Chapter 23

"Pull!" Nathaniel cried, aiming his rifle at the sky.

A flying disc flew in the air and quickly shattered as he hit his mark. Another disc spun in a different direction, but he caught that one, too. This went on until he hit ten discs without missing one.

His brother clapped and slapped him on the shoulder. "You never miss, do you?"

"I do not see a reason to," Nathaniel replied. "Your turn."

Richard settled into place and yelled for the servant to release the disc. He didn't miss, raising the stakes of their competition.

"It seems neither of us is willing to lose," said Richard. "But there must be a loser and a winner. I say we reduce the time between each disc and increase a set to fifteen."

"Twenty," Nathaniel insisted. "Double or nothing."

Richard raised an eyebrow. "Feeling confident, are we? Fine, double or nothing, but I want a wager."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes. His brother was highly competitive, but so was he. They both enjoyed shooting and were excellent at it. Unfortunately, Richard's competitiveness bled into other parts of his life, sometimes making him too reckless. Nathaniel often warned his brother to be more mindful of his actions and behavior, but talking to him was like extinguishing a fire in a fireplace while one blazed outside the house. To put it frankly, it was useless.

Richard had a need to prove himself to the world, which perhaps could be tied to being the second born living in the shadow of the first son and heir. Nathaniel never made his brother feel less than important and always gave him room to be whatever he pleased. They were twelve years apart, so Nathaniel had sometimes felt more like a father figure than a brother. It wasn't that their father didn't love them, but being a duke came with responsibilities that sometimes didn't give him much time to spend with his sons.

"Do you agree to a wager?" Richard pressed.

"That depends on what is at stake," said Nathaniel. "I am not wagering anything unreasonable."

"Give me your last bottle of Highlands whisky," said Richard.

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "How do you know it's my last bottle?"

"I'm not even going to waste my breath explaining that to you," his brother said, laughing. "What do you want if you win?"

Nathaniel didn't even have to think about that. "I do not want you to insist I accept any more invitations for the rest of the Season."

"But that is for your own good," Richard pointed out. "You would not have met Lady Eleanor if I hadn't forced you."

His brother had a point there. "Fine, but I choose when and where I wish to go," said Nathaniel. "No more whining and annoying me about parties. It takes everything within me not to throw you into the closest well."

Richard chuckled. "It's unfortunate that you can never say no to me. You're terribly stern and often have a look of disapproval. Not many know your heart is as soft as jelly."

Nathaniel looked skyward, but his brother spoke the truth. Perhaps the protector within him didn't like to see his brother disappointed. In his heart, Richard was still the young boy he helped raise, teaching him everything he needed to learn to become the man he was today. Unfortunately, he might have been too lenient, which could have led to his brother's daring nature. Or perhaps it had always been part of Richard.

"No more pestering, or there is no wager," Nathaniel insisted.

Richard shrugged. "I have no qualms with that. I have not needed to pressure you in a while," he said. "You have agreed to attend many parties simply to see Lady Eleanor again. I believe that will continue."

His brother was right again. Nathaniel pursed his lips. He didn't like it when people could read him so easily, even if that person was his brother.

"It seems my wager is useless," he said. "I need something better. Let me have a little refreshment while I think about it."

Richard pulled his head back, looking skeptical. "You do not intend to ask for something impossible, do you? I know how your mind works. You put a person at ease with something by showing them you expect little, only to surprise them with an impossible task."

"I do not do that," Nathaniel argued, handing his rifle to an attending servant.

"Denial will get you nowhere, my dear old fellow," Richard. "Not when I know you so well."

He handed his rifle to a servant, and they fell in step to where a shelter had been set up, complete with armchairs, a table of refreshments, and comfortable cushions. It was one of those perfect sunny days with clear blue skies, a slight breeze to temper the heat, and fragrant air from the garden nearby. Nathaniel was reminded of his horse-riding moment with Eleanor and didn't realize he was smiling until his brother pointed it out.

"I know what, or should I rather say who, has made you smile like that," he said. "You're thinking about Lady Eleanor again."

He was, but he didn't want to get into another conversation about how he should be more obvious about his intentions. Nathaniel didn't know what his intentions were. He liked Eleanor more than he expected, but she was nearly two decades his junior. While most found it acceptable, he couldn't help but wonder if he would be stealing her youth just so he could have a second chance of love and happiness. It didn't seem fair.

