Page 90 of A Picture Is Worth A Thousand Heirs

God, how he hated Nash.

“I do. I do love her.” Victor hung his head. “But she doesn’t love me.”

“Christ, you really are a dolt. Of course she loves you, man. Are you blind as well as stupid?”

Head still down, Victor swung it side-to-side. “No. She practically said as much.”

“What exactly did she say, you fool? The exact words. Try to remember.”

He didn’t want to remember. They hurt too much. But if it meant getting rid of Nash. Well. “She said...she wanted a marriage based on mutual love. Wanted me to find someone to love as much as they loved me.”

“Blind, deaf, and dumb.” Nash tsked. “Love is wasted on young fools.”

His head felt like it weighed ten stone, but he lifted it to meet Nash’s taunt. “Just challenge me and get it over with. I won’t fight back.”

“Let me put this to you as clearly as I can. Are you listening?”

Victor wanted to spit in his eye.

“If Juliana said she wantedyouto love someone as much as they loved you, that was her way of telling you she loves you but thinks you don’t love her. Have you ever told her you loved her?”

“Well, no. Not in so many words.” Especially considering he’d just realized it himself. Lord, hewasa dolt.

One dark eyebrow hitched, Nash’s look spoke volumes.

“Very well. No. Not in any words. I was going to tell her of my growing affection tonight before everything went to hell.” Part of what Nash had said finally registered in Victor’s addled mind. “Wait. Did you say Juliana loves me?”

“Ah, thank goodness. I thought I would have to give you a piece of my mind, and I worried that, being in need of it, you wouldn’t give it back.”

“There is no need to insult me. Do you really think she loves me?”

“Anyone with eyes can see it.”

“But she thinks I don’t love her?”

“The boy is catching up. So what are you going to do about it?”

“I need to tell her. Right now!” Victor skirted around Nash, fully intending to find Juliana.

Nash grabbed him by the arms. “Not so fast. You need a plan, something that will sweep her off her feet. You can’t simply go running off half-cocked.” Nash laughed, apparently finding humor in his last words.

Victor folded his arms over his chest. “I’m listening.”

“You need to give her every reason to marry you. Not just tell her you love her. Show her. Do you understand me?”

Victor narrowed his eyes. “You want me to seduce her?”

Nash waved a dismissive hand. “Don’t think of it like that. Think of it as expressing your love.”

“And how do you expect me to do that? Just march upstairs to her bedroom?”

“Of course not. The servants would see you. Make a show about leaving for Frampton or the night porter—whoever isstationed at the front door. Then wait thirty minutes and come around to the back of the house. I’ll be waiting.”

“Why on earth should I trust you?”

“Because I’ve been a lovesick pup myself once.”

And as he left Pendrake Manor, taking his hat and gloves from Frampton and telling him to relay his thanks to the duke and duchess, Victor hoped trusting Nash Talbot wasn’t the biggest mistake of his life.

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