The Duke of Defiance (The Untouchables #5)(13)

“And me,” Sutton said. “In fact, we’re for Sutton Park tomorrow to await the birth.”

“We’ll be leaving the day after,” Dartford said. “Although Lucy has told me more than once that Aquilla has invited us to come to Sutton Park so that they may be together.” Dartford shook his head and looked over at Bran. “Our wives are the best of friends—along with West’s and Kendal’s wives.”

“So, really, the four of you had to be friends,” Bran said wryly.

They all laughed. “Yes, I suppose so,” Sutton admitted. “Thankfully, they’re not half as irritating as the rest of the ton.”

Bran was getting the same feeling and was more than relieved. Their easy camaraderie and obvious affection for each other was heartwarming and quite foreign. Bran hadn’t ever had a friend until he’d moved to Barbados, and he’d left them—a scant few really—behind. All but Hudson, his loyal valet. Could one consider a valet a friend? Bran did, damn the “rules.”

“So yes, to answer your question,” Dartford said, “it seems we are all on the verge of becoming fathers.” He raised his glass toward Kendal. “Again, for one of us.”

A pang of envy cut into Bran. He’d been completely thrown when Evie had come into his life. He’d had affection for his wife, but it was nothing compared to the love he felt for his daughter. He’d looked forward to experiencing that again, maybe with a son, but his wife had died two years after Evie’s birth.

“Your lives will never be the same,” Bran said.

“Thank God,” West said. “I don’t want my old life.”

Dartford’s answer was softer as he lowered his gaze for a moment. “Amen.”

“Don’t get all maudlin,” Kendal warned. “You’ll drive Knighton off, and I rather like him. If nothing else, it’s imperative his daughter continue her friendship with my daughter. For that alone, you’ll all behave yourselves.”

Bran hadn’t minded Dartford’s flash of emotion—whatever it was—and bit his tongue before he leapt to the man’s defense. His experience with male friendships wasn’t great, but he could sense that Kendal’s comment was teasing in nature. And there it was again. London seemed a kinder place than he remembered. Or maybe he was different. It had, after all, been fifteen years since he’d left. It had been another life.

The conversation moved to impending fatherhood, with Kendal and Bran offering advice, particularly as it pertained to surviving their wives’ final days of confinement.

“They’ll all be bloody miserable,” Kendal said. “That doesn’t change.”

Bran cleared his throat. “Actually, my wife wasn’t. In fact, she had a ridiculous amount of energy, right up to when Evie came into the world.” An image of his pale wife with her wide, luminous eyes came to him. He rarely thought of her face anymore. Why was that?

“Aquilla’s the same,” Sutton said. “At least for now. She cleans the house along with the staff.” He laughed. “I can’t stop her.”

“What happened to your wife?” West asked. “If you don’t mind sharing.”

Normally, Bran would mind, but he had to admit he felt at ease with these men. “She died of a fever about four years ago.”

Sutton gazed at him in sympathy. “I’m so sorry. You’ve suffered quite a few losses.” He glanced over at Dartford, who caught the look and seemed to stiffen momentarily. Bran knew in that moment that Dartford had experienced something similar. He also knew that it had impacted Dartford far more than it had Bran. He wasn’t going to ask him about it.

Kendal cleared his throat, which broke the sudden tension. “It seems that perhaps our new friend here might be in want of a wife.” He stretched his legs out and crossed his ankles. “Or would you prefer to remain a bachelor?”

“I should at least try to beget an heir.”

“Hmm, he doesn’t sound convinced,” Dartford said, regaining his earlier lightheartedness.

Maybe because he wasn’t. He’d wanted to marry again and have more children, but now it seemed as though he had to. He remembered the matchmaking his mother had performed when his brothers had wed. They’d scarcely had any input, ending up with wives who would support their standing and augment their fortune. Bran supposed he feared falling into the same trap, not that he planned to allow his mother to help him in any way. Indeed, the only reason he’d agreed to see her at all was because Evie wanted to meet her grandmother. “Marrying seems different now that I’m the earl. It suddenly feels like a requirement.”

“I guess in some ways it is,” Sutton said. “I had very specific requirements for my countess.”

“Yes, but he’s a special case.” Dartford finished his whiskey. “He had reasons for his requirements. Some of us hadn’t planned to marry but found we simply had to.”

Both Kendal and West nodded. “Fell head over heels in love,” West said.

Kendal grinned like a lovesick swain. “Nauseatingly so.”

Bran hadn’t experienced that. He’d married Louisa because he’d liked and admired her. And because she was the only young woman on Barbados for which he’d felt even that much. “The marriage mart in Barbados is not like it is here. I wouldn’t even know where to begin.”