Page 102 of The Duke's Mysterious Lover
Fawkes stared.
He stared some more.
Finally, he whispered, “Holy shite, Thorne.”
Thorne nodded grimly. “Do ye think he’ll come?”
“He’ll have nae choice,” his cousin rasped, then shook his head. In a stronger voice he said, “With one headline, ye ruin him. He’ll be branded a liar, his contract with the Earl of Stallings will collapse, Society will abandon him. And if he doesnae attend the musicale…”
“He’ll be viewed as a coward as well. If he cannae support his heir in her moment of glory, then he doesnae deserve their respect.”
Fawkes bent to retrieve his cue stick. “Unless something happens to Kit between now and tomorrow evening.”
Thorne grimaced. It was an involuntary movement and one he should not have made, because—
His cousin slammed the butt of his cue against the floor. “Aright,outwith it!”
“What?” muttered Thorne, mulishly.
“Ye’ve been looking guilty for ages and ye keep wincing like I’m poking at a sore tooth. Whatisit? Ye havenae told Kit yer plan?”
This time Thorne’s wince was really more of a grimace. “No’ exactly.”
“No’ exactlyas inAye a bit, but no’ all of it? OrI told her and she thinks it’s a bad idea? OrShe’s completely in the dark about all of it?”
Thorne sighed. “No’ exactlyas in…Kit still thinks she’s a bastard.” He met his cousin’s stunned gaze. “I didnae tell her about the marriage certificate I found. She still thinks she’s a product of an affair between her parents, and he abandoned his lover. She doesnae ken he abandoned his wife.”
Fawkes opened his mouth.
Fawkes closed his mouth, his expression still shocked.
Fawkes finally opened his mouth again, jaw moving a bitbefore he finally spat out, “Why in thefookdid ye no’ tell her, ye dobber?”
Blowing out a breath, Thorne began to pace. He always felt better when he moved,thoughtbetter, too. “Because!” The word burst out, and he tried to figure out how to explain. “Because. I didnae want to burden her, I thought it didnae matter at the time, I kenned it would change her life, change her world—and I love the woman, man, I want to protect her! And it doesnae matter because Kit had turned me down already. She’d made it clear all she wanted from me was a bit of fun. When I told her I loved her, she dismissed it.”
“Really?” He couldhearFawkes’s frown.
“Aye,” Thorne sighed, dragging his hand through his hair and whirling toward the dark window. “I told ye, I asked her to marry me, and she said nay. I’ve tried hard to give her what she wanted…just a bit of fun.”
Suddenly, Fawkes burst into laughter.
Oh hell, no’ again.Scowling, Thorne turned back to his cousin to see the other man wave apologetically.
“I’m—I’m sorry.” He clutched his stomach. “It’s just—ye have to admit, a bit—ironic?” Managing to control himself, Fawkes grinned. “Ye, the charmer. How many women have ye turned down? And now ye fall in love and propose marriage andshesays she’s just looking for pleasure? Hard to believe.”
“Would it help if I came over there and shoved yer cue down yer throat?” Thorne growled. “Or my boot up yer arse?”
Fawkes tried for a somber expression. “Och, I’m no’ into that sort of thing, although I dinnae judge others’ kinks.”
When Thorne took a step toward him, Fawkes held up both hands, palms out, the laughter sneaking through again. “Och, nay,Pax! I’m sorry, Thorne, it’s just…ironic.”
“Do ye think I dinnae ken that?” Thorne bit out and, sighing, turned back to the window. “I wanted to give her what shewanted. The freedom to turn me down. She doesnae want me forever, just for now.”
“Ye think that’s the truth?” his cousin asked quietly.
Thorne stared at the dark gardens from the window. “It’s what she told me. She’s never said anything about love or a future. She laughed when I offered marriage, but to be fair, she’s absolute shite at romance.”
Chuckling softly again, Fawkes said, “IkennedI liked her. Did Kit saywhyshe turned down yer offer of marriage?”
