The Duke I'm Going to Marry(25)

“I know. Not even death,” Gabriel said with an indulgent nod. “But we aren’t speaking of death here. This is far more serious. What you feel is something far more frightening. I know that look. Same look I had when I first met Daisy.”

“You’re wrong.” Gabriel had been ready to marry. Meeting Daisy had made him realize how much he’d wanted to find love. Ian wanted to run as far away from love as possible. Love brought pain and disappointment.

He turned to walk away, but Gabriel held him back. “Why are you really in town?”

“I’ve already told you. Business.”

Gabriel regarded him thoughtfully for a long moment. “If you have no intention of courting Dillie, then you can help her best by keeping away from her. Disappear for a while. Surely you have estate affairs to keep you occupied up north.”

“I don’t. Can’t leave London for at least another month.” Outright lie. He’d never lied to Gabriel before. Dillie was in London and he wasn’t leaving. He needed to see her. He’d keep his distance. He just needed to see her openhearted smile. He needed her warmth to pierce his cold heart. Just once. Perhaps a little more than once. Maybe a dozen times. She had a great smile. She also had the gentlest hands. They’d felt so good against his skin. That’s all he wanted, just a little more time with her. “Why are you now asking me to leave London? A moment ago you were asking for my help.”

“Our wives were asking,” Gabriel corrected, and leaned forward so that his voice would not carry on the blustery wind. “Frankly, I thought it was a decent plan, but I’m not so sure anymore. Don’t get me wrong, Graelem and I would be delighted to have you as a brother-in-law. But your feelings for Dillie are dangerous. Something’s going on between the two of you, whether or not either of you realize it or are ready to admit it. Your manner changes when you speak of her.”

“My manner? What the hell does that mean?”

“I don’t quite know. It’s different, that’s all. So I don’t think you can manage a pretend courtship with her. More important, if you court her, I’m not sure she’ll rebuff you.”

“I’m the one who declined to court her, if you will recall. In any event, it won’t come to that.” Ian frowned. “I thought you said she liked Ealing.”

Gabriel sighed. “She does. But he isn’t you. And Dillie never said a word about caring for you in her bed. Not to anyone, not even to her sisters.”

Second time he and Graelem had mentioned that. Ian understood that the Farthingale girls were close. They had a big, loving family. He’d wished for that when he was a boy.

It hadn’t happened.

When his father died, his mother had summoned him. He’d gone to Edgeware ready to console her. She wasn’t sad. “I hate you,” she’d told him. “I wish you were the one dead.”

She’d thought it important for him to know. He knew it, all right. He’d known her feeling

in town.”

“Ian’s mother?” Dillie’s heart began to beat a little faster. This was her chance to learn more about him. Not that she wished to pry, but he had a penchant for getting into trouble, and it would be helpful to know whom to summon to his side the next time he lay close to death. Of course, this time she’d make certain he was dressed for visitors—even if she had to dress him herself.

Though it seemed an awful pity to cover up his gloriously hard body.

She let out an eep and forced herself to pay attention as Rose replied. “s for him since he was a child of four. That’s when his brother had died. That was the first time she’d told him that she hated him. That’s the last time she’d ever held him in her arms. And the last time his father had ever spoken to him.

“I won’t hurt her, Gabriel. In truth, I’ll do my best to keep away from her. But if Laurel and Daisy are worried that Dillie’s about to do something foolish, let me know. I’ll do what I can to help—short of marrying her, of course. I’ll be available if they need me. As I said, I just can’t leave London at present.” Yet more lies told to his best friend.

The conversation put Ian on edge. Dillie wasn’t in any danger of losing her heart to Ealing. She couldn’t be, could she? And what of Ealing? He would have to be an utter clunch to resist Dillie, probably was already deeply in love with her. Hence the impending marriage proposal.

Ian’s insides twisted. What could he offer Dillie? He had no intention of ever marrying. No, he was just that damn dog in the manger, ready to bite anyone who came too close to Dillie.