Page 31

CHAPTER TWENTY

M arjorie clapped her hands against her mouth in shock, her eyes filling with tears as she asked, voice slightly muffled,

“Do you really mean it? Do you really want us to be together forever?”

Seth nodded, his eyes showing just how earnest his words were.

“There is nothing I want more in this world than a life with you and Nicholas. I am a flawed man, with many mistakes and weaknesses. But if you will have me, I swear on my life to make you the happiest woman on the planet.”

Marjorie was perfectly still for a moment, and then she nodded, a small jerk of her head. Seth jumped up to his feet and lifted her into his arms, twirling her around for a moment, before he set her on her feet and kissed her.

“I love you. With all that I am.” Seth whispered to her softly.

Marjorie laughed, tears streaming down her face.

“And I love you too.”

She left his side momentarily to take her son from Anna, before returning to her husband’s arms. Silently, Anna tapped Julian’s shoulder and then pointed in the direction of the door.

Julian nodded and together, they walked away, leaving the new family alone to celebrate the start of their new life.

Once they had granted them some privacy, Anna wiped the tears off her cheeks and stiffened her spine before she turned to her husband.

“Julian, I have given it some thought,” she began, hoping to God that her voice did not sound as shaky as it felt.

“And I accept your offer. I will be in your room tonight, since I suppose you would like to return to your life as soon as possible, seeing as things worked out the way you hoped they would.”

The Duke looked as though he wished to say something, but after a moment, he nodded and stated, “Very well. I will see you tonight.”

Anna gave him a curt nod and walked away, pretending that she couldn’t feel the pain of her heart shattering with every step she took.

“I truly cannot believe it.”

“Neither can I, if I am being honest. I was not aware you had matured this much.”

Seth glared at Julian for a moment and then he shrugged, his grin returning.

“I will not allow you to spoil my good mood. I am getting married. Oh dear, there is so much to prepare. Brother, I know that I have not proven myself as the most reliable person lately —”

“Or ever,” Julian pointed out with a nod.

“But I have so much to live for now. So many responsibilities to handle, along with a beautiful wife and a handsome child to look after. And for that, I will need resources to properly care for them. Will you consider allowing me to work with you in the family business?” Seth requested earnestly.

Julian was surprised, smiling at his brother,

“I thought you’d never ask. I’d be pleased to work alongside you. There is a lot to learn, so prepare yourself.”

Seth nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Julian. I wish to apologize to you. I understand that it might have been a tad challenging to look after me –”

“A tad?”

“Do you want the sodding apology or not?”

Julian grinned, his eyes alight with mischief he hadn’t felt since he was a boy.

“Sorry. Do go on.”

Seth glared at him, then cleared his throat.

“It was hard for you. I knew that. And I knew it was partly due to the gap between us – one I had contributed to because I have realized what kept me from loving Marjorie held you at arms length. I know that we have not gotten along in the past, but I have always appreciated your consistency. You never gave up on me and that means more than I can say. And I would like us to be closer – like proper brothers, moving forward.”

Guilt ran through Julian and he patted his brother’s shoulder, admitting,

“I am not the saint you believe me to be. I could have done more for you, offered more consolation and understanding. Our childhood was difficult for us both, but I carried my cross, and left you to bear yours, all alone, rather than share your burden like a true older brother. I doubted you, many times. I had no faith in you but you have proven me wrong and I couldn’t be prouder.

I know that a lot of things need to be put in place for your new life, so please know that you will have whatever you need at this time.

I will pay for your wedding and you have my permission to move into the townhouse with your wife and child after your wedding. ”

“Are you being serious?” Seth asked, clearly touched.

Julian nodded, feeling a part of the odd weight on his chest dissipate.

“You are my brother. There is no reason why we cannot also welcome new beginnings as siblings.”

Seth grinned. “Your wife is truly something else. She has managed to change you from an unfeeling dictator to a man with a hand. Truly remarkable.”

“It seems you do not wish to have a place to live after you are wed,” Julian folded his arms, staring down at his brother deadpan.

“I jest. Think of your lovely nephew.” Seth implored.

