“Nicholas,” his mother said when he reached the veranda.
She said it with such a tone that he immediately knew he was in trouble, and he felt like a small child again.
“How are you, Mother?” he asked.
“Hmm,” she murmured, as if that answered the question fully.
“Shall we dine soon?” he asked.
“I must speak with you, Nicholas,” Rebecca said. “Supper will be served soon, but we have time to speak before then. Your brother will be married in less than a month, and we are here to make a good impression in front of his future wife’s family.”
Nicholas could hear an accusation in the way she said it, even if it was not stated in her words. They walked silently together around the side of the building and through the garden, where flowers were beginning to grow. The Duke waited for his mother to say what she really wanted to say.
She was the nicest and most forgiving woman he knew, but she had been through enough to stand up and shout when there was a problem to be dealt with—metaphorically. There was a problem to be dealt with, but she was addressing it in private with Nicholas.
“I watched Lady Bridget return from the beach in tears,” Rebecca began. “She obviously did not mean for anyone to see her, but I happened to be standing by one of the upstairs windows. I hoped I would not see you return after, but I waited on the veranda just in case.”
“Mother, I did?—”
“Please let me finish,” Rebecca cut in. “This is not the first time I have seen her in tears shortly after spending some time with you. I hope you have not been saying untoward things to her or, worse, trying to have your way with her.”
“Mother, I?—”
“I am not done yet. I don’t know if anyone else sees it, but I have known you longer than anyone, Nicholas. Your brother is caught up with his betrothed, and it is obvious Lady Lincoln has her own worries to deal with. I see how you torment poor Lady Bridget, and you purposely try to get a rise out of her. My goodness, I would have left by now if you had treated me like that.”
“She enjoys it, too, Mother,” Nicholas replied, feeling like he had de-aged twenty years.
“Does she?” Rebecca challenged. “Which part? The antagonizing or the crying?”
“No, you don’t understand,” Nicholas insisted.
“I don’t need to understand—youneed to understand. You are a duke, and you need to start acting like one. We are here to support your brother, and I will not have you ruining it, especially when there is so much at play. Everyone is dealing with their problems, but you are the only one creating more. I expect you to be helping people, not antagonizing them.”
Nicholas wanted to explain it to his mother, but she would not fully understand. Yet, when he really thought about it, there was some truth to what she was saying. He had tried to get a rise out of Bridget multiple times without properly considering her feelings. She was obviously going through a lot and having a hard time. It did not matter that he was a duke; he was a man, and he should protect those around him.
Nicholas took a deep breath. “I will be better. You are right—perhaps I should not have treated her like that. I am here for Michael, and I will ensure he has a good time and he has the wedding he wants. He has found a good woman.”
His mother softened a little. “Yes, he has, hasn’t he? When Lady Lincoln approached me to ask about a potential match, I knew it would be a good one, but I did not expect them to be so agreeable toward each other. Have you seen your brother’s face when he looks at Lady Margaret?”
Nicholas chuckled. “I have. He talks about her all the time, and from what I hear, she is smitten with him. Michael will be very happy.”
“Will you?” Rebecca asked.
“I am happy, Mother. You need to stop worrying about me.”
“Do I?” she asked sarcastically. “It is not only the time here that has me worried about you, but your entire life.”
“Thank you for your confidence in me, Mother. I appreciate your concern.”
“Don’t be facetious, Nicholas. You have spent your time here teasing Lady Bridget, and you spend your life out across the city with women. Likely teasing them too.”
“Mother, I don’t treat anyone badly. If you wish to speak to Lady Bridget, then you should, but I have not disrespected her. You don’t have to worry so much about me. I am not my father.”
“And I am thankful for that every day. But while you are not like him, you are treating the dukedom with the same contempt.”
“Contempt?” Nicholas echoed. He did not want to become angry at his mother, but any comparison to his late father made his blood boil. “Are there people who speak against me? Do I do bad business? Do we not have a better reputation now? Do we want for anything?”
“That is not the point,” Rebecca replied. “You are a much better man in so many ways compared to your father, and we have only been able to move on from what he did thanks to you, Nicholas. The only reason we were able to move on from your father is that he married and we had you and Michael. Your father was not a good man, but he did that one thing right.”
