A Duke in Time (The Widow Rules #1) - Janna MacGregor Page 0,66

to save my half brother’s neck, I’ve been thrashed within an inch of my life, suffered a broken nose, had my purse stolen, and been chased by a jealous husband who discovered my brother…”

“In bed with the man’s wife.” She finished the sentence for him.

“Yes,” he said curtly. What others might see as abruptness, she saw as a man who was desperately trying to keep his emotions on an even keel.

“I shouldn’t have said that about him,” he said with a hint of contriteness. “However, those are a few of the consequences I suffered when I tried to defend him. There are millions more,” he argued.

“He said you were a marvelous brother.”

“Before I left for the war, I completely broke with him and his antics.” He shook his head in denial as he slashed his hand through the air. “I was finished with him. The final straw was when Meri took my horse and raced him for a fifty-pound purse. For years, I’d trained the animal. He’d been groomed and directed to obey my every command. A battle-ready horse is hard to come by. Mine was exceptional. Instinctively, he knew how to protect me.” He exhaled heavily. “I planned to take him with me when I joined the war, but he turned up lame after the race.” He shook his head as if he still couldn’t believe it. “My stupid half brother took a war horse and tried to turn it into a racehorse. From then on, I brushed my hands of him. He had no respect for that animal or me.”

Horrified at the story, Katherine sat there silently for moment. “Did you destroy him?” she asked softly.

“If you mean Meriwether, no. But I wanted to. Neither did I destroy my horse. I felt closer to it than I did my own family.” He leaned back in his chair and directed his gaze to her as if challenging her to dispute his statement. “He has a permanent home in the stables at Roseport, my ancestral seat.”

Another confession that proved what a kind man he truly was. “I understand why men would follow you into battle. You’re not only brave and determined, but you possess a compassion that must have served you and your regiment well.”

“That’s kind of you to say.” Something in his voice hinted that he didn’t believe her.

“I am being sincere, Christian.” She paused, letting the words sit between them.

He exhaled then nodded once.

“You already knew you’d enter the military years before you joined.” She held his stare. “It’s rare for a peer, particularly a ducal heir, to buy a commission, isn’t it? I’m surprised your father let you.”

“Exceedingly rare. By then, my stepmother and father’s theatrics and outrageous parties were a constant in my life. I had to escape. Besides, I wasn’t a duke then, and my father didn’t care. He considered me dull and too regimented. He only cared about pleasure.”

Katherine sat quietly while his words flowed freely. It was as if she weren’t there. He seemed to be far away in his memories. But then he surprised her. He took her hand and squeezed gently, then leaned toward her.

“Thank you for saying that you’re happy I’m home.” He exhaled gently. “It means something … a great something.”

“It’s not just me,” she answered. “All of England is happy you’re home.”

He shook his head with a wry smile. “But you see, there’s a difference. A huge difference. All of England isn’t sitting here with me and holding my hand.”

* * *

Christian studied her hand. So small compared to his, but hers had the strength to comfort. When she’d said she was happy he was home, he might have fallen a little bit in love with her.

He shook his head slightly to clear the sickly-sweet cobwebs he was experiencing.

It was all nonsense. He’d never fallen in love with anyone before, but somehow, someway, she had invoked all these wants and desires to come rushing to the surface, begging for viability.

For God’s sake, her words were simple and pure. Nothing more. She was happy he’d returned home.

Yet they held power over him. Even if his immediate family had been alive, there wasn’t much chance they would have been happy to see him return. Not that they’d wish him gone, but they probably wouldn’t have even noticed.

He huffed silently. To spend any more time on such notions proved he was a nodcock loon. Christian vowed to put away all those ridiculous thoughts and concentrate on the task at hand, then