Page 67 of Taken By the Dangerous Duke

CHAPTER32

The Separation Begins

Arthur stood staring out of the window. He did not know what came next. The joy of the pregnancy announcement was dwindling, and there was a great pit in the bottom of his stomach. It felt as if he was being attacked on all sides, and no matter which way he turned, he faced a barrage of emotional turmoil.

“How are things going with you and Elspeth,” he asked, turning around to face Parker.

“I dint believe that is the most pressing issue at this moment in time,” said Parker with a smile. “Your wife announces that she is pregnant, and we both know what that means for the future, and I think you have to deal with that.”

Arthur nodded to the butler standing by the door, and the man proceeded to pour some coffee into small cups.

“You are the one who is avoiding the issue,” said Arthur. “Every time I bring up the notion of a future for you and Elspeth, you talk about something else.”

“And every time I bring up your future, you switch the conversation to something else.”

“Well, shall we start with the easier of the two problems? Your future with Elspeth?”

“Your way with words is almost as devastating as your way with cards, Arthur. Just when I think I have you on the back foot, you jump in with a trump. Fine, let’s talk about me for a change. I’m growing ever so tired of talking about you all of the time.”

“There’s a good chap,” laughed Arthur. “So, have you come to a decision?”

“I believe that I have.” Parker looked at his friend for a moment before he continued. “I have become rather enamored with Elspeth over the past few weeks, and she really likes you and Margaret, and being friends with my friends is something that is very important to me.”

“So, are wedding bells on the horizon?” asked Arthur.

“I believe that they might be,” responded Parker. “And without any agreement in place like your marriage.” Parker paused for a second. “Sorry, that was uncalled for. I don’t want to make light of the situation.”

“No, it is fine. I brought this upon myself, and now I have to reap what I have sown.”

“And what have you sown?” asked Parker.

Arthur gestured for the maid to enter the room with the plate of sandwiches.

“I don’t know for sure. I entered into this hoping that I would have an heir, and I don’t even know if this first child will be a boy, but….”

“But what?” asked Parker.

“It is going to sound silly, but I’m terrified.”

“Of having a child?” asked Parker.

“No, I’m perfectly fine with that. I’m… I feel like a fool just saying it, but I have grown closer to Margaret, and the thought of a real relationship with her scares me. I saw what happened to my father when my mother passed—he became changed and never returned to how he once was. And my aunt tries to hide it, but she is not the same woman I once knew. I made a vow when I was a younger man to never enter into a relationship. I vowed never to feel like they did for most of their lives, and never to make someone else feel that way.”

“So, you do have feelings for Margaret. Elspeth and I knew that you did. You only have to see the two of you together to know that much. Is it really causing you this much pain?”

“It is. I know is ridiculous, and I wish that I didn’t feel this way, but I have spent most of my life around the pain of others, and it has influenced me.”

“It would be hard not to let it,” admitted Parker.

“When Margaret told me about being pregnant, I tried my best to be overjoyed by it. I knew that she was happy about the news, and I wanted to support her in that, but the news was like a dagger through my heart. It is only now that everything is starting to sink in, and I don’t know if I can bear to lose her.”

“You don’t have to,” said Parker.

“That’s where the conflict lies. I don’t know if I have enough strength in me to overcome what my family has been through. Years of pain are rearing up now that she is to be taken from me. I can console myself with the fact that she will still be in the east wing when we return to York, but it will not be the same.”

There was a clinking of plates as the maid fumbled one of the platters as she arranged the china on the table. Arthur glanced over and then back to Parker. He lowered his voice a little and continued.

“I can’t deny that I have grown used to our time together. I thought that perhaps it was only a physical attachment, but it is not. I enjoy our time walking or boating or socializing just as much as our time in bed. And, now, we are to have neither.”

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