Page 65 of The Duke and the Hellion Bride

He looked at Diana, hoping she would ask the same question. But she crossed her arms and looked away and his heart sank.

“Your great-grandmother's,” he said. “There is something I’ve been meaning to speak with her on, and I completely forgot that I promised I would see her today. Diana...” He looked at her hopefully. “Will you be fine with the girls for the rest of the day?”

If it was not for the two girls watching her, he knew she would have said nothing. Indeed, she very much might have liked to.

“It is fine,” she said simply. “Go.”

The way she said ‘Go,’ was like an arrow shooting right into his heart. He winced and curled back, a forced smile so the girls would not see, and he turned and waded back across the garden.

As he reached the edges, he dared a final glance at his wife. He watched her chase the girls, he smiled as he did, knowing that he did indeed love her and that he wanted to build a life with her. He just didn’t know if he could.

Out of options, needing answers, there was one person in this world who he knew could give them. And so, he left his manor, climbed atop his horse, and set it in that direction.

With any luck, come nightfall, all this would be nothing more than a bad memory.

* * *

It shouldn’t have surprised Magnus that his grandmother seemed to expect him when he arrived randomly upon her doorstep. She didn’t ask what he was doing. She didn’t ask if everything was alright, or if something was wrong. Rather, she invited him to join her in the sitting room, where a saucer of tea had already been served.

“Tea?” she asked as she sat down.

“I’m good, thank you.”

“Somehow, I doubt that.” She indicated to one of the servants, who was quick to pour two cups. “And believe me when I tell you, there is little that tea cannot solve. Now, Magnus, do not make me ask you again.” She raised an eyebrow at him, one that warranted no argument.

He sighed and picked up the cup, taking a sip. As expected, it did not solve all his woes.

“There, how was it?”

“Bitter,” he said, putting the saucer down.

She chuckled. “I suppose it is not for everyone.” She took a small sip and smacked her lips. “I do worry, however, if tea cannot cure what ails you, then something must surely be wrong.”

“I am surprised you do not already know the answer,”

“I have my suspicions,” she said. “But I do not like to pry.”

He snorted. “Grandmother, lies do not become us.”

“And what does that mean?”

“Do you mean to tell me that you and my wife didn’t have a wonderful little chat last week, concerning my... well, my entire past?”

“Oh, that.” Her eyes flashed mischief. “I might have mentioned a tidbit of our family history. But nothing concerning, I assure you.”

He groaned. “I suspected as much.”

“Is that why you’re here? To thank me?”

“Thank you!”

“Oh, please.” She took another sip and put the saucer down. Then she fixed him with a no-nonsense expression. “I may have missed the Truscott Ball last evening, but I have ears everywhere, Magnus. Ears that listened, eyes that saw, and mouths which told of a happy couple that to the perception of theton, were in the throes of what could only be described as a budding romance and a happy marriage. Tell me I am wrong.”

“Spying on me, I see.”

She winked. “And everyone else, while I am at it.”

Magnus hadn’t known for fact that his grandmother had told Diana about his past, but he had suspected it. And where it might have angered him, surely a few weeks ago it would have enraged him, he was wont to admit that this time it was perhaps the correct course of action. He could certainly never have opened himself up and told Diana what he knew she wished to hear, so why not hear it from another? Further to that point, for a time at least, it had produced the required results, bringing him and Diana closer together.

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