Page 19 of A Duke in Her Fate
Blinking, Ronan turned back to him. His mind had wandered but he had heard most of it. “Yes. I have twelve.”
Although Olsen’s smile faded, he managed to provide insights on the twelve questions, and the eight that were needed in the follow-up conversation. The two of them spent a good hour reviewing the model before Ronan put in his request. He’d already had time to study the finer pieces in the main shop, and there they worked out the details.
“And I’ll need this in three weeks,” he added once he had confirmed the price.
A glimpse of fear brushed through Olsen’s face, his eye twitching, but he smiled. “I understand, Your Grace.”
“I will arrive in exactly three weeks to inspect it for myself, and with an additional driver so we ensure all is secure,” Ronan added as he rose. The shopkeeper hastily copied. “Because it will be secure and the safest contraption possible, won’t it?”
Nodding, Olsen gave his reassurances.
Ronan accepted this, gave the card for his man of finances, and then took his leave.
It only took him a moment to route his horse into Hyde Park. He had some time, after all, and the public area was always beautiful. He could use a momentary distraction before moving through his other tasks for the day.
“Oho! A stranger.” Tristan appeared when he was halfway along the pond. The man looked positively windswept with his wry smile and tall build on the skittish horse. “Ronan, what are you doing here? About to enjoy a turn in the park?”
“I was enjoying a ride. Or so I had hoped,” he added mulishly.
Tristan raised his eyebrow. “If you wish for me to leave, you have only to say the word.”
But he didn’t. He couldn’t, not really, and Tristan knew this. So Ronan continued nudging his horse along and then the other duke fell in line. The two of them rode quietly for a few minutes. Just long enough that he had hope about having some peace and silence here.
“I heard Langdon’s ball was quite the affair this week,” Tristan said. “Did you enjoy dancing again?”
“It was satisfactory.”
His friend nodded. “A fine word for a fine event. And what did Lady Isla think?”
An unexpected question that had Ronan tightening his grip on the reins enough so his horse sidestepped. It took him a second to right then, glancing quickly at Tristan with his impassive expression.
“I believe she enjoyed herself,” Ronan finally muttered.
“I should hope so. Because a marriage includes two parties of whom will have their own thoughts and feelings on the situation,” Tristan said. “I do hope you will be mindful of her as well as yourself.”
Frowning, he looked over. “Do you think I would be cruel to her? Do you think me a selfish gentleman?”
“I think you are a suffering gentleman,” Tristan corrected him. “And I hope that it will not affect whatever choices you are making at this time. That it does not control them.”
So it’s a lecture, that’s what this is. He thinks me impulsive and thoughtless, so he believes he can act as my father to tell me what to do.
“I don’t need this,” he huffed under his breath. Then he gave his horse a hard squeeze. “Good day, Tristan.” Off they went at a fast canter, taking the lead before his friend could catch up to them.
Perhaps he could if he tried, but Ronan was relieved when he didn’t.
He returned to the streets of London to complete his shopping. New things were purchased with orders to deliver to the correct address. After a meeting with his solicitor, and after studying the streets carefully to ensure he wasn’t being watched, Ronan decided to take a short pause at a club.
His friends were right. Even though he had long let go of his membership, he was welcomed with a drink and a quiet room just as he requested.
Ronan watched the quiet street from his window, leaning against the framing while he sipped honeyed apple tea. It was more honey than apple at this rate. A brandy had been offered, but he had forced himself to deny it.
I’ll head home at the end of the hour and have myself some chai upon my return. That will be a refreshment for the day. Everything should be handled by now, and I can return with news to Hobbes. Perhaps I’ll even return in time to watch Oliver have his bedtime story read to him.
“There he is,” came a quiet voice as the closed door creaked open.
Blast it. A duke truly can never be alone.
Ronan resisted the urge to sigh. Taking another sip, he listened to the footsteps of his friends pile in the room. It sounded like all three of them based on the heavy footsteps. Two grunts meant the chairs were being taken up. Then came Tristan to the window to see the view as he did.
