Page 60 of Dubious about the Duke (Second Sons of London 5)

Chapter Nineteen

Win went tothe library, a room he never saw either of his parents in, much less his brother. Because of that, the room had become a refuge to Win and he had spent many happy hours within its confines. When Percy came, he would have them come here to read, play backgammon, and talk, knowing they wouldn’t be disturbed.

He doubted the book he searched for had been taken from the shelf since he had placed it there years ago. Maids did come in and dust the shelves but they would have no reason to move any of the volumes.

It was just where he remembered it would be. Pulling it from the shelf, he said aloud as he looked at the cover, “Tales of Mother Goose.”

Oh, how he had loved this book when he was a young boy. It contained stories he came to treasure.The Sleeping Beauty. Puss in Boots. Cinderella. Little Red Riding Hood.Eventually, he had read the fairy tales in their original French, thanks to a tutor who had loaned him a copy of it. Written by Charles Perrault—but published under the name of his last son, Pierre—the first publication was entitledHistoires ou contes du temps passe, avec des moralites: Contes de ma mere l’Ove.

He couldn’t wait to share it with his nephews.

Win froze, suddenly feeling as if he’d been struck by a bolt of lightning. Sera’s lessons were coming home to roost. He realized that he didn’t want to hold these boys at arms’ length. Instead, he wanted to claim them as family. The thought surprised him but it shouldn’t. Sera had opened her arms to the two orphans and allowed Win to see them as not mistakes of Terrance’s but unique individuals in their own right. It had been wrong on his part to visit the sins of the father upon his bastard sons. He thought to what he had told the pair only last night.

Always do the right thing. Strive to be the best person you can be.

Now, he needed to live up to his own life lessons.

Win took the book and headed to the schoolroom, both his heart and his step lighter than they had been in a long time. Outside the door, he paused as he had this morning, eavesdropping without feeling a bit of shame.

“Very good,” Sera said. “You are grasping it well.”

“I like reading and writing better,” Charlie said.

“I like numbers,” Freddie countered. “They just make more sense to me.”

Ah, so he had a budding mathematician on his hands.

“Everyone has different talents,” Sera explained. “I like reading and believe I have a talent for playing music and gardening. Both of you will come to know what subjects you enjoy studying and what you have a knack for. We will try different things and help you grow.”

“Like a flower grows?” Charlie asked.

“Exactly,” Sera replied.

He was too excited to linger in the corridor any longer. Entering, he said, “I found the book I was looking for. It is calledTales of Mother Goose.”

“Is it about a talking goose?” Freddie asked. “That would be a fun story.”

“Actually, no. A goose doesn’t appear at all except inside on the title page.”

“Then why is named after a goose if no goose is in it?” Charlie wondered.

“I’m not really sure,” he admitted. “But the stories within are marvelous. I read them over and over as a boy. Shall we read one together now?”

He handed the collection of stories to Sera but she shook her head. “No, Your Grace, I believe you should read it to Freddie and Charlie.”

“Call him Win,” Freddie corrected.

“No,” Charlie said, shaking his head. “He’s only Win outside. The maid who brings us food could hear and His Grace wouldn’t like that.”

He swallowed, building courage. “I think I would like you to call me Uncle Win. All the time.”

Both boys frowned at him but behind them, he saw Sera’s radiant smile. Tears sparkled in her eyes.

“But you’re not our uncle,” Freddie pointed out. “Mum didn’t have any brothers. She told us so.”

“Your papa did,” Win said softly. “Your father... was my brother.”

Freddie stood quickly, knocking his chair back. “No.” He backed away until he was in the corner.

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