Page 93 of The Unwanted Duchess

“There is none meant,” Samantha laughed. “You are more than happy with your life, I am sure.”

“I most certainly am. For one, I do not have a husband that must have difficult conversations with his brother and his fiancée.”

Both ladies turned to see Graham speaking with Nicholas and Emma. None of them seemed too happy, but Samantha had expected that much. She simply had not expected it to happen so quickly.

“There are certainly things that must be talked about between them,” Samantha noted. “Not only that, but I must do the same with my siblings soon enough.”

“Are we hoping to mend things?”

“Ideally, but if not, then at least we will know that we have done all that we can. It is unfair that so much has happened because two men did not know how to be good to their children.”

“To be sure, but you shall all fix things in your own way. You will be better than they were to your own children, I assure you. That is, if you are hoping to have them.”

“We have discussed the matter, and we have decided that what will be will be. Graham has always said that he would rather be a father than have children.”

“What does he mean by that?”

“He means that he would rather have the role of father than the ownership of children. He says it is an important distinction.”

“It most certainly is, and it only proves to me that you will make wonderful parents should it happen.”

Graham then walked away from his brother, and both ladies watched as he approached.

“Was it awful?” Samantha asked.

“It could have been far worse,” Graham explained. “Granted, I will likely never speak to him again, but we have come to termswith all that happened. We agreed that it is pointless to continue on with this competition between us, as one-sided as it was, and that we are better off going our separate ways.”

“Oh, dearest,” Samantha sighed, “I am sorry. I was hoping for better.”

“It could not have been much better. After all, I am now at peace with one of my three brothers, and I can continue with my life as it is, and you and I both know that I would not change that for the world.”

“Of course not,” she replied, just as another gentleman tapped Graham on the shoulder.

“Andrew!” Graham gasped.

“Nicholas,” the gentleman replied, in a far more refined manner, “I wanted to say hello. It is proper, I believe, given the circumstances.”

“Indeed, and it is good to see you again.”

“Who is this?” Samantha asked.

“Ah! Andrew, this is my wife. Dearest, this is my brother, Andrew.”

“It is a pleasure,” he replied. “Quite how you have survived living with a member of my family astounds me truly, but you seem to make my brother happy. He deserves that.”

“You all do,” she replied gently. “I wish you every happiness.”

He smiled at her before walking away. Looking at Graham, she could tell that he had not been hoping for much more than that.

“That leaves one,” she said gently.

“He will not be here tonight,” Graham explained. “Nicholas and William never seemed to reach one another again, according to Nicholas. Neither of us truly know what became of him, but Nicholas has told me that it is for the best that I do not search for him.”

“And do you agree?”

“I believe I do. I have only just managed to have a good conversation with Nicholas, so I would hate to ruin it all over again even if I do not plan to see him from this day forward.”

“Very well,” she noted. “If that is what you think is best.”

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