Page 67 of Courting Scandal With The Duke
‘Masern, you mean?’
‘That is it. Masern. Dreadful infection.And you were with Miss Simon right before she came down with it. Have you had it?’
‘Yes, as a child. I got it from Helmut, as a matter of fact.’ He looked sad.
‘You still miss him, do you not?’
‘I do. Sometimes. He was not the best of men, we both know this, but he was still my brother.’
He had been a horrible man, in Barbara’s opinion. But like a fool she had not seen past the charming facade. Well, she would not make that mistake again.
The Duke might be handsome and a fabulous lover, if their first encounter was anything to go on, but she had no doubt as to his intentions.
Thank goodness.
And soon she would be free of all this need to pretend to be the dutiful daughter.
‘I appreciate you caring enough to warn me,’ he said. At her invitation, he sat beside her.
At that moment, the butler entered with tea.
They sat in silence while the butler attended to his duties. They had always done that when he had come to call on her the few times she was in residence at his brother’s house, after Charles had warned her that his brother’s servants would report all her conversations back to him.
Alone again, he smiled at her as she handed him a cup of tea.
‘You remember exactly how I like it.’
‘Of course. It is not so long ago that I last poured tea for you.’
‘Your aunt tells me your father is arriving soon.’
She stared at him, surprised. ‘Yes. Sometime in the next two weeks, I gather.’
‘You will be happy to see him.’
‘Not especially so.’
‘No?’ He sounded surprised.
‘No. Father wants me to marry again.’
‘You do not wish it?’
‘No.’
‘Are you sure? You do not want a family, children, of your own?’
She shuddered. ‘Not in the least.’
‘Was my brother aware of this?’
‘I think your brother convinced me of this.’
He sighed. ‘Ah. But not all men are like my brother.’
‘No. You are not. You have been a good friend to me.’
‘More than a friend, I hope.’ The look in his eyes was warmer than she expected.
