Page 15 of In Need of a Duke
“You never answered when I wrote to you about Mother.” Ian leveled a glare at his younger brother.
“There was no love lost there.”
Ian shrugged, the weight of his mother’s confession pressing on him. He had traveled for nearly two weeks, and in all that time, he still hadn’t thought of a good way of telling Nathaniel the truth. It didn’t matter if he hadn’t been close to her. In the end, his world would never be the same.
“I’ll keep this short,” he snapped instead. “Why in the hell are you at my house?”
“I didn’t realize I wasn’t allowed to visit.”
“Let me be specific. Why are you here with my wife?”
His brother tossed his head back and laughed, his wide shoulders rising and falling. He had allowed his hair to grow a tad too long,and his dark eyes were rimmed red after imbibing too much, no doubt.
“I don’t find anything funny with that question.”
“You wouldn’t.”
Nathaniel turned and started for the door.
“I’m not through?—”
“I am, however. See, that woman in there—” Nathaniel raised his hand and pointed down the hall, “has been left alone for far too long. If you cannot show her any kindness, then I will. And no, before you get your knickers twisted, we are merely friends. But if you don’t wish to be her husband, I will tell you now I know at least one man eager for the job.”
“I am her husband.” Ian’s voice bordered on quiet but minacious. The last thread of his patience snapping as he slammed his hands on the desk with a resounding smack.
Nathaniel froze, first looking at the desk before catching Ian’s annoyed glare. “I’m not married myself, but I think for that to be true, you can’t abandon your bride. Certainly not for eight years…”
“This is ridiculous.”
Nathaniel raised his eyebrows and a baiting, indolent smile spread across his lips. “Welcome home, Brother.”
“I want you and the rest of the guests gone.”
“Are you planning on leaving?”
Ian took another drag on the cheroot. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, simply, are you here to stay, or will you be leaving again? You left without a word, haven’t written to me or Lottie…”
“Take her name out of your mouth.”
Nathaniel rocked back on his heels, wagging his eyebrows and smirking. “You’re quite possessive for a man who refuses to acknowledge the existence of his wife.”
“I’m not.”
“Not possessive or not leaving?”
“It’s none of your concern.”
“Oh, but it is, Brother. You love to paint me as a terrible man without ambition or much foresight, but I won’t allow you to hurt herany longer. You are so used to the world bending to your every whim, but as long as I am around, you won’t be allowed to torture her with your indifference. She’s endured more than you could ever know.”
Ian raked his hand through his hair. “Out.”
“Leave her be, Dandridge.”
Nathaniel slipped out of the dark, cold office leaving Ian standing there, feeling as if he would rage through the house, pull down the family portraits and tapestries, and yell and stomp like a spoiled child.
But such emotion was not tolerated.
