Page 7 of The Duke’s Absolutely Fantastic Fling (The Notorious Briarwoods #15)

“You will be,” Ajax said, warming his snifter with his palm. “Now we should address the fact that you’ve bought the house next door to us.”

Teague sat up a little straighter. “How did you know that?”

Hector rolled his eyes and then Leander, the Duke of Westleigh, walked in with his dark hair, his wild eyes, and his long robe.

“We know everything,” Westleigh said with a great deal of energy. “The very idea that you might suggest we don’t is insulting and a point against me allowing you to marry my niece. I have a great deal of sway with my brother Achilles, you know.”

Teague liked Leander a great deal. He was a man to be admired and so he hesitated, but knowing Leander wouldn’t like a man who cowered, he said, “Forgive me for insinuating that you were not all-knowing and godlike.”

Leander smirked. “All right. Perhaps you can be forgiven. I am not exactly a god, but I do have people everywhere who let me know what is apace in the world. It’s the only way to keep the world in shape and going the way that one hopes, if you ask me.

I didn’t used to think so, but the older I get, the surer I am that the world needs a few good, very loud men to ensure the rights of people.

And to uphold our government, of course.

We won’t tolerate a tyrant, not like the French have done.

Frankly, lately, it’s felt as if everything is coming apart.

One moment I feel as if we’re making progress.

The next moment it feels as if everything is being pulled into shreds. ”

The onslaught of words might have felt forceful or a surprise to some, but Teague was familiar with the duke’s passionate nature. Everyone knew. Westleigh did not live by halves.

Teague nodded because, in truth, he felt the same.

The world was often dismaying, which was another reason he wanted a wife and this family.

Somehow the Briarwoods, despite the tempest of the world outside, seemed anchored.

The way they stood up for each other, the way they helped a family member in need.

He wanted that. He wanted to be a part of it.

Who wouldn’t? Only milquetoasts and boring old sops, clinging to creaky beliefs.

Besides, he wanted it for his brothers because, quite frankly, his family had known so much chaos and so much terror over the decades of the last few centuries.

It was at last time to throw all that away and dig roots down deep that were meant for goodness, and for the assistance of anyone who came into contact with them, especially the people who lived on their lands.

The Briarwoods were like that. His family would be like that too. Forever.

“I did buy the estate next to this one for many reasons,” Teague said simply. “I’m getting a crick in my neck.”

“I know an excellent Turkish bath that can help with that,” drawled Zephyr.

“Or you could sit,” retorted Teague.

The brothers stared at him merrily.

“Now, elucidate as to your reasons for the acquisition of our ancient neighbor’s abode,” Westleigh instructed.

“We are very curious as to why. You are certainly welcome. Your family is already attached to ours via Octavian and your sister, Elspeth. So it does make sense, but one would’ve thought you would have stayed with us. ”

“Do you have room?” he countered. “There are so many of you.”

“Is that an insult?” queried Zephyr.

“I don’t know,” piped Hector.

“Can’t be,” drawled Ajax. “Teague’s too clever.”

This was what Josephine had meant when she’d pointed out he’d have to live with her family if he picked her. But the truth was, he loved their way of thinking. They were the closest to his and his brothers’ way of thought.

“It all happened very quickly,” Teague explained.

“And I’ve come to realize that expecting your nephew to come and live in Scotland for months out of the year is really not practical.

Perhaps he will come for a long time. Perhaps he might even come and live in the Highlands for whole years.

But I do want to give them the option, and myself if Josephine agrees, to live…

” He paused, almost hating to say the word. “In London.”

Westleigh’s lips turned to a merry grin. “Dear God, man, the way you said that, it was as if you’d swallowed a lemon.”

“I won’t lie,” Teague replied, trying not to shudder. “The idea of living in London does not necessarily fill me with joy.”

“You don’t say,” Ajax said with faux surprise.

“But if it gives Josephine pleasure to be near her family, and it also allows me to keep in close contact with Ellie and any children that she has when they arrive, it is an excellent decision. Somehow, my brothers and I shall rise above our disdain for the English people and manage to make merry here. Besides,” he said, “the more advocates we have for Scotland in England, the better, don’t you think? ”

“You are a politician, sir, I’m glad to hear it.” The Duke of Westleigh gave a dramatic bow. “I did always admire you, even from your reputation. It’s good to know that you are sensible.”

