Page 61 of A Duke, a Virgin and a Baby
“You are my brother. There is no reason why we cannot also welcome new beginnings as siblings.”
Seth grinned. “Your wife is truly something else. She has managed to change you from an unfeeling dictator to a man with a hand. Truly remarkable.”
“It seems you do not wish to have a place to live after you are wed,” Julian folded his arms, staring down at his brother deadpan.
“I jest. Think of your lovely nephew.” Seth implored.
Julian did not think it would matter if he told his brother that he had given a lot of thought to Nicholas in the last few hours. Particularly how the child had inspired his wife to want a child of her own.
It pained Julian to no end how things just seemed to be unraveling around the relationship he had built with Anna. It seemed that no matter what he said, he always managed to upset her somehow.
When she had accepted his offer earlier, she looked as though she was being taken to the gallows, rather than being given what she had said she wanted. And then she had brought up his return to Bath and he nearly held her hands and promised not to leave.
He craved to assure her that she would not be alone anymore and that he was determined to fill every void within her with everything he had. But that wouldn’t be wise.
Even though he wished his brother the very best as he embarked on his new life journey as a married man, Julian feared he would not be so fortunate if he tried the same.
Ultimately, it was better for them to dwell separately, surrounded by lonely voids, rather than to inevitably end up heartbroken.
So for the rest of the day, Julian pretended that he was not simultaneously dreading and anticipating his meeting with his wife. With Nicholas now with his mother once again, Anna had nothing to occupy her time anymore.
Yet, she had not made an appearance at dinner, leaving Julian to dine by himself.
It felt as though ages had passed before he heard a knock at his door, telling him that his days in the estate had begun to count down to his departure.
Anna felt sick with anxiety.
It was ridiculous, how much she wanted this but somehow couldn’t curtail her nerves when the time came. She wondered if she would make it through the night, scared that perhaps this was a sign that this wouldn’t work out the way she expected it to.
It was all she could do not to also think about how he husband was on the verge of leaving her and that this moment should’ve felt romantic and magical. Instead, it felt as though she had curtailed a favor from someone who had no other choice than to grant her what she had wished for.
Her hand shook as she knocked at Julian’s door, her heartbeat echoing in her ears when he gave her permission to enter. When she walked in, he was seated in bed, with only a pair of trousers on.
Heat filled her cheeks and she tried to stay as still as possible, worried that if she moved too much, she wouldn’t be able to stop.
“Good evening, Anna.” He greeted with a curt nod, the smile on his face missing its usual sharp edge.
“Good evening, Julian,” she responded in the same tone.
“You were not at dinner. Are you unwell?”
“No. I was simply not hungry.” She stated shortly.
Julian sighed. “I wish you would not do that so often. You need to eat well in order to have good health. I do not believe I need to explain how vital it is that you do not skip meals whenever you feel like it — especially not when you get what you want from me.”
The rush of heat to her cheeks was dizzying and she resisted the urge to glare at him.
“Oh, so we were gathered here for a cause. I could not tell because we seemed to be content discussing trivial matters, rather than getting it over with,” She shot back, annoyed.
A look flashed across his face and he rose to his feet, moving towards her at a leisurely pace. When he was in front of her, he reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lightly grazing the shell of her ear.
“Are you nervous?” he inquired softly, looking into her eyes.
Anna nodded, seeing no reason to lie.
Julian’s hands cupped her face gingerly, as though he was holding onto a ceramic doll, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a barely-there kiss.
“You have nothing to be nervous about. Do not worry and simply trust me. Have I ever not taken good care of you?”
