Chapter Eighteen

"W hatever is the matter here?" Wendy rushed in with a stack of white towels in her arms. "I heard a clattering. Are these Felix's tools? What's happened? Why…" And when she stood in the room, Dustin shook his right hand. John held his mouth and blood dripped when he tried to speak.

He gave a shocked look, staring at the blood that had fallen on his hand.

"Oh dear," Wendy said, setting the white towels on the desk. "You, come with me." She signaled to the boy, who promptly jumped away from the chair. "Lexi, I need your help for a moment."

Lexi followed Wendy into the kitchen. "Leave them alone to sort this out," she said. Then she addressed the boy. "What's your name?"

"Herbert, madam."

"Do you like raisin buns, Herbert?"

"Oh yes," the boy said brightly.

"Then fetch the milk from out back, please, behind the second door. I'll crack the eggs and make you some."

As soon as the boy was gone, Wendy pulled Lexi over. "Are they fighting over you?"

"I'm afraid so." She hadn't quite processed it yet but it was rather flattering. She should be shocked, truly, but she loved the thrill of it. "I'm betrothed to the Duke of Duncan."

"John Stonebridge or Dustin Fitzwater?" Wendy asked with wide eyes but all Lexi could do was shrug. She wasn't certain but she hoped it would be Dustin.

"You have two Dukes of Duncan fighting over you?" Wendy didn't hide the admiration in her voice very well.

And Lexi wasn't sure how that could be, but apparently, it was true. Dustin was the actual Duke of Duncan, the one that her father had thought may not have died. How was that possible? And what did it mean? "So it appears."

"Lucky you!"

Except Lexi wasn't sure how it could be lucky. Once word got out—for she knew it would—she would be ruined and worse, she wouldn't be able to save her reputation or that of her family with a marriage contract. Whatever arrangements had been made were probably invalid. Plus, Dustin was a duke. Her head was spinning with questions. She was supposed to marry the Duke of Duncan and her dentist was… but John Stonebridge was… and Father had investigated him. Lexi gasped and pressed her hand to her chest. She could feel her heart pounding under her palm. The lost Duke of Duncan.

But that didn't matter to Lexi; she wanted her dentist-prince. Was there a way even though Mrs. Dove-Lyon had sent John to her? Could she have known she'd sent the wrong man?

Meanwhile, back upstairs, John helped himself to the cup of water on the tray.

"That's Herbert's water," Dustin said.

"Now it's mine."

John swished his mouth and spat blood out. Dustin saw the telltale move of the tongue darting to the aggrieved spot in a patient's mouth. He rolled his eyes.

"Sit, I'll take a look."

"I'm not letting you look into my mouth! Are you mad? You are stealing my bride!"

"Sit down, John. I'm a doctor. And you need my services now." Dustin washed his hands on the stand in the corner and then dried them on a clean towel. "You insulted her today. Plus, she wasn't your bride yet or did she consent to your proposal?"

"It doesn't matter. It's up to her father, and the contract has been signed." John inhaled deeply and cocked his head. The motion seemed to causing him pain and he winced. Then he sat in the chair.

He was too long and his shins were on the footrest. Dustin loosened the screw and lifted the headpiece for support. Then he picked up the cart that had fallen over, took a clean tray out of the top drawer in his cart, and pulled a clean intra-oral mirror out.

John cast him a death stare but opened his mouth wide.

It was remarkable, truly. His teeth were impeccable for a man of nearly thirty. Not a single cavity, not a filling. The sheltered life he'd led, preparing for his spot at the House of Lords, was what he'd been made for. He was the perfect aristocrat. He lived and breathed the rules of the peerage. But he wasn't the right heir in line. Dustin was the duke and his children should inherit, not John's son Herbert.

It had taken too long for him to realize that. Now, he wondered, if it was too late. How could he be restored without affecting John, who had worked so hard and done such a good job to bring the duchy back to some resemblance of its former glory?

"It's your cheek, here." Dustin placed the back of the mirror against a bleeding lesion on the inside of his cheek. The cool metal probably relieved some of John's discomfort. "You bit yourself when I hit you."

John sputtered a laugh. "I never bite myself."

"All right then, I bit your cheek with my fist. Does it make more sense for your ego?"

