Page 23 of Two Ruins Make a Right

Eleven

Ruin’s road has no exits.

F or a moment, James didn’t move. He couldn’t believe the woman he’d held in his arms last night and loved with everything he possessed had just turned and left him as if nothing else existed between them. The past fought to rear its ugly head, reminding him of how she’d left him once before.

He clenched his fists and pursed his lips. His frustration knew no bounds. However, he forced himself to calm down. That time of their lives was not the situation now, and he would not lose her again. No matter how dire things appeared.

“Nell,” he called out as he took a step to follow her.

“James,” his aunt said behind him. “Before you go and make a fool of yourself, I suggest you take a moment and consider what you’re going to say.”

He turned on his heel and faced his aunt and uncle.

Harry stood and gave Christa his hand. “Let’s give them a moment of privacy.”

“Thank you, dear.” The duchess gave him one of her famous I wasn’t born yesterday looks. “But Harry, please mind your P’s and Q’s. We don’t need to find you and your fiancée on the terrace again.”

“Yes, ma’am,” he said with a sheepish grin.

By then, Christa stood by James’s side. She leaned close so they wouldn’t be overheard.

“My sister is the only real family I had growing up. She’d do anything for me.

” She glanced in the direction that Nell had gone, and he could see the warm affection for Nell in her eyes.

“Even letting me marry the man of my dreams. More than anything in this world, I want her to find someone like that. She deserves happiness.” She smiled at James.

“I think that man might be you.” She stole a peek at Harry, then returned her gaze to James.

“Her past happiness was once with you. I have little doubt that her future happiness is with you as well.”

James put his hand on her arm. “I will do everything in my power to convince her that I’m that man.”

Christa stood on the tips of her toes and pressed a kiss to his cheek. “Thank you.” She took Harry’s arm and strolled away.

“James,” the duke called out. “Her Grace asked for a moment.” That was the closest the duke had ever come to chastising James. No one ignored Her Grace.

He slowly turned to face the two of them.

The duchess delivered a smile, one that on the outside looked deceptively sweet and gentle. But James knew that it was one that wouldn’t tolerate him ignoring her.

“Dearest James.” She patted the sofa next to her. “Might I give you a piece of advice?”

“Of course,” he said as he moved to sit by her.

“You see, darling boy, Nell doesn’t think anyone knows about her family’s history.” She studied him with a look of concern on her face. “It’s an utter misconception on her part.”

James’s brows knotted together. “I didn’t.”

She patted his hand with one of her own. “That’s understandable. You were working day and night and wooing Nell at the same time. You never spent much time in London.”

The duke cleared his throat. “In addition, you didn’t because.

..well, deuce it, man, you were hurting too much to see outside your own pain.

” The duke’s low voice rumbled. “The Ellison family has suffered from Lady Ellison’s spending and gambling since the viscount married her.

He thought her too beautiful to stay away from when she first entered the marriage mart. ”

“Are you saying she was gambling as a young girl?” James asked incredulously.

The duchess patted his hand. “Let’s say she was a tad reckless with her reputation when she had her introduction to society. She enjoyed flirting. Only when she delivered Nell and Christa did her gambling start. Rumor had it that when an heir wasn’t produced, the couple became estranged.”

The duke lifted an eyebrow. “Seems to me you’d simply try harder. Just like we did, Evelyn.”

For the first time that James could remember, his lionhearted aunt blushed. “Oh, my love, we...well, we did try.”

“And had a grand time doing it, didn’t we, sweetheart?” The affection in the duke’s eyes for his duchess was brighter than a summer’s midday sun.

With her cheeks blazing in color, the duchess nodded.

“We did, my darling. And still have a grand time.” Wearing a sheepish smile, she turned to James.

“What we’re trying to say is that you must convince Nell of your regard while being mindful of the hurt and betrayal she feels from her own family.

” The duchess looked down at their clasped hands and squeezed gently.

“She believes she’s ruined, not because of what happened here today, but because of how her parents used her to pay for their debts.

It’s entirely possible that she’s withdrawing from the world much like a turtle in its shell.

If she’s exposed, she’ll be hurt. If she hides away, her life will be dull, but safe. ”

The duke nodded in agreement. “Beautifully said, my dear.”

If anyone could understand the other monumental task in front of him, his loving aunt and uncle would. “She believes she’s barren,” he said quietly.

The duchess raised her hand to her heart.

