Page 44 of All Duke and Bothered

“Yes.”

And she had told him she’d never been romantically interested in Spencer.

Preston nodded with his chin at the changing room. As they walked, a footman handed them each a cloth.

“I treated her poorly in the beginning. I regret it now.”

She deserved to be treated well every single day.

“I suspected so. I never liked your decision to marry her to exact revenge upon her father.”

Preston wiped his sweaty forehead. “Well, don’t you want revenge?”

“I want… I want Spencer to be alive,” said Richard. “I want this to never have happened to him. But I do know that revenge is not going to bring him back. And I daresay, it might destroy your marriage.”

Only a week ago, Preston would have replied that there was nothing to destroy anyway. Unfortunately, for the past few days, his stupid, stupid heart had begun hoping. Feeling. He couldn’t get her out of his head. Part of him wanted to return to the time when he had just hated her and there was no hope for them.

But he had gotten to know Penelope. The real Penelope. He had learned how wrong he was about her.

They entered the changing room, and Preston went to the wardrobe and started to undo the hooks of his fencing jacket.

Richard stood facing him, one shoulder leaning against the wardrobe. “Haven’t you already had enough of hatred and anger? If you want to be happy with your duchess, you’ll need to let go of revenge and forgive her father. It’s impossible for you to both hate him and be happy with her.”

Preston’s chest quivered. He did not like how right Richard was.

“Eventually,” Richard added softly, “you’ll have to choose love or revenge. Can you do that?”

Preston began removing his jacket. Love? All he felt for Penelope was lust. Yes, he liked her enough, and yes, she touched something deep within. But love?

He grudgingly admitted to himself that there was a tiny part of him, the one that had seen that love and happiness in marriage were possible, that had begun hoping. Begun imagining a life where he could have a happy marriage.

What a silly part. It was only an illusion, and it would only lead him to pain and heartbreak.

No. There would never be love.

However, there would always be the hole in their family that was Spencer’s absence. He’d never sit at his place at Christmas. He’d never argue with Preston again about something insignificant. He’d never beat him when they’d race their horses across a field in Grandhampton.

Preston dropped the jacket and shoved one arm into his coat. “I cannot. I’ll never be able to forgive my brother’s murderer.”

Therefore, he should not develop feelings for his enemy’s daughter. He should stop the growing closeness between them before he completely fell in love with her.

Or she fell in love with him.

He should let her go and live on one of his estates, away from him. He could support her while she painted and leave her alone.

But he couldn’t. He needed an heir. And he was too weak of a man, and she was too big of a temptation.

19

“Calliope, are you thinking about marriage?” asked Emma, the Duchess of Loxchester. “Look at the way Lord Chapman is eyeing you.”

Hyde Park bloomed as Calliope, Emma, and Penelope walked the gravel path. The air was cool and fresh after the rain, and a strong breeze, so typical of April, sent the locks of Penelope’s hair into her eyes from under her bonnet. The park was full of elegant ladies and gentlemen as they strolled between the bushes of fresh, young green leaves, glistening with the droplets of rain that had stopped not an hour ago. Occasional riders rode through the rolling hills of cut grass. Open carriages drove along horse lanes, showing off the attire of the fashionable ladies and gentlemen in them.

The three of them nodded in acknowledgment to a horse rider who passed on the other side of the path. He was short, but quite handsome and dashing in his dark navy tailcoat against his round, pale face and raven hair.

“Please, Emma,” said Calliope. “Please, don’t join my brothers in this. I have no intention to ever marry. Become my husband’s property? No, thank you.”

“I’m not joining your brothers,” chuckled Emma, her remarkable big green eyes sparkling. “I’m on your side. I just asked if you were interested in marriage. Because marriage can make you very happy.”