They both burst into laughter and even as John winced, his mien brightened in mirth as it had when they were children.

"Maybe a little." John sat up and pulled one leg away from the footrest.

Dustin put the tools away. "You don't need my service after all."

A moment of silence.

"That doesn't mean I don't need you, Cousin. Herbert and I, we don't have any other family."

"Is why you agreed to marry Lexi so quickly?"

"Yes and no. I don't ever expect to fall in love again. Once it comes, you have to hold on to it. My wife, she was… she was…"

"I'm sorry I wasn't there to help you and Herbert when she died."

"The doctors said there was nothing they could do for her. She just faded in my arms." The last words came as more of a sob. Dustin knew John had loved her; they'd been married early, and it was a natural and easy match.

"I should have been there for you and Herbert."

John raised his eyebrows. "I'm not neglecting my son, you know. I didn't like your insinuation at all. The dukedom is a job with responsibilities much greater than for just one man."

"Even so. Being a father is important too. A boy of thirteen shouldn't get chocolate to go to sleep. It doesn't replace the love he needs."

"I love him very much!"

"Does he know that? Do you tell him?" Dustin thought of his own father. Distant. More concerned with making spurious investments and speculations than his own son. His heir.

"When? When should I tell him? On weekends at the balls? They are work functions, you know, not leisurely dancing events. Or on weekdays at the club? Again, it's all business. And then there are sessions of the committees and—"

"You have to make time for him, John. He's your son. And if you want to groom him for greatness, he needs to have a strong heart not just a strong hand, to raise him."

"That's what I wanted Lexi for," John frowned. "She seems to have a strong heart. After all, she came to you and demanded a kiss; that's pretty strong."

"She wanted a kiss and only a kiss." Dustin pointed out. "It was a girlish request, based on fancy and fantasies." He paused as a realization occurred to him. "I'm sure it was a reaction to the marriage contract. She doesn't love you any more than you love her. And knowing Lexi—" and those books, and Wendy, who was also obsessed with them—"well, maybe she just wanted a kiss from a man of her own choosing before she marries a man her father has given her to."

If only he hadn't made that foolish declaration, his heart wouldn't be twisting so painfully in his chest. But what was done, was done; there was no turning back now, and his own feelings were of no consequence.

He took a deep breath, attempting to steady the tumult within him, and focused on his cousin. "Your son, John, doesn't need another mother. You cannot replace his own mother with just another woman. A mother is more than just a female. You know that. You can't replace your wife with any woman—you already said you don't expect to love again. So you can't expect that for Herbert. You have both lost a woman who you loved. Grieve with him."

"You are mad! The boy will think I'm a milksop."

"He will respect you for facing your feelings and fears. And you will lead by example so he can grow up strong and loved. Chocolate and treats will not replace a parent's love. Herbert needs you to love him twice as much with his mother gone now."

His Adam's apple bobbed and he blinked. "It's hard, Dustin. It's so hard."

"I'm sure it is. But you can master things that are so much harder, and you can face your grief together."

"You should take your own advice, Dustin. Face hard things."

It was awkward, having your own words used against you. "What do you mean?"

"You are running from the dukedom. From our family's responsibility. It needs both of our help. The people it supports, the tenants—"

"Is the village around Starcliff in such disarray?"

"You have to come and see for yourself. They need you, Dustin. Stop running." John gave him an appealing stare.

Dustin shook his head. "I'm not running. I'm trying to stop Corrigan, the middleman who cheated my father."

"Last I heard he's made it to Boston. He's out of your reach."

"He doesn't have to be. I can go to him—"

"There's a warrant for him here. If anyone catches him on English soil, he's going to the gallows."

"Yes. I wanted to get to America before he did. Is it too late? I was heading to the dental college in Maryland but now…."

"Perhaps you can still catch him. Boston is in Massachusetts."

"What is your meaning? You said I shouldn't run."

And truth be told, Dustin didn't want to run anymore. He liked Felix's practice here on Harley Street. He was happy. And…there was Lexi, who'd captured his heart. She was here. If the contract with John could be dissolved. If she'd have him…

"Maybe we can work something out where you can capture him and fulfill your responsibilities for the duchy."

And perhaps Lexi could be with me?