round. His plans for Hannah would have to wait a few hours more. At least he could think on all he wished to do for her while he rode.
And when he returned, he would make the first step in winning the wife he loved and taking the future he wanted more now than he’d ever wanted anything before.
