The Governess Game (Girl Meets Duke #2)(60)

Alex caught his eye.

Do not hurt her feelings. Do not. Or I will never forgive you.

“Lady Penny, that sounds delightful,” Chase said smoothly, and for a moment even Alex believed him. “Thank you, I’ll take two of each.”

In the end, he ate three of each—and asked Penny for the recipes. He praised Nicola’s baking and listened to her describe her latest fascination: the engineering challenges of tunneling under the Thames.

Even the hedgehog uncurled in his hand, offering her soft underbelly for a gentle stroke.

He didn’t commit a single act of unforgivable behavior. With the exception of being unforgivably wonderful, perhaps.

As they hugged in farewell, Penny whispered a teasing question in Alex’s ear. “So? How does it feel to be falling in love?”

Hopeless, Alex silently answered.

It felt hopeless indeed—because it was.





Chapter Twenty-Seven


In the office the next morning, Chase clutched his side and groaned.

Barrow gave him a sidelong glance. “Is it the bank accounts?”

“No, it’s the sham. Or maybe the tuna-ish.”

“I won’t ask.”

“Good. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Barrow stretched his arms overhead and yawned. “You know, I’ve noticed that doll of Daisy’s hasn’t taken ill in weeks.”

“I suppose my own bedridden state was entertainment enough.”

“Hm.” Barrow cast a pensive look out the window. “Speaking of beds . . . As far as I can tell, you haven’t shared one with a woman in weeks, either.”

“Oh, yes. I did finally manage a period of celibacy, didn’t I? And all I had to do was nearly die.” Chase narrowed his eyes at him. “What are you on about, then? Don’t tell me you’re going to badger me to keep the girls.”

“I mean to suggest you should marry Miss Mountbatten. And then keep the girls.”

What?

“That’s impossible.”

“Don’t you love her? I think you love her.”

Chase avoided answering that question, and he did so easily. He’d had a great deal of practice avoiding merely thinking about that question.

“It doesn’t matter how I feel about her,” he said. “I’m not marrying, ever. You know my reasons.”

“Yes, but your reasons aren’t good.”

“I’m responsible for my cousin’s death. I refuse to replace Anthony’s legacy with my own sorry bloodline. The title should have been his.” He hesitated, then decided to have out with it. “And if it couldn’t be his, it might as well have been yours. You’re the elder between us. We both have Reynaud blood.”

Barrow sat back in his chair, crossing his legs. “So. We’re going to talk about that now, are we?”

“We may as well.” Chase gestured at all the paperwork around them, and the immense wealth and lands it represented. “You’d make a much better duke than I will. Are you certain I can’t give this to you? At least half of it?”

“I’m afraid not. It’s all entailed.”

“Well, at least start embezzling or something.”

Barrow chuckled. “I’ll take that under advisement.”

“I’m serious.”

“Chase, you’re going to make a better nobleman than half the peers in England. At least you look after your dependents. You know, it hasn’t escaped my attention that since we took over all this, you’ve asked me to establish no fewer than six trusts and legacies for ‘devoted servants.’ I’ve seen your servants. They’re not devoted.”

Chase sighed. Difficult to argue that point.

“So I’m guessing I’m not the only bastard your father sired.” After a moment, Barrow asked quietly, “What about the girls?”

“I don’t know.” Chase covered his eyes. “It’s possible they’re his, but I can’t be certain. Doesn’t make a difference, though. I intend to provide for them. School, dowries, trusts.”

“So you can care for all your father’s bastards, but not a family of your own?”

“Bloody hell, Barrow. I don’t ‘care’ for all his bastards. It’s just money.”

Barrow’s face went hard. “Oh, really.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Chase cursed his thoughtlessness. “But this is a perfect illustration of the point. I am shite at caring. Friendship, maybe I can manage. But guardianship? Family? Absolutely not. After Anthony was killed, I took his body home to Belvoir. I’d sent an express in advance with the news, but somehow it hadn’t yet arrived. My uncle only learned of it upon seeing the body. Do you know what it looks like when a person’s heart breaks right in front of you?”

Barrow shook his head.

“Well, I do. And I never want to see it again.”

They were silent for a minute.

“Chase, when you love someone there’s always a chance you’ll hurt them. But if you let them go, hurting them isn’t a possibility—it’s a certainty. I watched that woman spend day and night by your bedside while you lingered near death.” He arched an eyebrow. “You pissed yourself, you know. Twice.”