Page 45 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
Margaret Millington, duchess of Windermoor rolled her eyes at her husband’s antics, but after taking a glance at Julian, she giggled and clung to her husband’s arm.
“I think he might understand exactly what you mean. He’s been in front of us for less than ten minutes but has already glanced back at his wife seven times,” she pointed out with glee.
Lysander’s grin grew even wider but before he could speak, Julian raised his hand.
“I only wanted to ask you if you had heard anything about Seth.”
Lysander frowned. “You are no fun. He is still looking, from what I’ve heard. There is apparently a lot of likely candidates. Your brother was quite the rake.”
“My God,” Julian sighed, rubbing his face tiredly.
“But he will get down to the bottom of it. I have no faith in him whatsoever, but I believe that a cornered man will do whatever it takes to get back his stability. And you have issued him an ultimatum he cannot ignore or refuse. Just give him some more time.”
Julian was not sure they had any more to give. He had seen how difficult it had been for Anna to leave Nicholas earlier in the evening, how distracted she had been in the carriage and upon their arrival to the ball. It was clear to him that she was getting attached to the child and Julian couldn’t have that.
He was not going to allow Seth to get away with shirking his duties onto someone who only needed to fill up the loneliness within her.
“Take my advice, Morland,” Lysander spoke up, placing a hand on Julian’s shoulder. “Just focus on your wife tonight. Dance with her, compliment her and look at her as though she hung the stars in the sky. Whatever problems you have can wait till tomorrow. Now go away, I still have many compliments I wish to shower my wife with.”
As Julian wandered away with his gaze easily finding Anna among the crowd, he only hoped that he could do what was right by her and save her from a lot of unnecessary pain.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
“You seem a little… concerned, sister. Is everything all right?”
Anna forced herself to refocus her mind on her sister and the ongoing festivities that surrounded them, compelling her attention not to wander back to her home and the dear child she had left behind.
“Everything is fine… I hope. I am simply not used to being this talked about in such a setting. I expected that people would be curious about me and what I had been doing in the time I had stayed away. But I had underestimated just how… severe, their curiosity could be. I half expect them to stand on my head and look down on me as they interrogate me for information.” She gave her sister a mock shudder.
Leah chuckled lightly. “I believe their fascination with your return is likely due to your title, sister. Had it been anyone else, they probably would have not glanced at them twice – a few whispers might circulate, at most. But the seemingly mostunattainable duke gets married to the daughter of a baron, and then, they are not seen in public together for nearly a year. Tongues will certainly wag, surely, because they have nothing better to do. Pay them no mind.”
Truthfully, the weight on Anna’s mind had nothing to do with people’s view of her and her marriage. Perhaps it might have bothered her on any other day, but currently, her thoughts were centered on the fact that she had not been away from Nicholas for this long.
What if something went wrong? What if he had fallen ill? What if Eloise did not know what food to give him if he wasn’t in the mood for what had been prepared?
“And Nicholas? Is he well? Has Eloise been helpful?” Leah questioned, as though it was obvious where Anna’s thoughts lay.
Anna couldn’t help but smile, her unease subsiding for a moment as she thought of the little boy her heart had grown fond of.
“He is quite well. I feel as though he’s getting bigger every day! Oh, Leah, I had no idea taking care of a child would be so tasking – and yet, so rewarding. He is such a wonder to behold and Eloise – she has been truly.
She was plagued by numerous concerns and without Julian by her side to distract her with his sensible words, Anna was rapidly falling apart. It was odd, to say the least, how quickly she hadgrown to rely on her husband – an occurrence she never knew was possible.
Everything that had happened thus far dwelled within a realm of impossibilities and she could feel herself sinking into it, a part of her wanting nothing more than for these moments to linger for longer.
“I am glad to hear that. You have done remarkably well, watching after him thus far. Depending on if – or rather, when, his parents are found, they will be very grateful for all you have done for their child.” Leah told her reassuringly.
Something in Anna deflated at the mention of Nicholas’ parents. Even though the search for them was still ongoing, she couldn’t help but feel a little distrustful of them, after they decided to abandon him.
Before she could voice her hesitation, a man approached them.
“Pardon me,” he greeted with a bow. “I couldn’t help but notice you radiant women from across the room. Forgive my forwardness, but I feared I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did not tell you how breathtaking you are.”
Leah glanced at Anna, and then she smiled politely.
“Thank you, sir –”
“Lord Brownstone, Earl of Brownstone,” he introduced, bowing again. “I have been away from London for quite a while, and I have only returned for the purpose of finding a wife –”