Julian did not think it would matter if he told his brother that he had given a lot of thought to Nicholas in the last few hours. Particularly how the child had inspired his wife to want a child of her own.

It pained Julian to no end how things just seemed to be unraveling around the relationship he had built with Anna. It seemed that no matter what he said, he always managed to upset her somehow.

When she had accepted his offer earlier, she looked as though she was being taken to the gallows, rather than being given what she had said she wanted. And then she had brought up his return to Bath and he nearly held her hands and promised not to leave.

He craved to assure her that she would not be alone anymore and that he was determined to fill every void within her with everything he had. But that wouldn’t be wise.

Even though he wished his brother the very best as he embarked on his new life journey as a married man, Julian feared he would not be so fortunate if he tried the same.

Ultimately, it was better for them to dwell separately, surrounded by lonely voids, rather than to inevitably end up heartbroken.

So for the rest of the day, Julian pretended that he was not simultaneously dreading and anticipating his meeting with his wife. With Nicholas now with his mother once again, Anna had nothing to occupy her time anymore.

Yet, she had not made an appearance at dinner, leaving Julian to dine by himself.

It felt as though ages had passed before he heard a knock at his door, telling him that his days in the estate had begun to count down to his departure.

Anna felt sick with anxiety.

It was ridiculous, how much she wanted this but somehow couldn’t curtail her nerves when the time came. She wondered if she would make it through the night, scared that perhaps this was a sign that this wouldn’t work out the way she expected it to.

It was all she could do not to also think about how he husband was on the verge of leaving her and that this moment should’ve felt romantic and magical. Instead, it felt as though she had curtailed a favor from someone who had no other choice than to grant her what she had wished for.

Her hand shook as she knocked at Julian’s door, her heartbeat echoing in her ears when he gave her permission to enter. When she walked in, he was seated in bed, with only a pair of trousers on.

Heat filled her cheeks and she tried to stay as still as possible, worried that if she moved too much, she wouldn’t be able to stop.

“Good evening, Anna.” He greeted with a curt nod, the smile on his face missing its usual sharp edge.

“Good evening, Julian,” she responded in the same tone.

“You were not at dinner. Are you unwell?”

“No. I was simply not hungry.” She stated shortly.

Julian sighed. “I wish you would not do that so often. You need to eat well in order to have good health. I do not believe I need to explain how vital it is that you do not skip meals whenever you feel like it — especially not when you get what you want from me.”

The rush of heat to her cheeks was dizzying and she resisted the urge to glare at him.

“Oh, so we were gathered here for a cause. I could not tell because we seemed to be content discussing trivial matters, rather than getting it over with,” She shot back, annoyed.

A look flashed across his face and he rose to his feet, moving towards her at a leisurely pace. When he was in front of her, he reached out to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear, his fingertips lightly grazing the shell of her ear.

“Are you nervous?” he inquired softly, looking into her eyes.

Anna nodded, seeing no reason to lie.

Julian’s hands cupped her face gingerly, as though he was holding onto a ceramic doll, and he leaned in, pressing his lips to hers in a barely-there kiss.

“You have nothing to be nervous about. Do not worry and simply trust me. Have I ever not taken good care of you?”

Anna’s heart trembled at his question and she slowly shook her head.

To be fair, during moments like this when all they were focused on was pleasure, Julian had always left her feeling satisfied. She trusted that this would be no different, even though it was likely to be more than their usual sessions together.

But trusting him meant giving him more of herself than she could afford to part with. The man had her heart already. She couldn’t imagine what more he desired to collect from her.

“All right,” she told him anyway, eager for things to begin already.

Julian seemed to sense her impatience, but instead of pointing it out as he usually did, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again, this one only a little heavier than the first. But it was still lighter than most of the kisses they had shared in the past. Nonetheless, it shook Anna to her core.

His hands were gentle, easing her dressing gown off her shoulders before he held her by the waist, his grip just enough to keep her flush against him as he deepened their kiss.

As their tongues melded together, he guided her towards the bed, lifting her off her feet for a moment to lower her onto the sheets gingerly.