Page 12 of The Duke’s Absolutely Fantastic Fling (The Notorious Briarwoods #15)

W hen one invited the very large Briarwood family, and often their in-laws, anywhere, one had to be prepared for a horde of delightful, loud, vivacious, interesting people of all ages.

Well, at least that’s what Josephine felt, and it seemed that the Duke of Rossbrea was prepared.

The family had gone over to the duke’s new estate in waves because they did not want to overwhelm Rossbrea and his brothers, despite the fact that they had stayed with him in Scotland.

Not all of them had gone to Scotland.

And right now, almost all of them were at Heron House, and so it was hard to actually estimate the number of Briarwoods and Briarwood wives, husbands, children, and adopted children that were descending upon the estate next door.

They were all eager to explore it!

It was rather embarrassing that Josephine had never actually been to the estate next door. She wondered how many of them had ever glimpsed it. The neighbors hadn’t been interested in them. So, after a few attempts many years ago, the Briarwoods had let them be.

Quite frankly, most English people weren’t that interesting to the Briarwoods because the Briarwoods were so…odd.

Their neighbors on this estate had certainly thought so.

Unlike so many, the Briarwoods loved to be together.

They loved to read plays every evening. They entertained themselves with the most absurd things, and they did not believe in hiding emotions, which as far as she could tell was particularly difficult for the English aristocracy to understand.

For they seemed determined to not let the world know they had any feelings at all.

Almost never-ending war appeared to do that to a nation.

Now, she did think good banter was a wonderful thing, but the truth was, the Briarwoods? They loved to emote. Drawling things was not enough.

It was perhaps why they all loved Shakespeare so much.

There were no dry versions of Shakespeare performed in their house!

No, no. There was sobbing, and there was loud shouting.

The accusation scenes were marvelous, and she rather hoped that they would put on another production this Season.

They had put on a small one in Scotland. And the Scots had been wonderful.

Now, as she found herself strolling up the path that led by the drive to the quite beautiful house, she found herself smiling.

Why should she not?

It was a beautiful red brick Elizabethan affair, and she turned to Anne and said, “I had no idea it was such a stunning house.”

Anne laughed. “Nor did I. You would have thought we would’ve seen it.”

Emily nodded. “Can you believe that it has been hidden from us for so long?”

“It’s because the owners were crotchety and didn’t like people,” the duke said suddenly, popping out from behind a towering shrubbery.

Josephine jumped back. “Good God! Were you hiding there this entire time?”

“Not a bit of it,” he rushed. “I was actually coming down to collect you and chose what I thought was a shortcut through the hedgerows.” He cleared his throat and his lips twitched, clearly amused. “I got lost.”

“You got lost on your own estate,” Josephine said, her own lips twitching. For she had seen him navigate sea lochs and the wild Highlands with ease.

“Be kind,” he teased. “I’ve only been here for about two days, and there is an elaborate maze at the back of the house. I think the owners must have sent people out there if they did not care for them, to ensure they never had to see them again.”

He winked. “I might try it, but I certainly don’t recommend going out there at present. It is particularly elaborate. I’m quite relieved to have found you.”

Josephine started to laugh, as did Emily and Anne.

He really was marvelous, and he really did fit in with the family.

The tension that she had felt began to ebb.

He had been so wonderful with Phoebe and herself, so authentic, so fully himself, and she’d been able to be herself too, just as she had in Scotland.

In that moment, standing there with him as he charmed them, she had no idea why she was resisting.

She wanted to throw herself into his big, strong, beautiful arms and never think about being apart from him again. As a matter of fact, it was on her lips at that moment to suddenly say, Let us not be fools. Let us marry at once .

But then her gut twisted and she swallowed as something strange overcame her, a sweat at the back of her neck.

“Are you quite all right?” he asked suddenly.

She was surprised that he could see it so quickly, but he seemed in tune with her mood.

“I will be,” she promised.

“Come,” he said, “let me take you and fetch you something cool to drink.”

“Oh, do take her,” Anne said brightly, eager for the two of them to be alone and not realizing that Josephine was hiding her distress.

But Emily paused, her face paling with a touch of concern. “Are you all right?”

“Worry not. I am perfectly well,” she said.

