Page 95 of In Need of a Duke
Nathaniel rolled his eyes, then slowly stood, approaching the table as though he might throw himself at Ian. He leaned forward, restinghis knuckles on the table. “This… happiness, I mean, loving Charlotte. Is it worth it?”
Ian’s chest ached as his mind scrambled to reconcile the sight of his brother bruised and bloody, trembling after not having a drink, with the relentless hope in his hazel eyes.
“It’s everything, Brother. She’s the air in my lungs I need to breathe. The reason I am sitting here now, begging you to return to us, asking you to live and find love yourself. You will never recover from the fall, but I promise it will be the sweetest torture to love someone completely. Terrifying at how little you control, then consuming you at the same time. To be seen? To find someone who you can share your truest self with? It’s everything.”
Nathaniel pushed up to stand fully before sinking down opposite of Ian. He tapped two fingers on the table. “Deal me in, please.”
CHAPTER 27
Charlotte caughtherself smiling again as she sifted through the papers. If only she could find what she needed in Lily’s office, which was a disaster, then she could be on her way and return home.
To Ian.
Which is something she never thought would be true.
Celeste was curled up in the armchair. The black cat popped one eye open before yawning, then promptly returned to her nap, clearly perturbed by Charlotte’s quest. Or maybe it was the echoes of students reciting Latin and the pianoforte. It was never quiet at this school, but it was always joyful. And for that, Charlotte was very happy and proud.
Charlotte tripped, knocking off a pile of papers that fluttered across the floor.
“Lily, Lily, Lily,” she muttered under her breath. “I must come in and help organize this office.”
She gathered the papers, accidentally knocking her head on the underside of the desk.Ouch. She rubbed the back of her head, then stood up, clutching the edge of the desk to find her balance.
Then she looked once toward the doorway, then again, her heart giving an answering squeeze.
“I was only just thinking of you,” she said.
“Beg your pardon?”
The papers dropped to her feet once more as the room spun.
The man who returned her astonished gaze at first appeared to be Ian, but upon closer examination, his nose was crooked, and his eyes were far more amber than black. His clothes were serviceable, not from Savile Row. His hands rested on the shoulders of a little girl with curly blonde hair who stood to his waist.
“I’m sorry. I was told to speak with the headmistress,” the man said again, and his vowels were not those of Mayfair, but something rougher.
Charlotte’s heart picked up in her chest, her palms beginning to sweat because what she saw couldn’t be.
“The headmistress is not here today, but I can help. Please come in,” Charlotte said, clearing her throat and trying to gather herself. She cleared away the piles of books, then gestured toward the two chairs in front of the desk. “Please, have a seat. I apologize, I missed your name.”
“William Nicholls,” he said, “and this is Ellen Nicholls.”
“It’s nice to meet you both.” She came around and settled into her seat so as not to fall down onto the floor. “Well, how can I help today?”
Why did this man look exactly like her husband? She couldn’t puzzle it together.
“I would like to enroll my sister into this school. I have reached out and haven’t received a response.”
That was indeed strange.
“How old are you?”
The girl glanced toward the man, then back to Charlotte, nervously fidgeting in her seat. “Eleven, ma’am.”
Charlotte didn’t bother to correct her.
She held up her hand, unable to stop studying the man but terrified to allow her mind to wander. “I apologize, and you might think I’m mad… It’s only I swear you look like someone I know. My husband, in fact.”
“Your husband?” Mr. Nicholls repeated. His fists turned white in his lap.
