There was a long moment of silence, then James smiled.
“That is a relief to hear, as Kitty informed me that she has made it her personal mission to find a suitable husband for Emma, which means the young lady will be at the estate very often,” the duke answered. “I am delighted you chose to be a mature adult with regards to this situation, Will. I would most certainly not wish for Kitty to be upset.”
Will’s heart thudded in his chest and he struggled to breathe suddenly.
A husband? They are going to try and marry Emma off?
He cleared his throat. “We would not wish for such strife within the first week of your marriage.”
He grinned at his brother so that James knew he was joking, while inside his chest, panic was taking flight.
“There is, however, something I wish to discuss with you,” James said and stepped into the study.
The books that had been stacked beside the desk that had tipped over in the throes of passion between William and Emma were still on the floor. He’d forgotten to pick them up afterwards.
Emma’s moans still resonated in his mind as a hint of a grin formed on his lips, but he shifted his gaze away from the books. Hopefully, James wouldn’t notice.
“I did not imagine Emma to be that kind of woman,” the duke said, which whirled William back to reality.
“What makes you say such a thing?” William inquired.
James indicated to the carpet. “The books on the floor. She hurled one or two towards you, did she not?”
William stood silently for a few moments and nodded. “Indeed, she did. Women are rather erratic when they are angered.”
“What in heavens did you say to her to cause her to toss books at you? As the duchess mentioned, Emma is a lover of books and literature.”
How do I answer that?
William plastered a smirk on his lips. “I was merely my usual, charming self.”
The duke scoffed and shook his head. “I can only imagine why she acted in such a manner.”
Enough about the books...
“What is it you wished to discuss with me, James?”
“Ah, yes. Of course.” The duke cleared his throat and glanced at William. “Brother, your behavior in the garden, as well as the past weeks has both Lizzie and myself...”
James paused and Will waited.
“Yes?”
“Your behavior has us both rather concerned for you, brother, and even Kitty pointed it out to me. We only wish for you to be happy.”
William rolled his eyes. “What, precisely, does that mean? I am happy as I stand here now. Perhaps you and our sister have different opinions on what constitutes happiness. Your idea of happiness for me is not the same as the kind I wish for myself.”
“We only wish for you to marry and form a stable home, brother.”
Will groaned. That was what he meant! They had very different ideas about what would make them happy. “I am not ready to do such a thing.”
“Perhaps if you were introduced to the right woman—”
Will put a hand up, silencing his brother. “No. I do not require your assistance in finding a suitable wife. I will do so in my own time,” William answered with a scoff. “I am not even certain whether it is something I ever wish to do.”
James inclined his head in a regal way. “Perhaps not, but I felt precisely the same before I met the duchess. The right woman will arrive on your path at the right time, brother, as well as the time you will least expect it.”
William forced a smile as his gaze once again came to rest on the toppled-over pile of books strewn across the floor.
Perhaps I’ve already come across that woman?
His brow furrowed as he found it difficult to fathom that Emma was the woman his brother spoke of. They had both agreed to continue as though nothing had happened between them, and that was precisely what William wished to do, however difficult it would prove to be.
Will looked back at his brother, James’s smug face making anger curl up inside his gut.
“What gives you the impression that I must marry in order to be happy?” William argued. “Many men do not marry until they are much older.”
James simply shrugged. “Which makes it seem as though they are not the gentlemanly type. Women do not find unmarried men of such age desirable.”
Will shook his head. “Your views of the world are warped, brother.”
“I will simply pretend I did not hear you utter those words,” James muttered. “Be it as it may, being married and starting a family is a wonderful thing. Not even I was under the impression it would be this delightful, but—”
“Wait. Do you mean to tell me that the duchess is with child? Already?” William asked, his tone more pitched than it should be.
His perfect brother had conceived a child on the wrong side of the blanket?
Impossible.
The duke chuckled proudly and nodded. “Indeed. It happened a few months ago, and I would not have it any other way.”
“And you are not terrified?” William asked, blinking at his brother.
“To death, every moment. But when I gaze into Kitty’s eyes, my fears melt away, as if they were never there to begin with.”
William glanced away and Emma’s face appeared in front of him.
Memories swam into his mind. The tender manner in which she had run her fingers through his hair. The ever so slight movement of her lips as she whispered to him. The smell of her skin as he kissed her knuckles.
It had not occurred to him up until now, how meaningful their time in the study had been for him. But unfortunately, he was certain it had meant more to him than it had to her.
He had to shift the image of her and the feelings that had risen up inside him to the back of his mind. The last thing he wished to think about was Emma.
He clearly had more important things to focus on, according to the duke.
Finding a wife.
He had
