“If he is my son, perhaps they think he can be my heir.” Alaric ran a hand through his hair and closed his eyes.
Bits and pieces floated back to him, a man’s voice droning on about primogeniture and the necessity of legitimate heirs.
“Though you are my wife, and from your tone, it seems that you did not bear me this child?”
To his surprise, Catherine’s cheeks flushed a deep scarlet. “No, I did not.”
“Then that would make him a bas– ” Alaric stopped himself, sensing that this was not the sort of language one should use in front of a lady. “He would have no claim to my title, nor my lands. I can say with certainty that I have never had another wife.”
Mr. Wilkins nodded. “I have served your family since before you were born, Your Grace. You trust me with more than most. If you had a wife, I would know.”
“And I assume if I had been searching for a long-lost child, I would likely have involved you?” Alaric tilted his head toward the butler.
“Yes, I believe so, Your Grace.” Mr. Wilkins clasped his hands behind his back.
Alaric nodded, stroking his chin thoughtfully. He thought of the small boy that had been escorted away by the maid.
“But you cannot deny that he looks like you.” Catherine gestured to the closed door. “Heisyour son.”
“I have no memory of a son.” Alaric shrugged.
“You have no memory of a wife, yet here I am,” she pointed out.
Alaric ran a hand through his hair. “Your story is easily verified and proved. His story is not.”
“I will not let you abandon him.” Her eyes were like steel.
This woman is a force of nature.Why were they living separate lives? Surely they should have been partners. Why was he in Bath while she was elsewhere? It made no sense.
“I have no intention of doing so. But there is something here, some piece that I cannot see, and that troubles me. There is too much we do not know.” Alaric could feel a pressure building in his head, and he gently massaged his scar. “Perhaps as my memories are restored, more will reveal itself, but for now…”
“Then what are you proposing?” Catherine looked at him, her blue eyes dancing in the sunlight.
“You and Oliver should remain here with me while we try to untangle this situation. The circumstances raise more questions than I have answers for. I do not like it.” Alaric felt the pressure in his head ease. “I am vulnerable, and I remember enough to know that there are those in thetonwho would exploit that weakness in me.”
“You think I would do that to you?” There was an odd note to her voice that Alaric could not quite trust.
“No.” He shook his head vehemently and regretted it as it made his head ache and nausea creep through his stomach. “I do not. But I cannot rule out that someone may mean me harm and, by extension, seek to harm you. I do not wish that to happen.”
“I see.” She drummed her fingers on the arm of the sofa.
“More to the point, I think you would be more useful here.” Alaric smiled at her.
“Is that a demand, dear Duke?” Her eyes narrowed at him, and he saw her shoulders stiffen.
He wondered if he had somehow managed to smile wrong.
Perhaps I should practice?He had thought that he remembered how to do such things, but perhaps he had been mistaken.
“You need not call me Duke, I am your husband after all.” He frowned at her. “And no, it is not a demand. It is a request.”
“What if I refuse?” She canted her head toward him, and Alaric could not help the feeling that she was testing him somehow.
He waved a hand in the air and attempted to smile again, hoping that this time it would be more successful. “Then I suppose I will have to manage without you. In any case, I think it would be best if you remained here until the morning. There are only a few hours of sunlight remaining, and traveling by carriage at night seems a danger that is best avoided. After all, it was a carriageaccident that took my memories from me. I have no wish for one to take yours as well.”
Or your life.The thought made his blood run cold, but he kept it from his face. He did not want to frighten her.
She looked at him, and he could practically hear her thoughts turning in her head. Alaric met her gaze. “I will not force you to stay, Catherine, but I hope you will.”
