“Quite right.” Redding seemed to consider. “You also weren’t this upset when you learned Mrs. Dobson had died after you’d fixed her eyes only one week prior.”
“She was old. It was her time.”
“I completely agree, which is what I told you before you decided to operate on her. You insisted though.”
“Because she was determined and I didn’t want to let her down.”
“My point is, because the agitated state you’re in on account of Lady Louise is uncharacteristic of you. In my experience you brush aside life’s unpleasantries and move on without letting them get to you. But look around, Marcus. Your study’s beginning to look like mine.”
Marcus blinked. The duke was notoriously messy while Marcus had always prided himself on neatness. Yet since his return, he’d managed to strew papers all about, scatter books on every vacant surface, knock over a candlestick, and break a glass he’d sent tumbling onto the floor. Redding was right. This was very unlike him.
He met the duke’s gaze and allowed himself to admit what he’d already known for some time. “I’m utterly in love with her.”
“Good. Acceptance is an excellent place to start.”
Marcus grinned in response to Redding’s jovial manner. “You sound like you might be preparing to give me a cure.”
“If you’re in love, there’s only one thing to do,” Redding said. “Live with it.”
Rolling his eyes, Marcus stood so he could start tidying up. “Not very helpful.”
“Would you rather I tell you to chase after her with all you’re worth?”
Marcus winced. He returned some of the books to their proper spots in his bookcase. “Problem is I’m not worth very much.”
“If that is what you truly believe, I may have to challenge you to a duel myself. I hear facing imminent death can give a man a better perspective.”
“It’s irrelevant anyway,” Marcus said. He glanced at Redding. “Lady Louise is smitten with Mr. Fairbanks and dreams of marrying him.”
“I suppose he’s a handsome enough fellow,” Redding mused while Marcus gathered his papers and started to sort them. “Rather bland though, if you ask me.”
“He’s next in line to an earldom and, more importantly, he has no murky past or tarnished reputation.”
“And you’re certain Lady Louise’s heart is set on him rather than you?”
“Quite.”
“In that case, I suppose I should offer my condolences to your heart. May it soon recover and find a lady who’s more deserving of your affection.”
Marcus smiled. The duke’s friendship was invaluable. “Thank you.”
“Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve a surgery to get to - some pesky kidney stones need extracting.”
“Allow me to wish you luck, then.”
“Thank you.” Redding paused on his way out the door. “If you’d like to come to my house for dinner, you’re more than welcome. I know Juliette would love a first-hand account of the drama pertaining to Lady Louise’s operation.”
“I’ll stop by at six.”
Redding gave a swift nod and departed, leaving Marcus alone with the awful reality of loving a woman he had no hope of marrying.
“You are an absolute sensation,” Kimberly said when she and Helen joined Louise for tea two days after Louise’s return to London. It was lovely seeing her sisters again. Louise found she’d missed them. “Everyone is talking about your brave decision to try this new form of treatment.”
“It’s not that new,” Louise said. “And how does anyone even know what I’ve been through when Mama and Papa told everyone I’d gone on holiday? Did either of you say something?”
“Of course not,” Helen said as she broke a biscuit in two and popped one half in her mouth. She frowned. “We would never betray your trust like that. Perhaps the physician did so?”
“I very much doubt it,” Louise muttered and swiftly took a sip of tea to hide the blush she could feel creeping into her cheeks as she thought of Mr. Berkly. It was probably just conjecture based on Dr. Pierson’s response.
