My Duke's Desire (Wicked Lords of London 4)

“Your wife?” Rex repeated and then. “A woman like what?”

“Never tell Tabbie I said this. She’d skin me alive. But that girl is beautiful inside and out. You’ll never find better and you’ll regret it for the rest of your life if you let her slip away. She is truly lovely.”

“Why can’t I tell her that?” Theo asked.

“Because I’ve sworn high and low that there is no woman who can outpace your sister. She’d kill me for even hinting at it. But Violette is a contender and right now, you’ve taken a rare flower and trampled it under your boot. She’s upstairs crying on your sister’s shoulder, absolutely devastated.”

“She is the one who told me she wouldn’t accept my proposal. More or less.” Theo’s voice was rising.

“Yes. Because she’s also the one who declared her love.” Luke leaned forward, which took an exceptionally long time. “Which is unrequited, apparently.”

What a mess. Theo’s brain had gone numb from the ale as he tried to decide what to do. “What do I do?”

He’d expected Luke to answer but it was Rex who replied. “You have to choose. Adventurer or duke. You can’t be both.”

* * *

Violette’s tears dried. Not because she didn’t still ache but because she’d run out of liquid with which to produce them. She’d sent Tricia to bed some time ago, and she lay in her room feeling broken and weak.

Food likely would have helped but no way would she speak with anyone in order to get it. So she lay there wishing sleep would take her and sweep her into oblivion at least for a little while.

A soft knock sounded at the door and she was certain that Tricia had returned to check on her. “I’m fine,” she called.

“Violette,” Theo rumbled.

She sat up, her breath catching. Did she throw open the door or tell him to go away. “Theo,” she answered uselessly.

“I’ve brought you dinner,” he said. “Please open the door.”

She swallowed the lump in her throat and crossed the room. “Thank you. If you could just leave it by the door.”

He gave a heavy sigh. “We need to talk.”

“I know,” she answered. She wanted to open the door. Actually, she wanted to throw her arms about his neck. “But under the circumstances I don’t think it’s wise to do this tonight. Unchaperoned.”

“You know I will be a gentleman. I don’t want to discuss this in front of anyone else. It’s a conversation for just the two of us,” he rasped.

She stood trying to decide. It was a conversation for just the two of them, but if he ruined her now, there would be no more choice. While she tried to decide, however, the knob turned and the door opened. Blast, she hadn’t locked it after Tricia had left.

Theo stepped in the room and softly closed the door.

“I didn’t say you could enter.” Her arms crossed over the chest in what she hoped was a stern stance, but more likely she looked as though she were protecting herself.

He gave her a long stare as though he could see into her soul. “At least take the food,” he said, then he handed her a plate.

Sighing, she took the food and sat at the desk. “Thank you.” It smelled wonderful and her stomach lurched in need.

“Eat.” He waved his hand. “I’ll wait.” Then he sat on her bed.

She took a bite and then another. Before she knew it, the food was gone.

“Better?” he asked.

“Yes,” she answered. At least one of her aches had dissipated.

“Good.” He looked away from her then. “I’ve been told several times today that I can not have both lives. I can’t travel the world and be a husband and father.”

“I don’t believe you can,” she replied her heart hammering in her chest. Would he choose her? Was that even possible?