“My only sibling. He’s two years my senior.” A twinkle. “The eminent duke of Broddington.”
“An architect and a duke?”
“Um-hum. Also a dedicated, faithful husband who’s hopelessly in love with his wife, and one hell of a good father. See? The Kingsleys follow paths of their own making, not those paved by the nobility.”
Nicole flushed. “I suppose I deserved that.”
“I meant to enlighten, not hurt, you. I’m demonstrating how little titles mean. Trent’s the same fine man he was eight years ago, when Father died and bequeathed him a dukedom.”
“And you? From whom did you inherit your title?”
“I didn’t. It was bestowed upon me by Queen Victoria.”
“Really?” Nicole leaned forward, fascinated. “When? Why?”
“About a decade ago. My father was a close friend of Her Majesty and the prince consort. Trenton and I often accompanied Father on his summer visits to Balmoral and Osborne House. During one of our trips to Balmoral, there was an attempt made on the queen’s life. I was in the right place at the right time, and interceded. Her Majesty insisted on rewarding my efforts. She knew how I felt about Tyreham. Father designed this estate with me in mind. Accordingly, she named me the first marquis of Tyreham. End of story.” Dustin studied Nicole’s wide-eyed astonishment, and grinned. “Have I finally impressed you?”
“You saved the queen’s life?”
“I gave her a very ungentlemanly shove as she alit from her carriage, then knocked down the culprit who was waving a pistol at her head. The man was clearly insane. He was seized by Her Majesty’s guards and permanently confined to a madhouse.”
“No wonder she was grateful.”
“Ironically, she had occasion to be grateful again, only this time not to me but to Trenton. Two years ago he rescued Princess Beatrice from drowning in Osborne Bay.”
“How did the queen reward him? He was already a duke.”
A perceptive smile. “She gave him something far more valuable than a title. She gave him Ariana.”
“His wife?”
Dustin nodded. “It’s a long story, steeped in a lifetime of vengeance. Suffice it to say that my brother was ostracized for a crime he didn’t commit—one that was orchestrated by a very twisted mind. Trent spent six years plotting his revenge. The man it was aimed at was Ariana’s brother. So, when the queen offered Trent anything for sparing her youngest daughter’s life, he asked for a royal decree commanding Ariana to marry him.”
“He wed her just to punish her brother?”
“He thought so.” A grin. “The truth is he fell in love with her the moment they met.”
Nicole reacted to the obvious affection in Dustin’s tone. “You love them both very much.”
“I do. And their tyrant of a son, as well.”
“They have a child?” Nicole’s face lit up. “How old is he?”
“Eight months, and aging us all fast. His antics are enough to bring the British army to its knees. He crawls faster than I walk, and thinks of more things to destroy than I can count.” Dustin’s voice grew soft. “And I hope I have a houseful just like him some day.”
Tears welled up in Nicole’s eyes, and it was all she could do not to blurt out that she wanted those children to be hers.
“Now let’s talk about you.” Dustin changed the subject abruptly.
“What about me?” she managed.
“Well, I already know you began riding at the age of two, spoke French fluently by ten, and loathed needlepoint almost as much as you did sketching.”
Realization made Nicole wince. “Sully,” she muttered. “Lord, what else did he tell you?”
“Oh, a multitude of things, but he spent most of his time instructing me.”
“Instructing you? Is that what you meant when you said he was offering advice?”