Page 17 of The Duke's Impossible Deal
“I’ll box their ears.” Georgia held up her tiny fists, scowling at no one in particular. “I’m the only one who gets to make fun of you.”
Alistair smiled at his sister. “I can be a groomsman. Then, I can be with Uncle Warner.”
“See? That is something to look forward to, isn’t it? And we will be staying with your uncle while we get ready for the wedding.”
“We will get to see Davey and Fliss every day!” Georgia grinned.
“Exactly. And then, when we’re living with the Duke, we will be able to get you all sorts of things. New clothes, new books.”
“A pony?” Alistair asked hopefully. “I miss riding.”
“I am sure Tob—the Duke will get each of you a pony. After all, a young earl should know how to ride and hunt.”
The twins exchanged looks and Georgia said, “I still do not like him.”
“You do not know him.” Rowen kept her voice light and airy, not wanting her children to note her own less-than-positive feelings about the man.
“I suppose not,” Alistair relented, before turning to his sister. “I’m sorry for pushing you, Georgie.”
“I’m sorry for kicking you.” Georgia gave him a hug. “I don’t mind if we share the book.”
“Good. Now, go and get one of the maids to clean up the broken china, and then you can finish packing. I am fairly certain that Aunty Adele has had her cook make you a cake.” Rowen put on an exaggerated, thoughtful face. “Though, you know what your uncle’s appetite is like. There might not be any left if we wait too long.”
Georgia and Alistair sprang into action, streaking out of the room while holding hands, each theorizing about what kind of cake was waiting for them.
As she watched her children retreat, Rowen leaned against the doorframe. “What would it be like to have a second set of hands to help with this sort of thing?”
“A husband is not just for warming one’s bed.”
Adele’s words tumbled around her head, followed by her mother’s.
“Once they have lost interest, you will be on your own.”
“I will not make the same mistake again,” Rowen murmured. “Not when I have so much to lose.”
Tobias might claim that he would do what was needed, but she knew how fickle men’s hearts could be.
Six
“Ihave done it. Everything has been arranged.” Tobias strode into his cousin’s London townhouse, tapping his breast pocket.
He had just obtained a special license so that he and Rowen could be married in ten days. As he knew that his fiancée would be staying with his cousin until the wedding, he had decided to pay him a visit. That way, he could tell Warner, and if his fiancée had not arrived by the time he needed to leave, he could trust in his cousin to deliver the news.
As soon as he walked into the room, two small heads whipped around. Felicity and David toddled towards him, and all the cold efficiency that he had been holding onto melted away.
“Uncle Toby!” Felicity was slightly faster than her brother, flinging herself into Tobias’s arms with the kind of wild abandon only toddlers could have.
Tobias caught her easily and spun her around, making her laugh and squeal in delight. Then, he felt David tugging on his trousers.
“Me! Me! Me!” the boy burbled, gesturing with his arms as Tobias threw his goddaughter into the air.
Felicity clapped her little hands and let out a delighted shriek, laughing in a way that felt like warmth bursting through thawing ice. He found himself smiling back, grinning so broadly that his cheeks ached.
He caught her gently, making silly noises and laughing as her brother clung to his other arm. He picked the little boy up easily and spun them both together.
“Careful!” Adele reached towards them, but Tobias saw his cousin place a reassuring hand on his wife’s arm.
“Weeee!” David cried as they spun in a circle. “Up!”
