Page 54 of My Beastly Duke
“It is not funny you know. The poor man has served our family for decades. He is a proud man. As you can imagine, he has not taken kindly to being referred to as such. I have had to increase his wages in order for him tostay.”
Adam burst out laughing before sobering up beneath Aaron’s glares. “I admit that I may have crossed a boundary bysuggesting some of the more prominent establishments to some of the men, but I would give anything to have seen the look on the old man’s face. He has always been a sour puss.”
Shaking his head out of exasperation, Aaron turned back to the piles of timber. “You can give me a hand out here since you have nothing better to do with your time.” He stepped over the boxes of nails and hammers and gripped the one end of a plank.
Doing as he was asked; Adam joined in and began to help. “Tell me, if I help you build this, am I entitled to half of Marina’s affections?”
“Not unless you want to end up living out here with your beloved bird,” Aaron shot back.
Allowing the corner of his mouth to curl into a smile, Adam went about measuring the parameters of the menagerie.
Taking a moment to watch his brother, Aaron noted the sadness in his expression. “Is something bothering you?” He ventured a question while laying out the planks.
“You are lucky to have Marina. I am glad that the marriage worked out for you, do not bungle it up again when she comes back.” Adam carried on with his task, the sadness still not leaving his eyes.
Pausing for a moment, Aaron cocked his head to the side. “Not that I am complaining, but why did you jilt her at the altar?”
Adam froze with his hands on a log, running his tongue over his lips. “I was going to marry her, but I realized that I could never give her everything that she deserved. I may be a bastard, Aaron but I would not marry a woman I could not love. Call me a fool, but I think marriage should at least be based on fondness.”
Deciding to let things go, Aaron gave his brother some space and went about working on the entrance. He had never thought of his brother as a romantic gentleman, far from it. Adam had always been somewhat of a rake. Yet he had realized that Adam had not frequented the brothers since he had come back home.
“Your Grace, there is a letter for you.”
The brothers looked up to see Marina’s maid holding a silver tray with the letter. Her bright green eyes sought Adam for a moment before focusing on the duke.
Cleaning his hands on an old rag, Aaron came forward and took the letter from the tray, his pulse racing as he undid the wax seal.
To whom it may concern,
The funeral of the late Baron of Wallace shall be held in two days at the London chapel. A private morning service shall be held afterward for the friends and family.
Kind regards, the Wallace family.
A frown creased his brow as Aaron took note of the lack of sentiment. It had been addressed in such a formal manner that he was not even sure if Marina had written it. Or perhaps it meant that she had. The hurt look in her eyes on the night of the ball still haunted him. She had poured out her heart in defense of him, and he in turn had turned her away.
“Is it any news?” Adam interrupted his train of thought.
Placing the letter back on the tray, Aaron turned back to his task, leaving the maid where she was. “It is the notice for the funeral, it will be held in two days.”
Adam nodded, resting his chin on top of the post he had planted.
“Will that be all, Your Grace?” Isolde asked stiffly, making Aaron frown. She had always been a jovial girl, yet her demeanor had changed quite drastically since Marina had left.
“You may bring us some tea in an hour.” He dismissed her with a nod.
Isolde curtsied and turned, making her way back toward the house.
“She seems to be quite distracted since Marina left. I wonder if I should not send her there to be with her mistress.” Aaron watched the maid leave, her bright blonde hair shining in the early morning sun.
Adam’s gaze remained fixed on her back as he answered somewhat distractedly. “I think she will be fine, there is no use in sending her away now. Your wife will be home soon.”
Shrugging in agreement, Aaron fixed his attention on the entranceway that was just beginning to take shape. There were only two days for him and Adam to pull off a miracle, yet he was determined to have it done by then.
Two days later in London…
Aaron and his brother stood across from Marina with her mother and sister as they stood outside the tiny chapel where the mourning service had been held.
Marina barely glanced at him as she held her younger sister’s arm. Even in her black dress, Aaron found her to be the most beautiful woman that he had ever seen in his life.