Page 49 of Her Bear of a Duke
"It is, but it… I need a moment."
He left the room, leaving her abandoned in the study. Her heart pounded as she tried to work out just what had happened. This was precisely what he had wanted, but the contents had devastated him.
She left the study, closing the door behind her. She considered going to see Catherine, but she wished to give her time. Morgan would have to see her first, and explain whatever was enclosed in the letter.
She went out into the gardens, instead, and hid away in the glasshouse. Work had begun, and it was already completely different. She sat on the ground, leaning back so that the sun was on her face.
After a while, she felt a presence come toward her. She opened her eyes, expecting to see Mrs. Herrington, but was greeted by her husband. He sat beside her on the ground, and she leaned against him.
"If you do not wish to tell me what is written," she said gently, "I shall not force you."
"I do want to tell you, truly I do, but it is a long story and it is something that I never planned to talk to you about."
"Well, there has been a lot that neither of us ever expected to say, and yet here we are. It is for the best, I think, that we are honest with one another now."
"If that is what you want, then that is what we shall do."
He sighed, sitting back.
"All of this began a very long time ago, and it is a time that I wish to forget."
"I understand. Truly, if it is too painful then there is no need to–"
"No, I must. It is not shameful for me, not anymore, but it is something that happened that I wish had not. It would have, it appears, saved an awful lot of heartache."
He sat in thought for a moment before opening his mouth again.
"You see, Dorothy," he explained, "I have been engaged before."
CHAPTER 18
Morgan knew that, if his brother had no interest in taking a wife, then he would have to do so.
He was not the most eligible; his brother was, but the second son of a duke was nothing to scoff at for the hopeful young ladies of theton.It would be easy enough to find someone willing, he thought, and once he had settled that matter he could possibly prove to Thomas that he had to become a man too.
Embarrassment was, after all, the only thing that made him change.
And so, he found a nice girl and courted her. She was pleasant enough, and pretty, and that was all he required. He was hardly a man himself in those respects. Fortunately, Lady Annabelle was a good match for him that way.
"Do you truly think he makes a worthy duke?" she asked him during tea one day. "I understand that he is the oldest, but…well, he is not exactly what one pictures when they think of the nobility."
"Perhaps not, but that is not for us to question. It is the way things are."
"Indeed, but at least when we are married and he decides this is not the life he wants, we shall have the matter settled for us."
"You certainly have high expectations."
"I always have. Being one of seven children gives one a desire to stand out. I am more than happy with what you have, but to be a duchess, well, there is no comparison."
She was a social climber, and Morgan knew that, but he did not mind that so much. She was a pretty lady, with striking blonde hair and green eyes, and she came from a good family. That was all that he needed for the marriage he was seeking.
"You know, my brother may never give up his title."
"Perhaps it will be stripped from him then, as you and I both know he needs to do better."
"And if all goes to plan, he will. Fear not, my family name is respected and we are very fortunate. Duchess or not, you shall be very well taken care of."
But she hated his hesitancy, and Morgan could sense it. She wanted to be more than the wife of a second born son, and it was the one thing that he did not see changing.
