“Oof. Must love him a lot.”
“I do.”
Beckett wasn’t surprised. He’d only spent two nights with the man and he was already in some kind of love himself.
The fragile kind, like a fresh new pea blossom just opening up in one of his mam’s vegetable barrels back home, ready for the sun.
Jack’s expression tightened, his brows lowering. “Lassit always looked at Arden…and then when their father died…” Hebroke off and shook his head. “I don’t know how he could have done it.”
“What?” Beckett said, dreading the answer.
“He was auctioning Arden off.”
“Hewhat?” Now that, he hadn’t seem coming.
Jack nodded, his lips pressed together in a grim line. “Oh, he can call it what he likes, but the fact remains he called together a pack of rich alphas, all of whom wanted Arden for the connections marriage into the family would bring, or because they wanted a virgin omega for a husband, or they wanted an affair with a virgin omega they couldn’t impregnate, and Arden didn’t have a say in any of it. Lassit assumed guardianship of Arden the moment his father was in the ground.”
“Guardianship?” Beckett stared. “He’s a grown man!”
“A grown omega. Luckily, in his later years and after his wife had died, Arden’s father finally acknowledged that the interest Lassit took in Arden was not kindly meant. He’d ignored it Arden’s whole life. I’ll always hate him a little for that. For keeping Arden close and at risk, rather than giving him options and setting him free. A few years ago, the earl contacted me. His wife was gone and his own health was declining. He asked me to take care of Arden.” Jack’s face was bleak. “The old man got on his knees in his study. He begged me.”
“Said no, didn’t you?”
“No.”
“No? Didn’t even try to fob him off with talk about that nice beta with the bees?”
Jack shook his head. “I should have at least tried, shouldn’t I? No. I signed the contract there and then, without ever asking Arden. Or telling him. It’s as bad as if I’d put my bid in at the auction. There’s no getting away from it. There isn’t. I’m not letting myself off the hook for that one. He said yes when I asked, but, Beckett, he wasalready mine. I’d bought him.”
“The way I hear it, you noble folk are always buying each other for spouses. Called a dowry, ain’t it? How’s that any different?”
“Honestly, Beckett, haven’t you been listening? I told you I’ve messed up just as badly as you did. Worse! He never had the choice to marry me, not really. Gods. He thinks he did, and he didn’t.”
“All right,” Beckett said soothingly.
“He was supposed to be safe here. Sex wasn’t supposed to be part of this. He’s romantic and affectionate and so, so desperate to be loved, but I’ve never looked at him and thought that sex with him was a possibility. Cuddling, yes. Kissing, yes. As I said, he is affectionate. I had no idea if he was the sort of man to want more or if he was happy with that. It didn’t even matter to me.”
“You’ve got me for fucking,” Beckett said, moving closer to stand beside Jack, shoulder to shoulder.
“Have I? I’ve managed it so badly. I told Arden about you before we exchanged rings, but I wanted to introduce him to you myself.AfterI’d told you about him. To your face, and not in a letter that you didn’t even read. I didn’t have time to think. The idea that Lassit would move so quickly, that he would auction him off hadn’t crossed my mind. All I could do was get Arden safe and hope he’d forgive me one day. Hope you’d forgive me.”
Beckett blinked at Jack, right up into those black eyes an infuriating two inches higher than his. “Eh?”
Jack lifted a hand to Beckett’s cheek. “I am sorry I didn’t talk it over with you first.”
“Why…?” Why would he think he needed to?
“Why? Because you are mine, Beckett. For all time. I thought it would be polite to mention the fact I was marrying someone else before the fact, rather than springing him upon you as afait accompli.”
Beckett couldn’t wrap his head around it. And not just because he didn’t know whatfait accomplimeant.
“Didn’t you know that you’re mine?” Jack said.
“You could have mentioned it,” Beckett managed to say.
“Yes. Well. I kept putting it off. I wasn’t sure how you’d take it.”
What, if a duke claimed him for all time? He’d have had a laugh, most like.
