Page 14 of The Allure Of Lord Devlin
Devlin frowned at his mother, wondering what on earth she was saying.
Dharma’s smile lit up her face. She leaned forward. “It’s not my place to share any news.” And then she winked.
Lady Devlin clapped her hands and gave a small cry of joy. “Oh, that is wonderful. I’m so happy for Charlotte. She deserves to be happy.”
“Oh, His Grace makes her very happy.”
“Now we just need to find a man that can make you as happy as your stepmother,” and Lady Devlin looked meaningfully at him.
He cleared his throat, and he sent his mother a pointed look. He turned to Dharma. “Thank you for your help with Lord Whetton this evening.”
“My pleasure, the odious little man. Lord Hawthorne must take after his mother.”
“Oh, he does,” exclaimed Lady Devlin. “If you’ll excuse me, I want to have a word with the fine young man,” she said and rose and moved across the room to her daughter and her beau.
“That was nicely done by your mother.”
“She can be very determined in her quest for grandchildren.” Devlin smiled at her.
“I wondered if you even wanted children.”
Dharma was referring to his pursuit of Charlotte, who everyone assumed was barren. “I do want children.”
“I hear a note of hesitation.”
He nodded. “I had hoped to clear my father’s name before I had children, hell before I married.”
Dharma nodded. “I understand, but if I were you, I wouldn’t let society have the satisfaction of stopping me from building the life I wanted to live.” She suddenly looked into his eyes. “Or is it you can’t let go of the past?”
He drew in a deep breath and tried to ignore the racing of his heart. “Someone is responsible for the death of my father and the ruination of my family. Would you let it go?”
She sat back and sighed. “No. Probably not.” She looked across at Rosemary. “Especially if I were thinking of my family. If the focus is on clearing your father’s name, why have you not seriously looked for a wife before Charlotte’s house party?”
Clearing his father of treason was his priority. But restoring their financial situation came a close second. The idea of having to marry was terrifying for many reasons. Protecting his heart made a marriage of convenience more attractive, however Marigold’s desertion destroyed his confidence. What did he offer any woman? A title, true, but his family was virtually penniless and tarnished by treason. “The hunt for my father’s betrayers took up much of my time, I will admit.”
“And have you learned anything over the years that can help you move on?”
He shuffled in his seat. “I don’t think I’ll ever move on until I learn the truth.”
“What if you never learn the truth, or you don’t like the truth you find?”
He looked at Rosemary. “At least I’ll know. If Rosemary marries well, it will hardly matter anymore.”
“So, it is Rosemary who is driving you? This is why you waste your life hunting for a truth that won’t put anything right.” She leaned forward. “It won’t bring back the years you have wasted hunting those responsible for your father’s ruination, and it won’t bring your father back.”
“You don’t understand. I will know. My mother will know. Someone killed my father. I won’t rest until he’s avenged.”
“Your father wouldn’t want that, and I’m very sure your sister and mother don’t either. They wouldn’t want to put you in danger. I can’t see those who did this sitting back and letting you unravel all they have hidden.”
She was right. Before today, no one had taken a shot at him, or harmed him, even though he was looking for the truth. That’s how he knew he was not even close to uncovering anything. However, the duel this morning and the second shot at him changed everything. He did not wish to alarm Dharma, so he tried to change the subject.
“Would you let me escort you to the Valentine’s Day ball tomorrow night?”
Her eyes widened. She knew what he was asking of her. If she arrived in his carriage, it would indicate she was accepting his suit.
“I have feelings for you, Dharma. You’re the only woman I’d consider marrying now that I have a choice.”
“But you don’t love me?” She sounded sad. “You know what I want. I want what my parents had. What I know your parents had, too. Could you come to love me?”
