The hide of the man. Gene struggled not to take a poke at him. While he doubted he suffered from a malady, he admitted Harry had. And he’d felt powerless to help his brother. Ultimately, he’d failed. He tightened his jaw. “Best we don’t discuss it.”
“No, this isn’t the place,” William said with sickening sincerity. “But if you ever need a shoulder.”
Gene nodded and left him.
Lord, save me from these do-gooders who stick their nose into people’s affairs that don’t concern them.
As he left the party, William’s words gnawed at him. Was there any truth to them? Had Harry worried about him? He would hate to have added to his brother’s troubles. He folded his arms and leaned back against the squab as his town carriage took him home. Would he be a worse choice than Pallthorpe if he married Mellicent and gave her children but was then unable to live as she wished?
The next evening, he sought his good friend, Charles, Duke of Shewsbury, at his club. Over a glass of wine, Gene related what William Brightmore had said.
Charles’s black eyebrows lowered in a frown. “Appalling. Brightmore is insensitive to suggest such a thing. And it simply isn’t true.” He clamped a large hand on Gene’s shoulder and gave it a gentle shake. “Utter nonsense.” He dropped his hand. “You were always the rock in your family, Gene. The calmest and the most rational member of it, apart from your father. But he was often absent. Worry about Harry bowed you down, as anyone would be. And it’s my opinion that you resisted marriage because he needed you.
“Truth is, when Harry came to cheer you up, as you’ve often said, he sought strength from you, not the other way around. But no one can live another’s life for them. Or indeed, keep them alive.” Charles reached for his wine glass. It caught the light of the reading room chandelier and sparkled brightly as if to emphasize his next words, “As deeply sorry as I am, Harry is gone. It’s time, Gene, for you to live.” Charles slowly raised his glass. “Shall we drink to it?”
*
Mellie’s heart sankwhen she watched the duke take his leave. While they’d talked, she’d suffered an overwhelming desire to climb into his lap and rest her head against his chest.
She found her mother sitting alone. A gentleman had drawn Pallthorpe away.
Mama shook her head. “What were you thinking of approaching the duke, Mellie?”
“But why ever not, Mama? We have been introduced. I consider him a friend.”
“A young woman does not make friends with a gentleman she barely knows, especially His Grace. Let alone approach him without an invitation.” She lowered her voice. “You angered Lord Pallthorpe. He suggested he might reconsider his suit if you continued to behave in this unseemly manner.”
Mellie would be delighted should he do so. But she did not wish to anger or disappoint her father. “Then that is a very sad thing, not to find a friend where one chooses, is it not? The duke and I had the most interesting discussion about the play we saw last night.”
“Oh?” Her mother sighed. “Was that all that passed between you?”
“Yes, Mama. I did not flirt shamelessly with him, I promise.”
“I didn’t expect you would. It is not in your nature to be false, Mellie.”
This did not appear to appease her mother, whose forehead crinkled in thought. Mama glanced at Pallthorpe, who kept his eye on Mellie while he talked.
Mama sighed. “I’ve a good mind to repair to the country.”
“Oh no, Mama.” She would never see the duke again.
“Then you must try, Mellie. Smile at Lord Pallthorpe, please.”
Mellie, filled with remorse, stretched her mouth in a smile in his direction but gazed over his head.
He spoke to his colleague and returned to them.
Mama made her excuses and left them alone together.
Mellie heaved a huge sigh as he looked her up and down. “You look exceptionally lovely this evening, Lady Mellicent.”
She dipped into a curtsey, her throat tight. “Thank you, sir.”
He raised his eyebrows. “You are on speaking terms with the duke?”
“Yes. We met on the beach at Brighton.”
“A passing acquaintance then. I should hope a wife of mine would be more prudent. One does not approach an important personage like Chandos without his invitation.”
