“You do not need to.” Norbright grinned. “But did we not all agree that when we became Devils that if we decided to court a woman, even marry, that we must resign, as I did.”
“She is not the reason I will be resigning from the Devils, and likely the Alien Office,” Julian admitted.
“Is it because of your head?” Norbright questioned with a frown.
“No. It is because…” Julian’s throat began to close and suddenly it became too difficult to tell his friend the reasons. “There is a missive on the dressing table. Read it. The explanation for my retirement is within.”
With a frown, Norbright crossed the room and picked up the letter Julian had pointed out, unfolded the parchment, and read.
“I am sorry,” he said as he came to the end.
“Thank you.”
“This is the reason…”
“I am my father’s only heir. I now have other responsibilities that will conflict with my duties. For one, I will be required to look for a wife. I cannot do so while continuing to appear to be a rake with no morals.”
“Much of that would be overlooked if one wants to be a countess one day,” he said.
“Foolish me, but I would rather wed someone who wants me, the real me, and not a title.” Cait did know the true him. In his conversations with her months ago, he’d not let on as to his profession, but she had learned, and it had not changed her attitude toward him. As for everything else, he had been his true self in her presence, not the debauched bachelor thetonbelieved him to be.
It was freeing being with Cait and not having to pretend.
“When must you return home?”
“There is no hurry, I suppose, not that the doctor would likely allow it anytime soon. But eventually I will have to face my father.”
“Perhaps when you do, you will have a bride on your arm.”
Julian wanted Cait, but he wasn’t ready to marry her. There was still so much more to learn.
“When I return home, it will be alone.”
“What of Miss Doyle?”
“It is too soon to make a determination,” he answered. “However, I did tell her about my brother yesterday, and she was a friend when I needed one.”
“What I witnessed was more than friendship,” Norbright reminded him.
“I would like to court her, but I will need to see my father alone. After that, then I will likely return and continue my courtship.” It was not an audience to which Julian was looking forward. “Grayson was his favorite and I meant little. My father is an extremely unpleasant man, and he will likely berate me at first sight. When he voices his disappointment and disgust, I would rather the only person to hear him be me.”
“You willlikelyreturn.”
“I do not know what I will find at Ashford Place,” Julian answered. Another concern, which Julian would not voice, was that his father was extremely prejudiced against the Irish. Even though there was no hint of an accent when Miss Doyle spoke, unlike her sister, his father would take great issue with her producing the heir. It was better to wait until Julian had the leverage that he needed to make his own decisions. After all, Julian was now the only son, and an heir was needed, which gave him power he’d never had with his father before.
“Until you know for certain what your intentions will be, then I suggest you do not kiss her again.”
There was far more that he wished to do with Cait besides kissing.
“Do not give her hope and then leave only to break her heart.”
That was not Julian’s intention. His gut knew that Cait was the woman for him, and his heart agreed, but could he trust that they were true when his life had been completely altered just the day before?
“Do you promise me?”
“Yes, I promise.” Though it would be the hardest promise to keep.
Chapter Seven
