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CHAPTER SEVEN

“ I must say, after avoiding my company for so long, I am surprised you would willingly seek me out. Perhaps I should put my head out a window and see if I might be fortunate enough to catch a pig in flight.”

Julian snorted and pulled the wraps tighter over his hands, flexing his fingers afterwards to see if he felt comfortable with its tightness.

“I did not avoid you,” he responded with a click of his tongue. “You were on yet another trip away with your wife. How many places does one need to see with one’s wife?”

Lysander Millington, Duke of Windermoor, shrugged as he marched to the center of the ring, stretching lightly.

“There will never be enough, and it was a lovely trip, if you wish to know.”

“I don’t. Your marital affairs are none of my concern.” Julian replied, moving towards where Lysander stood, holding his arm up to serve as his guard.

“You do not take any interest in yours either – or rather you wish to pretend that you do not. Which is why you are here, with me, instead of keeping your wife company. Tell me, how long do you intend to keep up this game of running away from her?”

Julian tried to hide his bubbling irritation as he said, “I am not running —”

“You are. You have been for months now. And just as you recently returned home, it did not take you very long for your legs to take you to flee.” Lysander grinned, much to Julian’s irritation.

I do not understand what this has to do with my wife. Or yours, for that matter. Neither of us were married when we started coming here. And yet, it’s all we’ve talked about.”

Lysander seemed to relent for a moment, and he beckoned Julian closer. The Duke of Morland was never impulsive – especially during sparring sessions. He preferred if his partner made the first move, giving him time to read their pattern and formulate an idea on how to take them down.

But he was feeling rather impatient. He had felt it ever since he’d left Anna in the dining hall, an uneasy itch beneath his skin to get away and rid himself of thoughts of her.

However, that was easier said than done, as his friend whose very existence seemed to comprise of the joy he had found since his marriage to his wife.

Julian curled his hands into a fist and took a swing at Lysander, correctly predicting the other’s retaliation almost perfectly. Julian waited for him to attempt to block, and tried to hit his unguarded torso, letting out an impressed huff when Lysander managed to block his attack.

“You know, attempting to masquerade as a bachelor never works when you already have a wife. You have already returned back to your home — and there is nothing stopping you from getting well acquainted with her. Would you really rather not grace her with that sharp attention of yours, Your Grace?” Lysander said with a grunt as Julian managed to land a blow on him finally.

“Actually, yes. I have no interest in her whatsoever and I will not spend my time giving her attention that is better served elsewhere.”

When Julian was a boy, his mother warned him that lies could consume a person.

“It starts small, innocent, and unsuspecting. Slowly spreading and staining your life. Before you know it, the lies you have told will eat at you, spreading through your life and swallowing everyone else. Do not lie, my jewel.” She had told him once with a haunted look in her eyes.

And Julian had taken her words to heart, as he had everything else that had to do with her during that time.

Although he wasn’t sure what sort of way the lies, he told might consume him then, he had an idea now as his chest seemed to sting at his utterances.

He had tried not to think of Anna too much but she had somehow taken up permanent residence in his head, the memory of their shared kiss all he could think about more often than not.

That breakfast afterwards had been torturing to endure, with his mind plagued with all the ways he wanted to subdue her with pleasure, to feel her tremble in his arms again, to relish in the sounds he could pull out of her.

“You seem distracted.”

Lysander’s words barely managed to sink into Julian’s mind before he found himself quickly raising his arms to block the clenched fist heading straight for his face.

“I thought you said our marital status has no place in the ring? And yet, here you are, wholly distracted by thoughts of your duchess. What exactly inspired your return to her?” Lysander questioned with a proud grin.

“I didn’t come for her,” Julian replied, panting slightly as he wandered away from the center of the ring.

He thought a boxing match would help clear his mind as it often did before. But it appeared that his thoughts were too heavy to leave without a solution.

“But she did summon me due to the rise of a… sensitive matter.” He felt the need to add.

Then he told Lysander about the child that had appeared at the doorstep of his house and how his wife was wholly convinced that it belonged to him.

