Page 52 of Her Lion of a Duke
“When you have a child, you will understand.” Lord Renshaw laughed. “It is good for boys to help at a young age; it builds their strength and character. That is why I was so hard on you and Henry. You were like sons to me.”
“Did you do it too, then?” Cecilia asked, making Leonard chuckle.
“When I was the youngest, yes. Believe me, when you have a son of your own, you will know the feeling. It brings a sense of pride to know that you have someone so small and yet so strong in front of you.”
“I am not small anymore,” Leonard reminded him.
Cecilia tried not to stare at his broad shoulders in front of the company.
“I accept your gratitude for that.” Lord Renshaw lifted his chin. “Now, as for that dog, he will not be approaching my bedchambers, will he?”
Leonard and Cecilia exchanged a quick glance.
“Are you staying with us?” Leonard asked. “I thought you would only stay the afternoon.”
“I was going to, but you should have known that such a long journey would be tiring and planned for me to stay a while. I am not intruding, am I?”
“Of course not,” Cecilia replied dutifully. “I shall speak with the housekeeper, so that we can have a room prepared for you. Did you bring your bags?”
“They are in my carriage. See to it that nothing is damaged, for it is all of very high quality.”
“Then it will be difficult to damage anything,” Cecilia said, grateful for the opportunity to leave.
The moment she left the room, her smile turned into a sneer.
She did not like the man at all, and she was most unhappy to know that she would have to spend more time with him. It was tempting to leave him to Leonard to be entertained for the duration of his stay, but she did not think that was fair, not when Leonard had done nothing to warrant it.
“Are you all right, Your Grace?” Mrs. Herrington asked when she found her. “You do not look happy.”
“Everything is fine,” Cecilia replied, softening. “Lord Renshaw will be staying for a while, so we need to prepare a room for him.”
“Ah, that is why you look so unhappy. He was never a nice man, always envious of His Grace.”
Cecilia was not surprised to hear that at all.
CHAPTER 19
Leonard did not want his cousin to stay in his home a minute longer than necessary.
In truth, he had not had very much to do in his study at all, but he did not want to face him so soon. He had not seen Renshaw since Henry’s passing, and it had not been a pleasant interaction. Renshaw did not seem to remember it, however, as he took his tea with a smile on his face.
“Your wife seems pleasant enough.”
“She is, indeed. I hope that you were polite to her.”
“Why would I be anything but? I am here as a guest, so I would only ever act accordingly.”
Leonard mumbled in agreement.
“I did not expect you to have a dog,” Renshaw continued. “I thought that you were above such things.”
“He is an excellent companion. He is not dangerous, though I can see why his presence might have frightened you.”
“Nothing frightens me, Cousin. I am above all of that. I simply do not like the mess that comes with mutts.”
“Aunt Caroline had one, did she not?”
“That was different. Mother knew how to control hers.”