No doubt her grandmama was correct. She just needed a little time away from everyone and to sniff some flowers.

Rossbrea could help her find a quiet spot.

“Could you please take me to where there are some flowers?” she asked.

He nodded, his face touched with concern, though he was clearly trying to keep his response measured since he seemed to understand that she did not wish her sisters to know. “Of course.”

As he led her down a side path and into one of the more elaborate gardens, Emily and Anne dashed off, no doubt to find their own fun and refreshment.

Josephine could hear the booming laughs of the duke’s brothers greeting them.

“You really did take on quite a lot to have us all here today.”

“Oh, indeed,” he replied quickly, seemingly keen to distract her from her distress.

“I have approached today as if I’m having a fair.

I have many fun things for the children to do, all sorts of entertainments.

There is food everywhere because I know how much the Briarwoods love to eat, and I have musicians inside the house.

I have musicians outside the house. I have croquet set up, archery butts, and quite a few other amusements. ”

She forced herself to smile, though it wasn’t easy. Her heart was charging against her ribs again, and she felt as if she was vibrating like a plucked violin string. Only there was nothing pleasant about it. “You really are prepared for the lot of us.”

“Oh, yes,” he agreed, taking another turn down a raked gravel path.

“I know there’s a horde of you, but I love it.

We don’t get to experience groups like this where I am from.

Of course, I have all the villagers up to the house, and I do invite local aristocrats to come and visit, but it’s nothing like you lot.

The family that did come to visit the Highlands were a breath of fresh air, and we were sorry to see you all depart. ”

Her smile was truer now, even though she felt shaken. “I’m glad you understand the mad nature of our family.”

“Well, I have to,” he said, “because of my sister, Elspeth. I want her to be safe and to know how much I admire her choosing to fall after being widowed. It is quite brave to find love,” he said.

She nodded, trying hard to keep her thoughts from racing. If she just focused on him and finding her flowers, surely all would be well soon. “I’m glad too. I would’ve hated it if Elspeth had not been able to marry my cousin.”

“I’m glad you think so,” he said.

“She’s wonderful,” she stated truthfully.

He winked. “Yes, I agree.”

She realized he had not let go of her hand.

“Lemonade?” he asked. “I can fetch it.”

She shook her head abruptly, not wishing to be left alone. The whirring thoughts began to try to take hold, and her breath began to shorten. “I don’t need anything to drink. I need to…”

Desperate, she looked about and spotted lilacs blooming. She crossed over to them and buried her face in them, drinking their scent in deeply. And then, much to her shock, he stood right beside her, buried his own face in, and inhaled.

A laugh, quite out of nowhere, burst out of her and she felt infinitely better. “What are you doing?” she asked.

“Following your lead,” he said, still buried in the flowers. “It seems like a good idea, a moment to savor nature.”

She leaned back, dazed on the scent of the flowers and her rattled nerves, and gazed up at him. “I wasn’t feeling particularly well just now.”

“I could see it,” he said without judgement. “Is something wrong? Are you unwell? Is that why you hesitate to marry? I promise I won’t…”

“No, no,” she rushed, determined to put his fears at ease as she shook out her hands and tried to slow her breathing. “I am as healthy as a horse,” she said. “Even more so actually, but something has happened to me since, well…”

He gazed at her. “What?”

She winced. “If I must be completely truthful with you, since you asked me to marry you…”

His face turned the most terrible shade of gray and his eyes darkened with worry. “Bloody hell. I’ve made you unwell.”

“Don’t put it like that,” she protested, wishing she could reach out to him. Wishing she could make it stop. “I can’t explain it.”

“You don’t have to,” he breathed.

Her face felt so tense, and she felt helpless, which was something she’d never really felt since she was small. “I feel like I should.”

He turned her gently towards him, took her hands, and wound them with his. “If I am bad for you, Josephine, I don’t wish to make your life harder or worse. You must tell me now so that I can…”

She knew that he was about to say “release you,” but the words seemed to catch on his tongue as if he could not bear to utter them.

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if resolving himself to do what was necessary for her well-being.

“Whatever you need, I will do. Any help you require, I will give. It would break my heart if I was harming you in some way. I hold you in such high esteem, and you fill me with such joy that I cannot imagine taking joy from you.”