“You mean it does not? He is not your son?” Lysander questioned, the exaggerated shock on his face only further irritating Julian.

“You know he is not.”

“Forgive me, friend. Perhaps you picked up new hobbies while I was distracted by my travels. Who knows?”

“You have a rather disconcerting belief in me. The child is not mine… but I fear I know who his father is.” Julian admitted.

“You do?” Lysander asked, his expression a strange mix of confusion and surprise.

“I suspect the child… Nicholas is a product of Seth’s irresponsible actions.” Julian admitted.

Lysander stared at him for a moment. Then his lips parted as he inhaled shakily, only to blurt out the next moment.

“Your brother?”

“Unfortunately. The little boy bears a slight resemblance to him and my brother does have a history of being rather… careless, with his escapades.” Julian sighed tiredly.

He had come to the conclusion after taking notice of Nicholas’ blue eyes, a trait he and his brother had inherited from their father. When he considered it a bit more, he realized that truly, it was a plausible assumption to make, given his brother’s penchant for misbehaving.

“Have you known this all along? Why did you not tell your wife? She thinks you have been unfaithful to her! She likely believes that you decided not to spend the days after your wedding in the same house with her because you wished to live a life of infidelity.” Lysander groaned.

“I did not know it all along, but it is one of the few things that make sense to me, considering that the child was also left at my doorstep, out of all the estates around. I saw no reason to inform my wife because I do not trust her with such vital information concerning a sensitive matter such as this. If word were to get out, it would put my brother’s reputation in jeopardy.

That is a risk that I will not take, especially as I am almost certain that I am right and Nicholas is my brother’s son. ”

Lysander looked incredibly frustrated with each word that came out of Julian’s mouth and he did not hesitate to let him know just that.

“This is incredibly absurd. If you had so many reservations about your wife, why have you let her take care of the child? She is the one looking after him, is she not? Harrow, you are too fond of exhausting yourself with needless thoughts. You have a penchant for being right, so I will not entertain any thoughts on the possibility of that not being the case. But the right thing to do would have been to inform her of your thoughts on the matter regardless of what she believes is the truth. How else would you expect to dwell peacefully with her?”

While it would certainly provide some form of relief to not argue with Anna over every little thing, the sooner she was far away from him, the better.

The same could be said about the way Julian’s skin itched to feel her warmth again, the way his mind craved to once more relish in the way she had shuddered against him.

Julian found these foreign notions annoying and he wished to be rid of them soon.

“I have no expectations from her. All that I want is to be done with this ridiculous situation and to put it behind me.” He stated, deciding that he had being at the boxing club for long enough.

Lysander sighed, clearly wanting to stand as the opposition of Julian’s existence, the way he had always been since they had become friends.

“All right. What can I do to help?”

Anna gave herself another careful once over, ensuring that she looked put together, just as the butler knocked at the open door of the drawing room.

“Lady Greenrow has arrived, Your Grace.” He announced and stepped aside for her guest to walk in.

“Leah!” Anna cried in relief, rushing towards her sister with open arms.

“Careful, dear,” Leah chastised lightly with a laugh. “One would think that you and I have not seen each other in so long. I was here last month, was I not?”

Anna stepped backward from her embrace, feeling warm and sure now that her older sister was before her.

“That might be true but I – I’ve missed you, sister. I always miss you, when we are apart.”

Leah’s expression softened and she reached for Anna’s hand.

“Come. Tell me, how have you been?”

Talking with her sister had become much easier for Anna ever since she got married to the duke. It was amazing, how much freedom she had found within herself once she had gotten a place, she could be herself without remorse.

Leah had been apologetic, once it became clear that Anna had been right to be suspicious about her mother’s intentions. But Anna had not wanted to hang onto the rage and betrayal she had felt after the unfolding of events, wishing instead to focus on what lay ahead of her.

“I have been quite all right. Just… busy. Caring for myself and my household.” Anna said, clearing her throat. “How are you? And your husband and daughter?”

