Page 110 of A Deal with the Broken Duke
“You’ve nothing to worry about,” Harry reassured. “My feelings for her will last forever, I’m sure of that.”
“Where is Matilda?” Juliet asked. “Have you seen her, Daniel? I meant to find her after dinner, but now that we’re out here, I don’t see her anywhere.”
“Oh, I’ve seen Matilda,” Daniel said.
“What do you mean by that?”
“She’s walking down there, by the river.” Daniel gestured towards Matilda. “And she isn’t alone.”
Juliet stared at the figure beside her sister. “Is that Lord Belmont?”
“Yes,” Daniel replied. “And the lady with them is his sister, Lady Grace.”
“And yet you’re here scolding us!”
“Well, I’m not really scolding you, am I?” Daniel laughed. “Lord Belmont sought my permission for a stroll with Matilda, and I saw no problem with that as long as his sister was with them. Besides, I have my eye on them from here. They’ve never left my sight, so I know no kisses will be stolen by him, at least.”
“Is Matilda interested in him?” Juliet asked keenly.
“I think Matilda is more interested in being noticed than anything else,” Daniel said. “Lord Belmont is the first gentleman who’s expressed interest in her. She’s still so young, you know. But it’s a good way for her to begin. He knows she’s not available yet.”
Juliet nodded. “No harm in their getting to know one another. And I’m sure Father will want her to make her debut next season, now that I’m to be married.”
“Oh, dear.” Daniel shook his head. “I don’t know if I’m ready to begin all this again. We just got you sorted out.”
“She’s excited about it,” Juliet said.
“Maybe you should start thinking about marriage yourself, Daniel.” Harry laughed. “If you’re not careful, you’re going to be the last in your family.”
“It will happen when the time is right,” Daniel said calmly. “Just as it did for the two of you.”
EPILOGUE
“Atoast!” Daniel exclaimed, raising his glass.
Harry laughed. “You don’t think you’ve done enough toasting already?”
“You’re to marry my sister in three days’ time. I wish to drink!”
“Well, that’s all right with me,” Harry said.
He knew at this point that he was going to have to accompany Daniel home. His friend was intoxicated beyond the point of having any capacity to behave responsibly, and Harry wasn’t sure he would even make it home safely if left to his own devices. But that was all right. The more important thing was that Daniel clearly wanted to celebrate the upcoming wedding.
“We’re going to be brothers!” Daniel roared, slamming his empty tankard down on the table.
“You know I’ve always considered you a brother.” Harry laughed. He had opted not to drink to excess, feeling that someone ought to be the responsible party here.
“Yes,” Daniel agreed. “And so have I. But now it will be true! My family will be your family.”
“It’s been too long since I had any family to speak of,” Harry mused. “I must say, I couldn’t ask for a better family.”
But he felt a growing sense of unease.
The curse wasn’t real. He was sure of that now. And yet, it had been such a long time since he had allowed someone into his heart, and he knew that losses could happen to people whether they were cursed or not. When Daniel spoke of family that way, it made Harry worry.
His curse wouldn’t be the thing to rip them away from him, but something else might do it, and he might someday end up on his own again. And how awful that would be! After all this time, after finally allowing himself to open up again, it would be twice as painful to get hurt like that again.
He drained his drink, suddenly feeling that a bit of the fun had gone out of the evening. He was getting married in three days, but would this apprehensive feeling ever truly leave him? Or had Lady Annie’s actions left him scarred for the rest of his days?
