“Oh yes, a perfect woman indeed. She already acts the part of a duchess, so it won’t be too much of an adjustment when she becomes one. She can step into your life as though you have been waiting for her to come along.”
“In a way, I suppose I have,” Nathaniel replied. There was a dryness in his words, for he did not mean them.
“Yes,” Alfred took a sip of his wine and then glanced toward his brother. There was a slight hint of mischief in his eyes. “It’s much easier than if you wanted to marry someone who was unsuited to the role. Someone like Charlotte, perhaps.”
At the mention of Charlotte’s name, Nathaniel bristled all over. His eyes widened, and his nostrils flared as a harsh breath was forced between his lips. He swallowed a lump in his throat, and he gripped his champagne glass more tightly.
“Could you imagine her as a duchess? Someone who says what she wants, who thinks for herself, and who never backs down from an argument. No, it’s much better that you marry someone like Honoria. I can’t imagine there would be any trouble with her.”
“Indeed,” Nathaniel spoke the word so quietly it almost went unheard.
Silence lingered in the air. Alfred took another step toward his brother and lowered his voice.
“Be honest with me, brother. You have feelings for Charlotte, yes?”
“I most certainly do not.” Nathaniel recoiled as if he had been slapped. He stepped back, an insulted look upon his face. But there was something else swimming beneath the surface, a fear that he had been exposed.
Alfred arched his eyebrow. He didn’t seem to pay much attention to Nathaniel’s denial.
“Is that so?”
“Why would you even say something like that? The woman is impertinent, infuriating, and incorrigible! I would watch her around young Clara, too; she is impressionable. You wouldn’t want her picking up any bad habits.”
Alfred chuckled.
“I have no qualms about Clara spending time with Charlotte, and I have noticed how you have found excuses to spend time with her as well.”
“That is not true.”
“You barely left her side during the game we played, and then you went to fetch the ball together.”
“She insisted on coming with me. I would have happily fetched it myself. In fact, I would have preferred it; perhaps then I wouldn’t have been caked with mud.”
“And in town, you insisted on coming with us even though she would have been a perfectly good chaperone. And the two of you hung back anyway.”
“What are you implying, Alfred?” Nathaniel spoke through gritted teeth, all of his defensive instincts rising.
Alfred exhaled deeply and shook his head. He put a hand on Nathaniel’s shoulder.
“Not everything is an attack, brother. The only thing I am implying is that perhaps there is another woman who has caught your attention.”
“Nonsense,” Nathaniel dismissed curtly. “And even if there were, it certainly would not be Lady Charlotte.”
“Brother, over the years you have given me plenty of advice. I have tried to follow as much of it as I can, and I hope that I have made you proud by doing so. You have always been mysuperior in every area, at least until now. I believe I finally have an advantage over you, and I would like to share my wisdom.”
“Very well,” Nathaniel said bitterly.
“It’s about love, Nathaniel. When you meet the right person, you have to pursue them, even if they’re not exactly what you thought you would want. I must confess that I never envisioned myself marrying a widow and becoming a father to another man’s child, but now, I could not imagine being anything else.”
“Mary is a fine woman, and Clara is delightful.”
“I know, but if I let my ideas of who I should love get in my way, then I would be unhappy. I might even grow to resent myself, especially if I married the wrong person. Thankfully, I have avoided such a mistake. I would not want that fate to befall you.”
Nathaniel drew his hand across his chin as he pondered Alfred’s words. The initial unnerving sensation of having his feelings exposed had passed. It was actually quite refreshing to speak about these things candidly.
“Lady Honoria is the kind of woman that duty demands. You said it yourself. She is a perfect duchess. Everyone here agrees.”
“But we are not just talking about a duchess. We are talking about the woman you will spend the rest of your life with. And there is only one opinion that truly matters—your own. Thisshould be your choice, Nathaniel. For once, think of your own desires above your duty.”
