Page 4 of Always the Lyon Tamer

John sighed. This was one to discuss with his brother.

Perhaps he had been there before.

Stretching and yawning as he rose, John paused only to pull a coat over his waistcoat, and then stepped into the brisk spring air. It was only two days away until the fifteenth, and spring’s warmth had not yet arrived. William and Charlotte only lived a few doors down, and as he strode over to their front door, John did not even bother to knock.

“Do not worry yourself, Walters,” John said breezily as the man stepped forward in the hallway, horrified his master’s brother had entered unannounced. “I only dropped by for a quick word with William. Where is he?”

The butler drew himself up stiffly. “His Grace is in the breakfast room, but I warn you—”

“No need to warn me. I have seen him eat breakfast plenty of times,” said John cheerfully.

In hindsight, he should have heeded the servant. John’s mouth fell open as he stepped into the breakfast room to see a scene of absolute chaos.

Jam was smeared across the white linens on the table, with Charlotte at one end trying desperately to calm a screaming Elizabeth. John grinned at his niece.Only six months old and already determined to make her opinion known.

The other end of the table was just as hectic. William sat having a nonsensical conversation with his son—which shouldn’t be surprising, considering that William the younger was only just over two years of age.

“No—no, William, do not put that in your—careful with that!”

John laughed. Long gone were their bachelor days together, when he and William would go about town, attending balls and leading relaxed lives.

“What is going on here?”

His brother turned his tired face to him, and little William squealed to see his favorite uncle.

“Nursemaid has some sort of illness,” said the Duke of Mercia. “That woman is worth her weight in gold, but I only discovered such yesterday when she took to her bed. How does one get anything done with—no, not the teapot!”

Lurching forward to prevent his heir from scalding himself, William then collapsed back into his seat. The small child started running around the table.

“So, she has her bed, and you have these delights?” John could not help the joy in his voice. He loved his niece and nephew and would love all the others that came his way now both his sisters were married.Still…what terrors!

“Something like that,” William sighed. “Grab the little man, will you?”

John reached for the toddler, who giggled furiously in his uncle’s arms. “What do you think you are doing, little man, giving your father such a difficult time?”

Unabashed, the child giggled and flung his arms around him. “Jojo!”

“That is the problem with Pru getting married,” said John as he sat down, keeping a firm grip on his nephew as Charlotte smiled. “Your reserve nursemaid is gone!”

Charlotte nodded. “I approve of her choice, of course, but it was rather inconveniently timed!”

John laughed. Prudence was the youngest Lennox and, in her brothers’ eyes, far too young to marry—even if she was near twenty years of age.

“I couldn’t deny her, though a part of me wished to,” William said heavily. “Anyone who can find someone in the world with whom to go through life is fortunate indeed, and she was welcome to that happiness once she had found it.”

“Jojo,” murmured little William softly.

John looked down to see the rambunctious boy falling asleep in his arms, already worn out by his adventures of the day. It was difficult not to feel a little jealous of his older brother.

The closest John had ever got to matrimony…

His heart twisted.Miss Rebecca Darby.There was a woman who was, in many ways, perfect for him. He had been enchanted with her beauty, there was a little wit there if you could find it in all the chattering, and her presence intoxicated him.And yet…

Something had held him back. Her company and beauty were perfect. But he couldn’t…

John swallowed. He had forced himself to stop thinking about Miss Darby after he sent her that letter. If he was not going to propose marriage to her, he did not wish to be unfair. She needed to be free to find someone else.

Besides, contrary to public knowledge, the Marquess of Gloucester was a shy sort. Devilishly charming in public, naturally, but that was a carefully constructed persona.