Page 99 of Irresistible
Soon.
The door snapped closed, and Da blew out a breath. “Well, that was exciting.”
“That’s one word for it,” Dougal grumbled. He wiped his hand over his brow.
“She’s quite lovely—your…hummingbird, was it?”
Robbie snickered, and Dougal managed to laugh.
“It’s a joke between us,” Dougal explained. “The couple from the ballroom—the Chesmores—we were investigating them in Dorset. That is how Jess and I came to know each other. We were tasked with pretending to be married so we could determine whether the Chesmores were spies.” Dougal massaged his temple. “You should both forget everything I just said.”
“Some mornings, I forget who I am,” Da said blandly.
Dougal stared at him in horror. Was he that bad off already? “Are you serious?”
“No.” Da laughed rather too hard, and Robbie tried—and failed—to stifle his amusement. “You should have seen your face. It was a jest, Dougal.” He took a moment to compose himself. “My apologies. This has been a very strained evening. Rest assured that your secrets are our secrets.” Da glanced toward Robbie, who nodded in response. “I know this didn’t happen the way you’d hoped, but the end result is what you want.”
“It is. I just hope it’s what she wants. She was very agitated. It may be that she blurted the first thing that came to mind and doesn’t really want to wed.”
“Why would you think that?” Robbie asked.
“Because that’s long been her intent. She’s spent several Seasons avoiding marriage and has been anticipating her spinsterhood. She may prefer to cry off and go quietly into the future. Alone.”
“You said you pretended to be married,” Da said. “Surely you have an idea of whether you suit.”
“I think we do.”
Da gave him an encouraging nod. “Then you’ll convince her. Perhaps you should try to see her alone.”
“You’ve read my mind, Da.”
Robbie cocked his head to the side. “Dougal, why did you introduce me as your cousin?”
“Because you are. Should I not have?”
It was Da who answered. “Of course you should have.”
Dougal took a deep breath. “I realized something tonight in that ballroom. I’ve been masquerading pretty much my whole life. I play many roles and tend to keep them separate. I don’t want to do that anymore.”
“Nor should you,” Da said quietly. “I’m sorry you felt the need for that.”
“I don’t know that it was conscious,” Dougal explained. “But now that I recognize it, I can’t continue.”
Robbie smiled. “Amen, Dougal.”
Da watched him with obvious pride. “I’ve raised you well, my boy.”
Dougal went and hugged him fiercely. “Thank you for everything you said, and mostly for your soothing presence.” Then he hugged Robbie. “And thank you for being here. I hope you’ll stand up with me when I wed Jess—assuming she actually wants to go through with that.”
“She will,” Robbie said fiercely, thumping Dougal on the back before they separated. “Ye’re damn near irresistible. At least ye were when we were younger. Remember Sorcha—”
“That’ll do, Robbie,” Dougal said with a laugh as he sent a nervous glance toward his father, who was shaking his head with a faint smile.
Da gestured toward the door. “Let us escape before we are discovered and endlessly hounded.” As they made their way out, he asked, “Did you say I was soothing?”
“He did,” Robbie answered.
“I don’t know if that’s true, but sometimes being an earl has its advantages. Dougal, you’ll find that out soon enough.”