“They are perfectly fine. Dahlia has developed a penchant for trying to rise onto her feet and it is the most precious sight, getting to witness her pull herself up with the help of furniture, drapes, a footman even. She is growing into a strong little munchkin and her father and I couldn’t be prouder. ” Leah told her with a wistful smile.

Anna adored her niece to pieces, unable to forget when she had first set her sights on the child. She has been so terrified by how small and fragile the infant looked, swaddled in her covers.

It had taken some gentle coaxing from Leah before Anna felt confident enough to try holding her, and she had nearly burst into tears when Dahlia let herself be held peacefully, without a single peep, even though Leah had said that the little girl disliked being held by anyone other than her mother.

And now that she had assumed a maternal role for another infant, there was a strange feeling that kept gnawing at her whenever Nicholas wasn’t in her sights.

“I’m glad to hear that she is growing so well. And quite fast too! I’ll send her some more gifts soon.”

“She is still quite fond of the collection of toys you provided her with not too long ago, sister. She’d love to see you though.”

Anna’s smile faltered slightly. “I would love nothing more than to visit. You know I would. But I have been particularly occupied with the affairs of the estate.”

“Darling, I’m sure your maids will be fine without you for a bit. I worry about you, all alone within these walls. I’m sure it is not easy, dealing with the loneliness.” Leah said gently.

Her sister had visited her a few times in the past, sometimes staying for extended periods of time to keep Anna company. She appreciated the care and attention her sister gave her, but ultimately worried that she would feel burdened to look after Anna when she had her own household to deal with.

“It’s not — I am sure they’ll be fine. But my attention has been expressly requested here. Especially by our newest member of the household.”

Her sister’s curiosity was piqued as she raised her gaze to Anna’s face, her fingers still twirling her teaspoon to stir the sugar she had put into her tea.

“Newest member? Goodness, Anna, did you finally get a dog? I know you’ve always had a fondness for the dastardly creatures, but they are much more difficult to handle than you think.

They might be precious now, but once they are older and have learned how to get into cupboards that house priceless china –”

“Leah, no – I don’t. Do – do you have one? Because it seems as though –”

“No, no, dear. This is about you – it seems as though there is something you wish to tell me.” Leah pointed out, leaning forward a tad.

Anna shifted her gaze away, her heart starting to race as the anxiety she had attempted to keep in check started to bubble up to the surface. She had hoped that she might be able to keep herself together for a while longer to bring up the sudden change in her situation much later.

But she was truly in need of advice, because she wasn’t certain she had any control over what was going on in her life anymore.

“There is a child. We found one at the footsteps of the front door. It seemed as though he was abandoned by his parents and as such, we’ve been caring for him until his family can be found.”

Leah stared at her for a moment. “I’m sorry, I’m afraid I don’t understand. You – a child was abandoned at your front door? And now you are caring for him?”

Anna knew her sister well enough to know it wasn’t disappointment that created the heavy edge in her voice, but concern.

“Yes. I didn’t know what else to do with him.

My husband is trying to find his — the child, his name is Nicholas — parents and family, but I’m the meantime, I am looking after him, as best as I can.

My maids have been immensely helpful but I worry that we do not know much about how to care for infants and I am scared of hurting him unintentionally.

” Anna replied, barely managing to keep the shake out of her voice.

Leah was by her side instantly, wrapping her arms around Anna and pulling her close.

“Oh, darling. You must have been so worried, shouldering such burden by yourself. But I know you, Anna. I know that you are capable of wonderful things if you put your mind to it. That was how you worked to build a life for yourself without your husband here, and you thrived by your own strength and power. That child is blessed to have you caring for him. I am sure you have done a wonderful job caring for him.”

Anna nodded, inhaling deeply as her sister’s words washed over her. She felt calm and reassured, a feeling her sister could manifest in her easily. She had always hoped that she could inspire strength like Leah could.

Anna nodded and pulled back slightly with a small smile, feeling increasingly motivated to press forward, even when Leah asked.

“I would like to meet the child. May I?”