Darius was taken aback. This was the last thing he was expecting to hear. While it was true that the previous evening, despite his preoccupation with Audrey, he had noticed that Roddy had been a great deal less hostile than usual, he had not given the matter much thought. But now…

‘I would like that,’ he said, very carefully. ‘You are sure?’

Roddy gave a rueful smile. ‘I am. But we have yet to break it to Mother.’

‘That will be an interesting conversation,’ Darius murmured. He looked at his brother. ‘I have always had your best interests at heart, you know.’

‘I am beginning to,’ Roddy allowed. At the sound of the door, he looked up and found Elizabeth Fielding on the threshold, smiling tentatively as she took in the two occupants of the room. Roddy was immediately on his feet, moving forward.

‘Beth! Good morning. Did you sleep well?’

‘Very well,’ she assured him, taking his hands in her own. ‘I was so tired yesterday but I do believe that I have finally slept myself awake.’

If Darius had wondered if this was truly a love match, his fears were laid to rest by this exchange and he felt a surge of satisfaction. That’s that little matter taken care of. Roddy has found the genuine article and looks set to make a decent match of it. Now all I have to do is work out my own small problem…

His brother’s forthcoming union clearly made Roddy exceedingly happy. So much so that Darius experienced an unfamiliar jolt of jealousy. As an earl and a well-established member of Society, Roderick Allingham could expect a glowing future where he and his wife would be welcome everywhere. But he could not expect anything similar in his own life. Up until this point, he had never even contemplated marriage. Why should he, when there was no need to take such a radical step? He had no title to pass on. Whatever he possessed was his to leave as he saw fit. Not once, in all of his seven and twenty years had he contemplated the prospect of sharing his life with a woman. One woman. He had risen to his feet to greet his brother’s fiancée but he was suddenly overwhelmed with what was possible and what was not.

He wanted to marry Audrey Hathaway. It was not possible. In fact, it was impossible. But he wanted to, just the same. Standing here, watching the happiness on the faces of the two people before him, he knew he wanted Audrey in his life forever; that her presence there would make everything complete.

The sound of his brother’s voice, insistent and bewildered, brought him back to his surroundings with a start. Darius stared at him blankly.

‘What?’

‘Beth – Lady Fielding – is talking to you,’ Roddy said, a trifle exasperated.

‘Oh,’ Darius gave himself a mental shake. This would never do. ‘My apologies. Lady Fielding, allow me to offer my sincerest congratulations once more,’ he said with complete sincerity. ‘Roddy is a lucky man.’

‘Roddy,’ Beth Fielding dimpled at this. ‘I like that. It’s so much less formal than Roderick. But please, call me Beth. We are family, after all.’

It occurred to Darius that, for all her air of shy uncertainty, Beth was a girl who did not hold back when she had the bit between her teeth. He wondered how much she had had to do with his brother’s sudden interest in renewing their relationship and the flicker of liking he had formed for the girl the evening before now flared into  admiration. Most females would have not have welcomed an illegitimate brother into their life and yet Beth seemed eager to do so. He had to wonder what her father, the duke, would have to say on the subject. Hell, he could hardly wait to hear what Judith said. She would not like the inclusion of her husband’s eldest son in the family proceedings and she was not a woman who often experienced rebellion, especially not from her two children.

He heard the door once more and turned his head expectantly. Audrey… She was with her youngest sister, the engaging Miss Millie, but he had no eyes for anyone but Audrey. Instinctively, he stepped forward, moving towards her.

‘Miss Hathaway,’ his voice sounded odd and he cleared his throat. ‘Miss Millie. Good morning.’

‘Good morning,’ Millie said cheerfully, coming over to the table to survey the food that had been laid out. ‘Mama is having breakfast in bed and so is Lady Allingham but Isabella and Harry will be down soon.’

Darius heard the words but did not pay any particular attention to them. His eyes were fixed on Audrey. He felt a small burst of satisfaction when she met his eyes. Color tinged her cheeks and he expected her to look away but she lifted her chin a little and continued to hold his gaze. He couldn’t help himself; he smiled. ‘Miss Hathaway,’ he repeated softly.

‘Mr. Kirkwood,’ she returned quietly, coming forward. He moved to pull a chair out for her and she sat with a murmur of thanks.

Millie had crossed to the window to peer through the curtains. ‘Sunshine! I think we should be able to go on today. Don’t you, Audrey?’

‘It would certainly make Isabella happy if we did,’ Audrey agreed, picking up a napkin and placing it in her lap. ‘She is anxious to reach home before tomorrow.’

‘In time for Christmas?’ Beth inquired, pouring tea.

‘I think we stayed in town for too long,’ Audrey smiled a little. ‘I have been reliably informed by Mama that ladies in Isabella’s condition can be rather emotional and she has a great desire to be home now.’

Millie gave a soft snort. ‘Isabella has turned into a complete featherbrain. I hope she recovers after the baby comes.’

‘Don’t be unkind,’ her sister chided. ‘You know perfectly well she cannot help it.’

‘I suppose, although if I had known having a baby made ladies so very odd I would not have been quite so happy to hear one was coming.’

‘Horrible creature,’ Audrey murmured, but she smiled a little as she said it.

As he listened to the banter between the two sisters he reflected that the Hathaways appeared to be an unusually close family. Millie was obviously a handful. Despite the fact that he had zero experience with young females, even he had been taken aback by some of her artless observations the night before. He had been particularly impressed by the manner in which the girl had delicately, but persistently, enraged his stepmother. Clearly, it was better to be on good terms with Millicent Hathaway for he imagined she would make an uncomfortably cunning opponent.

After the arrival of Audrey, he found that he lost all interest in food. Today, he couldn’t manage to keep his eyes off her. She looked singularly lovely in a blue morning gown, her tawny hair simply dressed, several curls curling around her slender neck. He imaged how it would be to kiss that neck, to trail his lips down the length of it. Her skin was silky smooth, he recalled. How would she react if he kissed her neck? Would she close her eyes and utter that small, telltale groan that he had edged out of her once before? He was sure that he could encourage that sound again, and quite a few others besides as he made love to her.

‘Kirkwood!’

His brother’s voice again. Darius came back to himself with a jolt and looked at Roddy. ‘Yes?’

‘Are you quite all right?’ Beth inquired, an expression of concern on her face.

‘Indeed.’ He forced a smile. This was ridiculous! If he did not manage to take himself in hand they would all think him entirely mad.

‘You haven’t been listening to us,’ Millie explained, eying him curiously. ‘Lord Allingham has been talking to you for ages.’

‘Has he? Perhaps he should have shouted.’ Darius made a sudden decision. There was no point in putting things off. Soon, both Judith and Lady Hathaway would come downstairs and discussions about their plans to escape The Drunken Maiden would commence. If he was going to make a damned fool of himself, it would be better to get on with it. He rose to his feet and looked at Miss Hathaway who was, like everybody else at the table, watching him with some bewilderment. ‘Miss Hathaway, may I speak to you in private for a few moments?’