Page 112 of In Need of a Duke
Behind Ian, he could hear the buzz of the bees. He hoped he had picked the perfect spot for the glass house. In time, he would find a way to heat it. But until then, he would take advantage of the summer heat. If only he could figure out the correct roof style. It needed to be vented.
“There are plenty of people who could help you with this.” Nathaniel walked over and slapped a hand against Ian's shoulder, causing him to wince. He had injured himself only a week priorworking on the wall. That too was another project nagging at him to be finished.
“There's something I have to tell you,” Ian said with a deep breath, turning to his brother. “I don't know how to tell you, and I've been holding the truth back now since I've returned.”
Nathaniel grinned, his brother's reaction mixed with curiosity.
“I don't see what's amusing.”
“Not amusing,” Nathaniel corrected. “It's only that since you've returned, you've been humble and honest. And I don't know if you ever truly were before. Though when you met Lottie in London all those years ago, I could tell you were striving to be a better man.”
Ian scoffed. “I don't deserve her. So, part of me understands perfectly why she won't return. But at the same time, I live each day as if it's for her alone because I don't know any different. I miss her.” He shook his head, putting his hands on his hips and swallowing hard before continuing, “Before Mother died, she confessed something.”
Nathaniel ran his hand through his hair, confusion pinched between his brows. “Confessed what?”
“Father isn't?—”
“He wasn't my father," Nathaniel continued. "I know."
Ian nearly gawked at his brother. "You've known. You've known this whole time? How?"
"Father told me. We were fishing one day, and you were away at school. He had had an argument with Mother. I was maybe seven or eight. Maybe he had been drinking, or maybe he was just mad, but he told me he wasn't my father, that Mother had an affair. And I also know that my real father died shortly after I was conceived in a duel over a race." He laughed to himself, a heartless chuckle. “That explains a lot, don't you think?”
Ian's heart broke a little. “Nate…” He hardly ever called his brother that. “I never meant to leave you behind.”
His brother merely shrugged. “It doesn't matter now. Father left. He loved someone else, and the temptation was too great. Love over duty. I don't know if I blame him, though. I do blame how he treated you.”
A small rosefinch landed on a stake by the glass house, ruffling its feathers.
What Ian would do for a cheroot right now, but he hadn’t any in his jacket. Instead, he scratched the back of his neck.
“He loved to remind everyone of his title when it suited. I allowed his advice into my life once, but I won’t allow his problems to be mine. I know that I love Charlotte. I did then, and I sure as hell do now.”
Nathaniel kicked a rock around with the toe of his boot before peering up at Ian once more. "Mother was so young when she married the duke. She missed her home, and I don't blame her for leaving, not now at least, but it was lonely here. And maybe that's why after you left, I came often to check on Charlotte. And in the process, I think I inadvertently caused more harm than good because, shortly after, the rumors began, and she was mocked and called the Honey Duchess. I just never wanted her to know the loneliness I felt.”
“I was an idiot." Ian sighed. “An idiot." He hung his head, staring at the ground, furious with himself, feeling more than a little helpless.
"I need to figure out this glass house. And then I need to work on the wall," Ian said.
"Not with your shoulder," his brother reminded him. “No. You and I, we will start again. We will finish it together." With that, his brother stuck out his hand.
Ian shook it.
“We've each other at the end of the day. And I'm here to help, but you have to let me.”
His chest was tight, and he didn’t know what else to say, his mind spinning blankly. “Well, come on then. Or do you want to spend more time with your cow?”
Nathaniel nudged him against his shoulder. “I can’t help it. Women love a rake.”
CHAPTER 34
Charlotte had feltfar braver when she left London, but with distance, that feeling faded. And now as the carriage pulled up to Stonehurst, she was afraid to discover the truth.
Had Ian left?
Almost two months had passed since that day in the inn where he had given her what she wanted. And except for the box of letters, she hadn’t heard from him. She could continue lying to herself that she had been waiting to hear from him, but in complete honesty, she had been afraid to do anything that would free her from her self-imposed limbo in London.
When Charlotte stepped foot into Stonehurst, she nearly burst into tears. It was quiet as everyone unloaded her trunks. She peered around the large home, realizing her mistake as panic set in.
