Page 55 of Her Lion of a Duke
“All the same, I hope that one day, he finds a wife who can challenge him. He will certainly not find that in a debutante.”
Cecilia opened her eyes and turned to look at him.
Leonard would have been lying if he said that she had never challenged him. She was tempestuous, the sort of lady who knew what she wanted and was determined to have it, but she was also sweet and kind.
She was a lady, and a woman, and Leonard had never appreciated the distinction between those two words until he had met her.
“Some boys turn into men when they are too young,” he sighed. “Some when they are twenty, and some never at all. My cousin is the latter, and I do not see that changing. Regardless, I do not doubt that he will find his way, even if it means his family line will die with him.”
“As for ours?” she asked.
“It depends on what you choose. I truly do not care.”
She smiled softly, and he could see the gratitude in her eyes.
He recognized her apprehension; since her friends had become wives and mothers, they lost themselves at times. She did not want that for herself, and if he were being honest, he did not want it either. He liked how they were, and if that was how they would always be, then he was not going to be upset about it.
Even so, the thought of a smaller version of her running around the manor stirred a deep longing in his chest.
“We should also dress for dinner,” he said gently, standing up and pulling her to her feet. “I dread to think what Renshaw will say if he finds himself alone in the dining room.”
Once in his bedroom, Leonard knew that it was only a matter of time before Henry would appear.
As predicted, his brother appeared just as he finished dressing.
“Can you not tell him to leave?” he asked, gesturing wildly. “I hate him.”
“You do not hate him. He always preferred you.”
“That does not mean I do not hate him. He has always been awful. If you think I speak badly about ladies, you would fall to the floor after hearing him!”
“Be that as it may, he is staying here for a few days, and then he will leave. This way, we can be rid of him for years. Is that not better?”
“If he is good to your wife, I suppose, but you have to admit that something seems off. He would never have made such a journey just to congratulate you.”
“No, but he would if it meant asking me about your disappearance, which I would also very much like to know more about, for what it is worth.”
“I have already told you, Leonard,” Henry sighed, sitting on the edge of the bed. “I cannot tell you anything that you do not already know. I am only here because you need someone to talk to.”
“That is not true. I have Cecilia.”
“Then talk to her about it. You do not need to imagine me forever.”
“I do not plan to. Believe me, if I could be rid of you right now, I would be.”
“Then do it,” Henry taunted. “Blink twice and make me disappear. If it is as simple as speaking to your wife, then you can be rid of me easily.”
Leonard tried, but of course, it was no use.
He had never been able to stop the madness building inside him. From the day he learned of his brother’s disappearance, Henry had haunted him. Leonard wished that he were a ghost, as that was a better explanation than him needing to be thrown in Bedlam.
“I do not have time for this,” he huffed. “I have to go downstairs for dinner.”
“Enjoy it, Brother,” Henry drawled, but Leonard was already leaving the room.
CHAPTER 20
The remainder of Lord Renshaw’s visit passed by without much trouble.
