The Duke I'm Going to Marry(52)
“Fine. Then I won’t tell you the rest of what I did to her.”
Ian let out a laughing groan. “Get out.” He took the two drinks off the butler’s tray and held Gabriel’s out of his reach. “All this talk of marital bliss is making my ears bleed.”
“Never realized you were so delicate. Just like a woman. Not as soft or pretty though.”
“Weren’t you just leaving?”
“You had better not swoon. I’m not going to catch you.” Gabriel grabbed the glass out of his hand, and though he was still grinning, Ian saw the concern in Gabriel’s eyes as he settled back in his chair. “What’s troubling you?”
Ian took a sip of his drink. Nice. Smooth. “As I said. No longer a problem.”
Gabriel’s expression revealed his doubt. “So from the time you arrived at my home until the time you left, let’s say that was about fifteen minutes, you worked it all out?”
Ian nodded. Damn. He knew what was coming next.
“Interesting.” Gabriel leaned forward. “Did Dillie have anything to do with fixing your problem?”
Everything. “No.”
“Because she and that adorable rabble of Farthingale cousins were at my house when you arrived.”
“They could hardly be overlooked.” He and Dillie had never figured out what substance Harry had managed to stick on his hands. Their only clue was that it wouldn’t wipe off Dillie’s gown. “Dillie was playing the piano. The children were jumping up and down, doing their best to smash holes in your expensive floor with their little feet.”
Gabriel threw his head back and laughed. “So that was the pounding noise I heard downstairs. I wondered what that was about. Wasn’t going to run downstairs though. I had my own pounding—”
“Stop! You’re roiling my stomach. No man should lust after his own wife the way you do.”
“Actually, I was talking about my armoire. I was repairing the spindle leg that had loosened on it.” He was still grinning like a hyena. “Want to know how that leg got loose? It happened last night. Daisy—”
“You’re still a monumental ass. Stop talking about how often you make love to your wife. Or where. Or how. Breaking furniture while you’re in the ‘throes’ doesn’t earn you any points.”
“Daisy seems to think it does.” He took a gulp of his whiskey and set it down quickly. “I know. I know. I’ll stop talking about her. Let’s work on fixing your problem.”
Ian stifled a groan. “You’re not listening to me. There is no problem.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.” Gabriel shot him that well-meaning we’re more than friends, we’re brothers look. “I know you, Ian. You’re hurting.”
“Wrong again. I’m feeling fine.” But his hand was clenched around his whiskey glass, which was probably a hint that things weren’t as smooth as he wanted them to appear.
“Now who’s acting like an ass?” Gabriel leaned back, the gesture significant. He was assuring Ian that he wouldn’t dig too hard to get at the information he sought.
Ian liked that about Gabriel. He knew how to be a friend. They’d remained close even after Napoleon’s war. Gabriel was always there to support him, but respectful of his need for privacy. “It wasn’t just Dillie,” Ian admitted, “but the cheerful chaos that was going on around her. That’s what solved the problem.” His smile turned humorless. “I’d just come from my beloved mother’s house. We had another of our warm and cozy chats. You know how it is with me and my family. They’re always so loving. Fairly suffocate me with their tender care.”
Gabriel wasn’t smiling either. “Bloody hell. I’m sorry, Ian.”
“Don’t be. I’m used to it. Or thought I was. Sometimes they get to me. Sometimes their foul taint crawls under my skin.” He took another sip of his whiskey, and then let out a bitter laugh. “I was feeling that way until I walked into your house. The children ran to me and hugged me. Dillie smiled when she saw me, a happy sort of smile that reached into her eyes.”
“Yes, the Farthingale smile. And those incredible Farthingale blue eyes. They suck you right in, don’t they? Next thing you know, you’re drowning in those magnificent blue pools. Same thing happened to me when I first met Daisy. I remember how you’d warned me not to walk down Chipping Way if I wished to remain a carefree bachelor.”
Ian nodded.
“You were going on about the Farthingale daughters and the Chipping Way curse. I thought you were attics-to-let, but Lord, you were right. Thank goodness. I’ve never been happier.” Gabriel leaned forward again. “If Dillie’s smile slams into you the way Daisy’s smile slammed into me, then let nature take its course. Let it happen, Ian. You won’t regret it.”