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But he had also come to escape Juliana
He should have known that once he arrived here, in this house filled omen, that he would be reminded of her Should have known that when he drank scotch with Nick, he would see Juliana in Nick’s eyes, in the way he laughed Should have known that near her family, he would think of her constantly
But what he had not expected was how ht of her when he was near his own family: when his mother had left the house, with barely a word of farewell; when his sister had refused to see him upon his arrival to Townsend Park; when he held his niece in his arht could seeht of Juliana at all those moments
He’d wanted her by his side Her strength Her willingness to face down any foe Her commitment to those for whom she cared
For those she loved
When she’d burst into the nursery to take him on, to chah he had conjured her up And so, he had found co in Yorkshire
She had faced hiht No one had ever fought him the way she had The way she did No one had ever held his feet to the flame the way she did
She was everything he had never been—emotion and passion and excite for his name or his title or his reputation
She cared only for the ht be
She made him want to be that man
But it was impossible
He had proposed to Penelope, thinking she could save them all, and only now did he realize that, with that final act, he had ruined everything
Si that the best he could do for her—for both of them—was to keep away from her
He owed her at least that
She deserved better than ruin at his hands
A flood of reh him—for what he had done and what he would never do He tried not to think on it as noise ca Heto hold the little creature who did not know enough to see his flaws
He was beside her in seconds, thankful for the odd lack of servants at the Park In any other house, the niece of a duke would be surrounded by nurses and nannies, but here, she was alone at ti her uncle a chance to be near her without an audience
He lifted her once h for her to settle and return to sleep Caroline had other plans, her little cries getting louder
“Don’t cry, sweeting,” he said in what he hoped was a soothing voice “Don’t make me have to find a servantor your s with her, as well”
The infant took no pity on hiainst his chest, her head on his shoulder, one large hand spread over her back “I ah to make you happy, ainthe ladies in my life happy now”
“You could try a touch harder”
He turned at the words His sister was crossing the nursery toward him, ariana cradled her daughter The child instantly settled into the ar little whimpers “She knows you”
Georgiana gave a little s away froet acquainted”
Severalwhich he had been absent
He was an ass
“I hear you are to be married”
“News travels fast in this house,” Simon said
“It is a house populated entirely omen What did you think would happen to the inforratulations in order?”
“Lady Penelope will make a fine wife Her family is ancient, her reputation, impeccable”
“As ours used to be?”
“As it still is”
She lifted her gaze to his, a h”
He did not want to discuss his e to Penelope He did not want to discuss their family name, their reputation He wanted to discuss his sister He wanted to start fresh
Not that it would ever be possible
“Georgiana” he began, stopping when she turned away, ignoring hih table where she set Caroline down and began fussing about with her
“You shan’t want to stay for this bit, I don’t iine”
His brow furrowed at the words, and he moved closer, curious “For what bit?” He peeked over his sister’s shoulder, took note of her actions and instantly turned his back to the scene “Oh! Yes Ah—No” In all his ducal training, he had never been trained on the care and—cleaning—of infants “Isn’t there” he cleared his throat “Someone who cando thatfor you?”
He could not be certain, but he thought he heard his sister chuckle “Children do not arrive with nurse in tow, Simon”
He did not like thein her tone “I know that Of course I do But you are—” He stopped There were a dozen ways to end that sentence
A duke’s daughtermy sisterbarely out of diapers yourself in my mind
“I am a mother” She came around to face him, Caroline now quiet in her arile, now cal, with a voice like steel “Whatever you were about to say It is of no i you can say that will change my mind”
His sister was no longer a delicate girl, but Juno, fully grown and protecting her young
From him
He, who should be doing the protecting, dammit
“I don’t want to change your mind”
She blinked “You don’t”
“No”
It was true
She let out a long breath “You’ll let ht you”
For the last sixthe child aould be for the best Even on the journey up, he’d toyed with the possibility, played over potential destinations in histo release the hope that all could return to normal
He now understood how ridiculous such an idea had been
He could not bear the idea of sending Caroline away
I knohat it is like to grow up knowing that a parent does not want you, Simon He’d seen the sadness in Juliana’s eyes as she’d spoken the words He wanted to take his fists to the people who had made her feel such devastation And he never wanted his niece to feel that pain
“Of course you shall stay with Caroline”
Georgiana’s relief was clear “Thank you, Simon”
He turned away, less than deserving of his sister’s words of gratitude after his poor treater and her fury and her loathing, not her thanks
For, even as she held her daughter in a loving eht upon the family name
The scandal would come And they would weather it He was prepared Or would be once he married Lady Penelope “I shall be married in a month It will help defray the interest in your situation”
She laughed at that, and the sound grated “Si itself would not defray the interest in my situation”
He ignored the words, heading for the door, wanting nothing but to be free of this rooiana spoke before he could exit “You don’t have to do it, you knohere is it written that you must shoulder the burden of our reputation You don’t have to marry her”
Of course he did
He was the Duke of Leighton—one of
the ht of one of the most venerable titles in the aristocracy He had spent his whole life preparing for this moment, when honor and duty came before all else
Where was the honor in what he had done to Juliana? In the stables? In the park? In this room?
Sha hot
“It is not a question I will marry the lady”
He would do what needed to be done
He found St John in the Earl of Reddich’s study
The door stood open, and he knocked once, fir for St John to wave hi the aany desk
“One ht almost think you were titled for hoell you look behind that desk,” he said
Nick finished annotating a long colu that the earl is ten and at school, I don’t think he will mind if I keep the chair warm until he is ready for it” He leaned back “It is the ets irritated when I use her desk”
“Why not get your own, then?”
St John grinned “I rather enjoy her when she’s irritated”
Simon pretended not to hear the inappropriate comment “I should like to talk about my sister”
“Excellent I should like to talk about mine” Simon froze at the words, and St John’s eyes narrowed instantly “Isabel thinks there is soht It’s infuriating, really”
“There is nothing between us”
“No?”
Yes
“No” He attempted to sound emphatic Hoped he succeeded
“Mmm” Nick removed his spectacles and tossed them on the desk “Well then By all iana”
Simon’s relief came out on a wave of irritation “I am happy that someone in this house remembers my sister’s station”
Nick’s brows rose “I would exercise hton”
Si in fists