"You are obsessed with this topic," Nathaniel told him. "I'm more interested in what you have to say about Miss Huxley. You have not said much about her since we returned to London. If you recall, you wished to pursue her because you found her intriguing and worth the chase. What changed?"

A servant poured them lemonade while they spoke and handed it to them with a bow before stepping back and awaiting further instruction. Nathaniel was glad to see they had pineapple and ripe peaches on the fruit platter. They were his favorite, so much so that he told his kitchen staff to create as many dishes as they could with the fruits—savory and sweet.

"Oh," said Richard. "That."

He shrugged and guzzled his lemonade before handing his glass to a servant to pour more of the tart and sweet beverage.

"What do you mean that?" Nathaniel asked. "Since when is Miss Huxley that? The last I recall, you were determined to win against the Marquess of Egerton. Surely, you have not given up so quickly?"

"Miss Huxley is a gem among stones, but I cannot compete when the heart is involved," Richard explained. "The more I spoke to her, the more I realized the marquess had already taken her heart. Eventually, she admitted she was interested in Lord Egerton and didn't want me to waste my time pursuing her. I respect that."

Nathaniel thoughtfully sipped his lemonade. He knew that Miss Huxley liked Lord Egerton, but he sincerely believed his brother had a chance.

"How do you feel about that?" he asked.

"Honestly, I have many more years of gallivanting around the Continent and meeting new women," Richard replied. "I do not intend to settle down just yet."

Nathaniel looked past his brother's words and expression. He needed to know if he was upset about losing to another man. After a few seconds, he deduced his brother was fine, if not a little disappointed.

"I've secured lodgings here in London," Richard informed him. "Something comfortable and worthy of a bachelor. You should come and see it soon. It's a townhouse in a good spot—close to everything I like. Perhaps I'll throw a dinner party, and you can invite Lady Eleanor."

And the conversation was right back on Eleanor again. Richard could never let him breathe about the subject. Nathaniel just needed time to think everything through before making any more decisions where she was concerned. When he was around her, he was prepared to forget all his doubts and fears and just be with her because she made him happy. However, the moment they parted ways, he was reminded why their union might not work well.

"You seem obsessed with Lady Eleanor," said Nathaniel.

He looked up when a flock of birds flew overhead and settled on the trees bordering the estate. This reminded him of her tale about putting bird feeders in her mother's garden, only for it to be flooded with noisy birds the very next day. The story was amusing and he was glad she so willingly shared information about her life. Everything she told him was yet more reason why she had captivated him from the very beginning.

"I like her," said Richard.

Nathaniel shot him a glance. "I beg your pardon?"

His brother laughed. "I like her for you. I haven't seen you look this happy and alive in years."

Nathaniel raised an eyebrow. "I usually look dead?"

"Disinterested, mundane, lacking enthusiasm," said Richard. "Need I say more, or do you understand?"

Nathaniel pursed his lips and looked away, but not before popping a juicy, firm piece of sun-ripened peach into his mouth. A peach cake for dessert this evening sounded good.

"So, Lady Eleanor," his brother pressed.

"Why are you pushing the matter?" Nathaniel asked, not looking at him. "I will speak about her if I wish."

"You can be a stubborn old goat at times," Robert complained. "I know you're avoiding the matter. You like her, and she undoubtedly brings out the best in you, but now you're silent about her. Why? You were so desperate to see her before that you accepted nearly every invitation and even went after her when you discovered she was not in London. You're not a man to go to all that trouble. The odd thing is, since our return to London, you have grown silent about her. I can only imagine you're telling yourself all the different ways why you shouldn't pursue her."

Sighing, Nathaniel shifted to face his brother. "I've come to my senses," he revealed. "I have lived a good life, and I married the love of my life. She has yet to experience the world."

"This age nonsense again," Richard said, rolling his eyes. "Young women marrying older men is normal. It happens all the time. You know this."

"How can I expect her to marry a man who could easily have been her father?" Nathaniel snapped. "Isn't that unfair? I cannot think of any woman who has willingly married an older man. She is usually forced to do it."

"A father at seventeen?" Richard asked in disbelief.

"It happens."

