Forbidden to Love the Duke(88)
James smiled. “Yes. I’ve found Ivy and I intend to keep her, even if it means I have to move Fenwick, brick by brick, and all those who reside within it, onto my land.”
“You’re marrying into quite a family.”
“You don’t need to convince me of that,” James said with a laugh.
Chapter 33
James intended to set out for London the next morning. Not wishing to cause the duke further distress during his crisis, Rosemary and Lilac agreed to remain at Ellsworth Park during his absence, although Lilac asked whether the servants and animals at Fenwick could also be granted shelter.
“It’s more than kind of His Grace to offer to house us here,” Rosemary said to Ivy while they gathered outside to say their farewells on the front steps. “However . . .”
Ivy embraced her. “However, what?”
“I left everything unsettled at Fenwick. I’m not sure I can enjoy myself worrying about Quigley and the other servants.”
“Of course you can,” Lilac assured her. “The duke sent five or six footmen over yesterday, and a half-dozen fit young men will be more helpful in a crisis than we were.”
“That’s true, I suppose,” Rosemary said reluctantly. “But the manor needs a mistress. Quigley won’t leave his back gardens. I vow there are nights when he stays up just to catch a weed poking through his vegetable plot.”
Ivy frowned, giving Rosemary another fierce squeeze. “Promise me you won’t return to Fenwick alone. As much as I’ve disapproved of him, Oliver at least defended you when you needed him.”
“It was quite dreadful to watch,” Rosemary whispered.
“We really ought to write Rue and inform her you’re to become a duchess,” Lilac said, her fair hair blowing in the breeze like thistledown.
“Have either of you heard from her?” Ivy asked, remembering her last conversation with Rue in the garden.
“Not a word,” Rosemary replied. “But then again you became engaged to a duke and didn’t bother to tell us, either. And she is traveling with the viscountess.”
“Ladies,” a male voice said behind them, and Ivy looked past Captain Wendover to James, who stood waiting in a black silk hat and greatcoat.
“You are leaving, too, Captain Wendover?” Lilac asked, her arm around Ivy’s waist.
He glanced at the duke. “I believe I should.” He bowed. “It has been my pleasure to make your acquaintance.”
“I’m sure it has,” Lilac said absently. “Oh, before I forget,” she added, “what about the dogs? Cook and Quigley never remember to feed them or let them out.”
“What about my manuscript?” Rosemary asked in panic. “What if the house should catch fire?”
“It hasn’t caught fire in three centuries,” Ivy reassured her. “It’s unlikely to happen in the next few weeks.”
“Are we ready to leave or not?” James asked bluntly, turning on his heel in his polished Hessian boots.
Ivy fell in behind him, giving her sisters a quick smile over her shoulder.
Lilac glanced back at the house. “Where are the children?”
“They’re waiting in my carriage with Sally,” Wendover said, walking backward to address her. “I thought to entertain them. Do take care of yourselves.”
Lilac and Rosemary had disappeared into the duke’s house before Ivy reached the carriage. It was a shame they wouldn’t pass Fenwick Manor on their journey to London, but she wouldn’t dream of asking James to let her visit the house that would forever claim part of her heart. His brother needed him. He hadn’t told her everything, but she knew all the same. In fact, he had spoken but a few words to her since he received the news. It wasn’t necessary. As much as she loved James, yesterday she would have grown wings and flown to Fenwick had she known of the calamity unfolding there.
“James.”
He was holding his chin in his hand, so preoccupied he didn’t respond. She tried again.
“James.”
He turned his head.
“I’m sorry,” she said, sliding closer to him. “I talked to the children this morning. They cried, but after a while they realized that their father was coming home, and he was alive. That’s what matters, isn’t it?”
“If he’s a better man than I am.”
She nestled against him. “No one’s better than you.”
“You didn’t know me when I returned from war. I was sullen, angry at the world, disrespectful to my father, and a man you would have been well-advised to avoid.”
Ivy wouldn’t have avoided him even then. Nor was she about to point out that he was still, at times, sullen, angry, and disrespectful, but not nearly as often as he was sensual, tender, and protective. “He’ll make it through, James. He has his family. You managed to return to yourself.”