He wanted to say he was far more sensible than a Briarwood.

But the truth was his family had its own sort of madness.

There was no notoriety, not unless one counted the calling to arms of an army to march against the Crown for a prince who would never be king.

They had certainly taken up rebellion on more than one occasion in the history of the dukedom.

There was no arguing that. But as to living without apology in the face of scandal as the Briarwoods?

No. His family had not yet done that. But he wanted to.

Oh, how he did. He wanted that sort of courage.

Still, he was glad that the Duke of Westleigh approved of him. He should have written Westleigh and asked about the house and for his permission to court Josephine. It was true. But when one was a duke, one often forgot that one needed to justify any of one’s actions.

“So we shall be neighbors?” Teague said hopefully.

“Neighbors.” The Duke of Westleigh laughed. “We are family. There shall be no boundaries. We shall go back and forth as if the houses were all upon one estate. Do you agree?”

Teague smiled. He couldn’t help himself because he liked the idea very much. He’d loved having the Briarwoods to stay. No one could be sorrowful for long with Briarwoods about. “Indeed, I do.”

“Good. So something I suggest,” Westleigh said, clapping his hands together, “is that you find yourself over here as often as possible.”

“Your brothers just told me to treat Josephine like a cat.”

The duke snorted. “Oh, do. Do, but you don’t need to pursue her at every single moment like some lovesick schoolboy to show her that you would make an excellent Briarwood. No, no. Become part of the family, old boy. Win over the right people in the family and she’ll be very pleased.”

Teague cocked his head to the side. “This sounds like a test.”

“Don’t you think everything is a test?” the duke replied with a dangerous smile.

Teague ground his teeth. “I’m not so sure about that.”

“And the other thing,” Westleigh said, leaning against one of the tables covered with an astrolabe and chess set.

“There is a beautiful moonlit stroll between that estate and this one. The clouds part, the moon shines, and one can find themselves over here in the dark of night quite easily. And parts of the house are quite simple to scale, you know. We do love the play Romeo and Juliet , and though one should never ever take lessons from the ending, the romantic nature of the beginning should be quite inspiring.”

Teague blinked, trying to make sure he understood what the duke was suggesting. Was Westleigh indeed suggesting that he walk over from his new estate in the dead of night, find Josephine’s room, and scale some sort of ladder or ivy or something to her window?

Leander’s eyes shone as he folded his arms across his broad chest. “Though it’s happening rather slowly, unfortunately, I can see that you are getting my gist.”

Teague coughed. “You can’t possibly be suggesting…”

“Oh, we can,” Ajax said, crossing over and clapping him on the back. “We come from that sort of family. We love a good bit of drama and a really romantic proclamation of love is just the thing, and none of us will notice. So don’t be afraid of making a little bit of noise.”

Teague’s eyes bulged.

“We’re quite loud as it is,” said Zephyr.

He looked from uncle to uncle to uncle. “You all agree to my marriage to Josephine, don’t you?”

The Duke of Westleigh nodded as if it had never been in any doubt. “Oh, yes. We knew in Scotland, the whole family, that you were the one for Josephine, but she’s going to be hard to convince.”

He frowned. “Why? Am I so very terrible?”

“Oh, no, we think you are wonderful, old boy,” said Ajax. “Don’t take offense. It’s a very English phrase.”

“I won’t because it comes from you,” he replied.

“Good,” Zephyr said. “But you have to understand she has her own tricky set of business to get around. So we will do everything we can to support the marriage and to help you find your way to keeping the heart we are all fairly sure you’ve already won, so to speak.

But it’s going to be devilish tricky. For whatever reason, she’s a bit nervous about really giving in.

Likely something to do with her parents’ deaths.

Mama is trying to deduce Josephine’s worries.

But despite this, by the end of the summer, we hope to have a great wedding. ”

“But if she doesn’t?” he asked softly.

Westleigh shrugged. “Then sadly, old boy, you’ll have bought a house in vain or simply to be a very good uncle.”

Though he’d be happy to be a good uncle, this summer wouldn’t be in vain. Somehow, he would make sure of that.