"Then think of your age as experience," his brother said. "You have more patience and understanding than men her age. You'll know how to treat her right. Besides, you do not look your age, and I'll have you know that many young women are interested in marrying you. You're handsome and wealthy, and you can make them your duchess. Who wouldn't want that?"

Nathaniel shook his head. "You don't understand. You're only twenty-eight—you're more suitable for her."

Saying that left a bitter taste in Nathaniel's mouth. He didn't like to think of any man growing close to Eleanor and marrying her. It was bound to happen because she was simply too beautiful and astounding to become a spinster. He couldn't believe that the thought had even crossed her mind.

"Age set aside, what about love?" Richard asked. "If you loved her, wouldn't that trump everything else?"

"Love isn't selfish," said Nathaniel.

Richard threw his hands in the air, letting them fall hard on the armrests. "You are impossible! The way you live your life is not what Beatrice would have wanted. Imagine how disappointed she must be that you refuse to give yourself a chance to be happy."

Nathaniel pulled his head back, taken aback by his brother's statement. Using his late wife against him was unacceptable.

"I envy you for finding love the first time," Richard continued. "However, it ended too soon and left a hole in your life. You have been given another opportunity at love and finally having a happily ever after. You can have children and someone by your side to spend your days with. Can you imagine how much pleasure you would gain from sharing your scholarly pursuits with Lady Eleanor? Name me another woman as beautiful and intelligent."

Nathaniel couldn't. Lady Eleanor possessed everything he could possibly want in a woman. She was extraordinary.

"You can't, can you?" said Richard. "Are you willing to let her go just because you're older than her?"

The age difference might not bother others, but Nathaniel wanted to put himself in Eleanor's shoes. He wouldn't want his daughter to marry someone old enough to be her father—it just seemed wrong. She deserved someone who could experience life with her, not a man who already had those experiences and could only impart wisdom to her. Nathaniel wasn't fun and exciting like younger gentlemen. He passed that phase many years ago, and now he was a man with more serious pursuits. She might initially find his scholarly work interesting, but she would soon grow bored. Nathaniel doubted he could keep her happy and her mind stimulated indefinitely.

"I know you're thinking about giving me the dukedom, but I don't want it," Richard continued. "You're better suited to be the Duke of Devonshire."

"You do not know that," Nathaniel protested.

"I do," Richard. "I like my life as it is. It has more freedom and fewer responsibilities. You are perfect as the duke. The family estate has prospered, and our tenants are happy, so now it's time for you to find happiness. You deserve it, old fellow."

Richard briefly patted and squeezed Nathaniel's arm before pulling away to fill his mouth with fruit. Nathaniel remained silent. He heard the concern and love in his brother's words and voice and was touched that he was so concerned about his well-being. It would be easy to simply give in and do what his heart wanted, especially knowing his brother approved.

"You know I'm right," Richard said.

"Perhaps."

His brother smiled and clasped his shoulder. "That sounds better than your denials," he said. "I should write to our mother and tell her you might marry again. She'll be happy to know her eldest has another chance to be happy."

Their mother had settled in a quaint village in the Highlands following the death of their father many years ago. She enjoyed the simple life and rarely came to England but often sent letters.

"Do not bother Mother," said Nathaniel. "Especially with something that is not set in stone."

"I think Fate has already decided for you, Brother," Richard replied. "Imagine if she were to read that she finally has a grandchild? Of course, that shall only happen once you're married to Lady Eleanor and settled, but I imagine Mother would come to live in England again."

The mental picture his brother painted seemed so incredible that he couldn't help but smile. Marrying Eleanor, having children with her, and spending their lives together was what his heart wanted.

"There is that sweet smile again," Richard teased. "Lady Eleanor has certainly marked you, hasn't she?"

Nathaniel laughed. He couldn't help it. The more he considered his brother's words, the more he agreed with them. Perhaps he was the right man for her, just as she was perfect for him. He couldn't allow his doubts to rob him of another chance at happiness. He still feared rejection, but he would always wonder, what if?

"Perhaps I'll speak to Lord Egerton," he decided.

"That is what I like to hear!" Richard cried. "Take action and be happy. I'll support you in every way possible."

Nathaniel nodded his head. This decision felt right, but that didn't mean the marquess and his aunt would approve.