Page 47 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
Tobias knew he should say that his arrangement with Rowen was not what Martha thought, that it was a matter of obligation, but the words stuck in his throat.
Instead, he shook his head and said, “You are family as well. I know how Eric felt about you, and I would not see my niece struggle. I can easily support you and tend to the needs of my famil—familial obligations.”
If Martha noticed the way he had stumbled over the words, she showed no sign of it.
I cannot tell her the truth, nor can I call them my family. What is wrong with me?
The thought sat uneasily with him, and he ran a hand across his chest absently.
Martha gave him a frank look while she rocked Erica in her arms. “And how does your wife feel about your financial support?”
“She understands that it is necessary. She would not begrudge my looking after a single mother and her child.” Tobias thought of how hard Rowen had worked to look after her own children, the way she had done so much to protect them, and felt something fierce well up within him. “She would not wish that struggle on anyone.”
Martha did not look convinced. Though she tried to disguise it, Tobias could tell from the way she pursed her lips. He spoke before she could say another word, doing his best to keep his voice pleasant and calm, even as he felt a stab of annoyance.
“You do not know her, Martha. She is many things, but mean-spirited is not one of them. She is generous with her time and money, often at her own expense. I have seen what she sacrifices for the children; I cannot believe she would want that for anyone else.”
He gave Martha a wry smile, thinking of how often he had seen Rowen mend things instead of replacing them.
“More to the point, if she did begrudge my support of you, I would have heard about it long before now. My wife is not the kind of woman to keep her opinions to herself.”
He gestured to the new furniture around them, the plush armchairs and the chaise longue.
“Even when it comes to the furniture in my study, she does not shy away from letting me know what she thinks. Even if she does not agree with me—especiallyif she does not agree with me.”
His gaze lingered on the chaise, remembering the way he had teased Rowen as they had picked it out. He forced himself back to the present, in time to catch an unreadable look flit across Martha’s face.
Curiosity, perhaps?
That look was eventually replaced by a soft, sad smile. “Be that as it may, and as kind and as helpful as your support has been, you and I both know that it cannot continue forever.”
“Why not? Everyone knows of your connection to my family, the way you were wronged by my father. It is perfectly reasonable for me to support you.” Tobias furrowed his brow.
“But it comes at a cost.” Martha let out a frustrated breath as a now-sleeping Erica nuzzled against her.
Tobias watched as she carefully set the sleeping toddler on the chaise and pulled a blanket over her.
Another one of Rowen’s additions.
Tobias had no doubt his wife would have been more smug than a cat with cream to see the blanket used.
Martha’s words forced his attention back to her. “Your assistance reminds the ton that my child was born out of wedlock. She will carry that shame for as long as we are in London, and no money will fix that. As far as they are concerned,she may be the daughter of a a marquess and the heir to a duchy, but she is a bast—well, you know what they will say.”
“Anyone foolish enough to say such a thing will face the full might of my wrath.” Tobias clenched his fists as he took a step towards her. “You are both under my protection, and I will not tolerate any disparaging remarks.”
Martha shook her head, her smile vanishing. “And now you are married, and that has made the ton wonder if perhaps you are not as loyal to your wife as you should be. I have no wish for my scandal to become her scandal, nor for it to affect her children.”
“I will not let it come to that.” Tobias felt his chest tighten.
“Your Gr—Tobias, you may be a duke, but even you cannot stop people’s tongues from wagging. Rumors, while baseless, can be just as damaging, if not more, than facts. The longer you support me, the more convinced people will be that you have taken your brother’s place in my life in more ways than one.” Martha ran a hand through her hair and shook her head. “Do you really want to risk that?”
Tobias swallowed. He had sworn to protect Rowen and her children, and he knew that Martha was right. The ton was far too eager to think the worst of people, and before he had joined the army, he had been a known rake.
And of course, there is my father’s legacy to consider.
An emptiness filled him, mingling with a prickle of fear. It reminded him of when he was a young boy, watching his brother suffer their father’s punishment for both of them.
“There must be a way to help you.”
