Page 7 of Cherish and the Duke
He gestured toward his face. “I did not gain these scars or the wear lines on my brow from living an easy life. I’ve spent most of my years in military service, not just a few pampered moments, as you seem to think. It was never my wish nor my expectation to become the Duke of Bromleigh. But with the deaths of my father and brothers all in short succession, I suddenly found myself in this position. When my sister passed, I also took on the responsibility of seeing to Reggie’s care.”
She cast him a pained look. “Oh, I see.”
“Unfortunately, Reggie’s character was mostly formed by the time I stepped in. But there is much good in him that can still be salvaged.” He shook his head and hastened to press on when he saw her tense at the mention of his nephew. “Do not be so quickto judge any of us. I would not be bothering with Reggie if I did not think he had significant merit.”
“You are right.” She nodded. “Forgive me.”
“I did not take offense. The men in your life have disappointed you, so you have reason to be wary. As for me, I spent most of my life as the ignored third son until suddenly coming into the title and overnight becoming everyone’s darling. I was in my early thirties by then. It is the insincerity of it all that galls me. I do not think I shall ever grow used to it.”
“But are you not perpetuating that insincerity by trying to match me to your nephew? How does this help anyone?” She cleared her throat. “Why do you not marry and sire heirs? Then your nephew will not be a concern for you.”
They had walked down the stairs and were now about to step onto the sand. “No, I have no desire to be a sixty-year-old father to a son about to enter university. My time has come and gone.”
She shook her head. “I beg to disagree. Facing an empty future is no way to live one’s life. Well, I am one to talk, since I have done nothing to help myself. But there is nothing stopping you. With your present wealth and title, you have only to crook your finger to have any woman you want for a wife. The most beautiful. The wealthiest. The most charming. Even a royal princess, if that is your aspiration.”
She paused and stared at her slippers. “Do you mind if I walk barefoot? It is shockingly forward of me, but I cannot abide the thought of those grains of sand getting into my slippers.”
He grinned. “Go right ahead. I am hardly one easily shocked.”
She sat on the bottom step and daintily took her slippers off. She then left them neatly on the bottom step and stood by his side. A sense of warmth flowed through him, an odd feeling of… He wasn’t certain what it was, only that he liked having Cherish beside him.
He thought she would start hurling questions at him, but was surprised when they merely walked along the beach in companionable silence. She darted close to the waves, and then darted back as they swept to shore, her smile enchanting as she indulged in the simple pleasure.
He enjoyed watching her, but kept to the sand, since he was not about to take off his boots or allow them to get wet. To his own surprise, he found himself smiling at her in return, liking her ability to take genuine delight in a mere stroll along the beach.
Sunlight caressed her face, and he could not seem to take his gaze off her.
In truth, she was such a pretty thing.
His own tension receded, for walking beside her was quite pleasant. However, he was never going to accomplish his purpose if they did not talk.
He cleared his throat, seeing that he would have to take the laboring oar in this conversation. “Have you and Fiona been neighbors long?”
She darted close in order to avoid a wave that came in suddenly and nipped at her toes. “Yes.”
He lifted her slightly as he drew her back to avoid the hem of her gown getting soaked. “How long?”
She smiled in gratitude as she looked up at him with those big brandy eyes of hers. “Very long.”
He sighed. “Lady Cherish…”
Bollocks.
He was going to kiss her if she did not turn away.
To his relief, she resumed walking along the sand. “I suppose merely bobbing my head in response to your questions will not do.”
He chuckled. “It is hard to hold a conversation when only one party is forthcoming.”
“Which leaves me a little confused. I know this will sound impertinent, Your Grace, but why are you still bothering with me when I told you I will not agree to your scheme for Reggie?”
The wind blew her curls loose so that a few fluttered about her ears. On instinct, he reached out and tucked a strand or two behind her ear. “I think the question to ask is, why are you so reluctant to better your circumstances? Marriage to Reggie would offer you a way out of your situation. Or has Fiona exaggerated the problem between you and your uncle?”
She sighed. “No, she hasn’t exaggerated it. With each passing day, I am further reduced in the household. My clothes are several years old now and would be out of style if not for the alterations Fiona had her seamstress make for me. As for this week, I am here because my uncle and his family happen to be visiting his wife’s brother. They left me behind, of course.”
Gawain tamped down his irritation over her treatment. It would not do to allow his feelings to become entangled. “I think you are going to haul off and hit me as I ask this next question,” he said. “But it must be asked.”
He was a big man, and she looked quite little standing beside him, but there was also a lovely strength to her that made them more than equals. She frowned at him. “Are you going to insult me by bribing me now?”
