Henry grinned. “You’ve officially been named the most eligible bachelor of the Season!”
Florian’s throat began to constrict. “What?”
His brother’s eyes danced with amusement. “Did you not think you would be after seeing how eager the young ladies are to dance with you now? You will soon be the only unmarried duke in the country. Add to that your youth and your”—Henry waggled his eyebrows—“dashing good looks, I believe you’ve already set numerous hearts aflutter. Frankly, it will be a relief to rid myself of some of the attention.”
“Yes,” Florian told him dryly. “What a burden it must be for you to be chased by all those women.”
Henry sighed with exaggeration. “It can be quite exhausting, I must confess. But we digress. What I wish to know is what your plan might be from this point on.”
“My plan?” Florian shook his head, befuddled by the urgency in his brother’s tone. “I have no plan besides working on a solution to the problem of a potentially impending epidemic.”
“Right.” Henry nodded. “I agree that should take priority, but it doesn’t mean you cannot start contemplating your progeny.”
“I beg your pardon?”
Henry shrugged as if he hadn’t just suggested Florian turn his whole life upside down. “You are Uncle George’s heir.”
“I am aware,” Florian drawled. He did not like the turn this conversation had taken in the least.
“Then you also know that you have responsibilities now that you did not have before. Uncle George obviously wants a legacy or he would not have bothered making the effort, which means you need to get yourself married and have some children so the favor he requested from the king won’t be for nothing.”
Shit.
Florian stared at Henry. He often forgot how astute his brother could be because he tended to hide it behind a façade of charming indifference. “Perhaps you should take some time to consider your own matrimonial future. You are older than I, after all. Should you not be hurrying off to the altar before me?”
“Right you are, Florian. Don’t think I have not set my mind to it yet for indeed I have.” This was certainly shocking. “The trouble is I want a love match and that, brother, is not so easy to come by.”
Florian blinked. What the hell was happening? “You cannot be serious?”
“And why is that?”
“Because of who you are! You have taken deliberate strides to cement a certain reputation as one of London’s most notorious lotharios. And now you say you want to fall in love and set up a nursery?” Had the earth been knocked completely off its axis?
“We must grow up at some point, Florian, and take responsibility. I will soon be three and thirty while you are steadily approaching your thirty-first year. Once you claim the title Uncle George is going to leave you, your world will change. You’ll see.”
Which was precisely what Florian feared. “I was assured that nothing would be different, that I would still be able to practice medicine while my staff takes care of the dukely business.”
“What a charming delusion.” Henry grinned while Florian’s chest grew tight around his lungs. The humor in Henry’s gaze died and he was suddenly uncharacteristically serious. “You are a man of honor, Florian, which is how I know you will do your duty. And with the right woman by your side, it shouldn’t be much of a hardship. Quite the contrary.”
An image of Lady Juliette bathed in golden torchlight sprang to mind. As if reading his thoughts, Henry said, “I hear you’ve begun a working relationship with the Duke of Huntley’s sister, Lady Juliette.”
Schooling his features for fear of revealing even one speck of emotion, Florian served his brother the frankest stare he could manage. “That is correct.”
“And?”
God! Henry could be worse than a gossiping old woman at times. The man loved intrigue and would not rest until he had enough information to sate his curiosity.
“And what?”
“Well, I’ve also seen you waltz with her twice.”
“So what?” Florian decided the best way to tackle this situation was to feign ignorance.
Snorting, Henry shook his head as if Florian was the most impossible person he’d ever had to converse with. “You continued to keep her company once the dances were over.”
“Only because I found her engaging.”
“And stunning.” Henry smiled with a knowing glint in his eyes. “Come now. You have to admit she is breathtakingly beautiful. To think you have the pleasure of keeping her company now on a regular basis almost makes me jealous.”
