Diane Gaston - A Not So Respectable Gentleman?

Nicholas’s wife reached Leo first. It was evident she was expecting another child, news probably given to him the day before but not recalled.

‘It is so wonderful to see you!’ she cried, clasping his hands.

He leaned down to kiss her on the cheek. ‘Emily. You look as beautiful as ever.’ He glanced at her. ‘I hope you are feeling well.’

‘Very well, thank you.’ She smiled.

Nicholas’s expression turned serious. ‘Are you in any trouble? You know I will help you in any way I can.’

Leo resented the assumption. ‘No trouble. And if I were in trouble, I would not come running to my brothers.’

‘No, you never did,’ admitted Nicholas. ‘But we always found out, did we not? And were there to help.’

Nicholas would never know what Leo had faced in the last two years and how well he’d managed on his own, but he gave his brother a grudging nod.

Nicholas clapped his hands. ‘Then you have reconsidered our gift? Welbourne Manor is yours again for the asking. We can easily help you get back on your feet. Begin stocking your stables.’

Leo clamped his mouth shut lest he say something that would only lead to a shouting match.

Emily stepped in. ‘Nicholas, enough!’ She pulled at her husband’s arm. ‘Let us all sit down before you speak business.’ She turned to Leo. ‘We have tea. Let me pour you a cup.’

He lifted a hand. ‘Thank you, no tea for me.’

She carefully lowered herself on a sofa and Nicholas sat beside her. Leo chose a chair adjacent to them.

Nicholas started. ‘Why did you react to our plan as you did, Leo? You must know we are concerned about you. We would do anything for you.’

Leo stiffened. ‘Your concern is unfounded.’

‘But you disappeared for two years,’ Nicholas went on.

‘I wrote letters,’ Leo protested. ‘I kept you advised as to where I was.’

Nicholas shook his head. ‘You told us nothing about what you were doing, you must admit. Then stories of your activities reached us, increasing our worry for you—’

Leo held up a hand. ‘Those stories were greatly exaggerated, I am sure.’

He could agree that he had gone through a brief period of very heavy drinking, placing himself in dangerous situations from which he often had to resort to fisticuffs to escape. That period had been short-lived and he did not credit his heavy gambling as scandalous. All the other activities they could not know about.

Nicholas leaned forwards, worry lines appearing between his brows. ‘I know that much can happen when you travel to new lands.’ His duchess touched him and a look of understanding passed between them. ‘You can tell me if anything happened to distress you.’

Nicholas was speaking about himself, Leo realised. Was he harbouring secrets of his own? ‘Nicholas, believe me. Nothing of consequence happened to me.’

Meeting Walker had been important, of course, but the crucial event in his life had happened before his travels. He’d never spoken of his secret betrothal to his siblings and, if Mariel had disclosed it, surely his siblings would have smothered him with their commiserations and battered him with their advice.

Which would still be the case today if he shared the truth of why he’d come to beg a favour of his brother, the duke.

Both Nicholas and Emily continued to gaze at him with sympathetic disbelief.

Leo lifted a hand. ‘Stop looking at me like that! I did very well on my travels. It was a great adventure having no responsibilities. Quite freeing, in fact.’

Nicholas frowned. ‘But you cannot live your life that way. You must let us help you secure your future. The plan for Welbourne Manor is a good one, is it not?’

Leo scraped a frustrated hand through his hair. ‘Nick, I no longer wish to breed horses. I do not know how to convince you all of that fact.’ That dream had been too connected to Mariel for him to pursue it now, and too connected to his misguided wish for society’s acceptance.

‘I cannot believe it,’ Nicholas protested. ‘You’ve loved horses since you were out of leading strings.’

‘I still love horses.’ Leo shrugged. ‘I merely have no wish to breed them.’ There were better ways to gain wealth and success, he’d discovered. More exciting ways.

‘But—’ Nicholas started.

Leo held up a hand. ‘There is something I do need from you—’

His brother’s demeanour changed. ‘Anything, Leo. Anything.’

‘I want to re-enter society.’ How was he to put this? ‘I will eventually wish to mix with members of the ton and I want to counteract the gossip that apparently has preceded me.’ A bold-faced lie, of course.

This was a story Nicholas would believe, however.

‘Of course. Of course.’ Nicholas said. ‘What can we do?’

‘Take me along to society functions.’ Ones that Mariel would also attend, he meant. ‘I know I may not be welcome everywhere, but those where you think my presence would not be objectionable.’

Nicholas’s eyes flashed. ‘You are my brother. I dare say you’d better be accepted at any affair I condescend to attend.’

Nicholas would never accept the truth of Leo’s situation. Or that it no longer mattered to Leo whether society accepted him or not. Leo wanted nothing to do with people who judged others by birth alone. If it weren’t for needing access to Mariel, Leo would tell them all to go to the devil.

‘I would be grateful, Nick.’

Emily brightened. ‘Leo could accompany you to the ball tonight.’

‘Indeed!’ Nicholas clapped his hands. ‘Come here at nine and we will go together.’

‘Nine. I will be here.’ He rose. ‘I’ll take my leave of you now, however.’

‘No!’ cried Emily. ‘You have only just arrived. You must stay for dinner.’

Too many hours away. ‘I cannot, but I appreciate the invitation.’

Nicholas helped Emily to her feet and she embraced Leo. ‘Please know you are welcome in our house any time.’

Her sincerity touched him deeply. ‘Thank you.’

Nicholas clapped him on the back. ‘I will walk you to the door.’

It seemed an odd thing for a duke to do.

As they descended the staircase, Nicholas said, ‘I am delighted that you asked for my help. I am very glad to give it.’

Leo felt a pang of guilt for so resenting what was offered him out of such brotherly affection.

‘Do you have suitable clothes?’ Nicholas asked. ‘I’m sure I can fix it if you do not.’

If only such loving offerings were not so insulting. ‘I have formal clothing,’ he managed through gritted teeth. ‘Where is this ball tonight, may I ask?’

‘Lord Ashworth’s,’ Nicholas responded. ‘Do you remember him?’

Ashworth’s. Why did that irony not amuse him?

‘I remember him.’

That evening as Leo and Nicholas stepped up to the doorway of the Ashworth ballroom, waiting to be announced, Leo immediately scanned the crowd, looking for Mariel.

Nicholas whispered to the Ashworth butler, who then announced, ‘The Duke of Manning and Mr Leo Fitzmanning.’

The buzz of conversation ceased for a moment and all eyes turned their way. Leo supposed the silence was not merely the deference due a duke, but the shock at seeing the duke’s bastard brother at his side.

Ashworth, whose girth had thickened since his youth, immediately stepped forwards from where he’d been standing to receive guests. ‘Your Grace, how delightful you were able to come.’

A pretty young woman who’d been standing next to Ashworth also approached Nicholas. ‘I do hope the duchess is well, your Grace.’

‘Very well, Lady Ashworth,’ Nicholas replied. ‘Simply not up to the rigours of a ball.’

Ashworth had married someone else, obviously.