Page 86 of The Not So Perfect Duke

Damon had fallen madly in love—for the first and last time in his life.

* * *

Damon escorted Althea home, only to return to find a strange carriage sitting in front of Clarendon Place. At half past one in the morning?

Kingsley greeted him at the door. “The Duchess of Chellenham, Your Grace. And her husband and son await you in the parlor. I brought tea and biscuits.”

“Thank you.” Damon hurried toward the parlor. He entered to find his mother seated, holding a cup of tea, and two men standing nearby. One was De León; the other must be Damon’s brother. The lad was tall, perhaps close to six feet. Was he finished growing? It was hard to know. Dark hair like his mother and father, and of course, handsome.

Damon went to his mother, leaned in, and kissed her cheek.

“Forgive us. I insisted we come straight away after the ship landed in Liverpool, and we arrived later than I had planned,” his mother smiled. “Mr. Mason traveled with us and says he will stop by tomorrow afternoon.”

Damon held his hand to De León, and the man shook it heartily. “Good to see you, Damon.”

“And you.” Damon turned to the young man. “And this must be Sebastián.” Damon held out his hand, but to his utter astonishment, Sebastián pulled him into an embrace.

“I always wanted a brother,” the young man whispered.

“As have I,” Damon replied as he patted the young man on the back. They separated. “It is much too late to find a hotel. Stay here for as long as you like. I sent an invitation stating such, but I suppose you had already departed. Kingsley!”

The butler stepped into the room. “Two guest rooms have been prepared, and the trunks are already in the rooms, Your Grace.”

“If you don’t mind,” De León said. “I want to head straight to bed as I am completely exhausted. Sebastián? Come, allow Damon to have a visit with your mother.”

“Of course. Kingsley will escort you. We will speak more tomorrow. Good night.”

Damon was alone with his mother. All at once, the years melted, and all was forgiven.

Damon sat on the settee. “Much has happened since I visited you in Spain.”

“Yes, for us both,” His mother replied as she placed her teacup on the table in front of them.

“The night the duke died. I had the strangest dream.” Damon told his mother of the dream, wandering through Chellenham Park and finding his father in the same position he had been in at two in the morning.

His mother shook her head. “So that is how he was discovered. I am not surprised. Edward would have been mortified as he was such a stickler for outward appearances. To a point.”

“Will he haunt me the rest of my days? Will he always be hovering nearby in my consciousness, his debauched legacy staining my life?”

His mother took his hand. “Only if you allow it. Edward Cranston isn’t worth remembering. You are not your father’s son. Do not ever doubt it. You are capable of love, fidelity, and honor. I can see it in your eyes. It is all within you.”

Damon laid his hand on top of his mother’s. “I believe it is.” He told her of Althea and the young siblings he discovered at the foundling home.

“Then embrace it. You are taking in your half-siblings and giving them a home and a future. But more importantly, you are giving them a family. Love. Security. We can be a large, loving family, my darling boy. All you have to do is put aside your doubts and fears. You deserve to be loved. And happy. Make Althea part of your life, or you will regret it if you do not.”

“I have asked her to marry me. Can you imagine? And the intelligent woman that she is, Althea is considering the prospect. Althea knows what I am and loves me regardless. I don’t deserve her.”

“What you were. You are no longer that man, not that you ever were deep down. You deserve everything. Love, most of all.”

“I love you, Mother. Welcome home.”

* * *

More than twenty-four hours had passed since he had heard from Althea. When he received the note that Althea would drop by at ten the following day, Damon hardly slept a wink. Had she made up her mind that swiftly? He thought a few days more, at least. Should he be worried?

He paced nervously in his study, awaiting her arrival. He told his family he had an appointment and would join them for breakfast later. One surprising development is that Anthony De León expressed an interest in buying Clarendon Place. It would be part of Sebastián’s inheritance and give them a place to live while he attends university. When Damon offered to knock some off the asking price, his stepfather wouldn’t have it. Why not keep the property within the family?

His thoughts were interrupted by Althea’s prompt arrival. How beautiful she looked, wearing a burgundy wool skirt and matching jacket.