The duke slowly rose from his desk, then came to his duchess’s side. “We know that feeling well, don’t we, my dear?”

The duchess gazed directly into her husband’s eyes. “We do, my darling.”

The duke rested his hand on his wife’s shoulder and gently squeezed. Their affection ran deep and true.

It was the same with him and Nell. No matter the years between them, James would always love her. It didn’t matter to him whether they could have children or not. Their future together was what truly mattered. He wanted nothing more than to share Valentina with Nell. They would be a family.

“I love her,” James confided.

“Tell her that,” the duke said.

“I will. But I know her. She’ll be adamant about an heir,” James murmured.

“Of course, we all would adore to have the house overrun with little ones.” The duke’s eyes were warm and understanding. “But not at the expense of your happiness and Nell’s.”

“I agree,” the duchess said. “We knew we couldn’t have an heir, but that didn’t keep us from running the duchy to the best of our abilities.

” Her gaze held his. “You have a precious little girl in dire need of a loving mother.” She lowered her voice.

“She’s made her pick. Now, you need to go ask Nell to be the woman who, above all others, you want to share your life with.

” The duchess arched a perfect eyebrow. “It’s that simple. ”

James leaned and pressed a kiss against his aunt’s wrinkled but still soft skin. “Thank you, Your Grace. That is the perfect advice.”

“Good luck, my boy,” the duke said as James rose to leave. The duke was a formidable man, and when he took James in a bear hug and patted his back, James felt everything in that hug. It gave him the strength to find Nell and convince her to share her life with him.

“Thank you, both.”

“We love you, Jamie,” the duchess whispered as the duke nodded.

They hadn’t called him that since he was a little boy. “I love you both also.”

With his heart near bursting, James headed toward Nell’s bedroom. It wouldn’t be easy, but he had to convince Nell that she had no choice but to agree to create a family with him and Valentina.

On his way, James stopped at the nursery. When he strolled into the room, Nurse looked up from the book she was reading to Valentina.

“Papa,” Valentina greeted him as she slid off her nursemaid’s lap. She beamed as she ran to James’s side.

“Good morning, my lord,” Miss Owens said.

James smiled at the nurse. “Would you mind if I had a word with Valentina?”

The nursemaid nodded. “I’ll just straighten up Miss Valentina’s room while you chat. Shall I ring for tea?”

James shook his head. “That won’t be necessary.” After the nurse closed the nursery bedroom door, he bent down and rested his weight on his haunches.

“What is it?” Valentina blinked her beautiful green eyes.

He pushed a stray curl back behind her ears. “I’m going to ask Nell to marry me. But I wanted to tell you first and see if that was still your desire.”

She threw her arms around his neck, almost knocking him off balance. “Oh, Papa.” She drew back and smacked her lips against his cheek. “That’s the best present ever.”

James couldn’t help but laugh. “So, I take it you’re pleased?”

Valentina nodded so vigorously that she upset several more curls. “I’ll be the happiest girl in the world.”

James cupped her face. His hands dwarfed her cheeks. “I’m glad, love.” He rested his forehead against hers. “Now, wish me luck.”

Valentina scowled slightly. “You don’t need luck, Papa. She already knows that I chose her as my new mama.”

James bit his lip to keep from laughing at his daughter’s inexhaustible confidence. “Well, I’ll remind her when I ask her.”

Valentina bussed him on the cheek, then tugged his arm upward. “You should hurry then. The sooner, the better. I want her to live with us from now on.”

“I love you, Valentina,” he said and pressed another kiss to the top of her head.

“I love you too, Papa,” she answered. “I love my new mama, too.”

Funny, but by marrying for love for Valentina, he discovered he was also marrying for love for himself. God, he would be the luckiest man in the world with Nell and Valentina by his side.

James called for the nurse and then left to go to Nell’s room. He knocked once on the door, but there was no answer.

When he knocked again, a maid opened the door. “Pardon me, my lord, I didn’t hear you.”

“No bother, Lucy.” He looked over the maid’s shoulder. “I’m looking for Lady Whitton. Is she here?”

“She’s packing to leave,” Lucy answered softly. “I was just on my way downstairs to fetch clean sheets.” With a slight curtsey, the maid left the room.

“Nell,” he called softly as he closed and locked the door. He didn’t want them interrupted as he spilled his guts to her. She hadn’t even acknowledged him as she was frantically packing her bag.

He walked to her side. “Nell, will you look at me?”