Page 14 of The Not So Perfect Duke

Althea had a multitude of questions and gazed into his light blue eyes for answers. His emotions were hidden, although she could read warmth in them. As if that warmth was for her and her alone.

Before she could reply, the butler came to fetch them, so she gathered up her bags and was quickly whisked into the carriage, and they were off. They would be on Cleveland Street within minutes.

“I have a favor to ask,” Damon said, his voice low. “Will you attend my father’s funeral with me? I need you by my side. I cannot explain it. But I will not be able to get through the dismal affair unless you are there.”

Damon looked at her almost beseechingly, and it caused her heart to stutter. How could she say no? “Send the information to me when the plans are made, and I will attend.”

“Thank you. After the funeral, we will go into the case details, and I will make certain bacon and cheese on toast sandwiches are available.”

Althea laughed gently. Then she sobered. “I am sorry about your father. Whether close to him or not, he was your father. Death is so final. There are always things that were not said or done. Such a maelstrom of feelings. Even for you, Damon. Oh. I did not mean that the way it sounds.”

“Nevertheless, how astute of you. Ah, here we are at Cleveland Street.” He held out his hand and helped her stand. Then, he kissed her on the forehead as the door opened. “Until later, Althea.”

As the driver assisted her from the carriage, she absently touched her forehead where he had kissed her. Althea’s skin tingled under her touch. Sighing wistfully, she turned to watch the carriage disappear down the street.

Oh, this won’t be easy, keeping things professional. And finding illegitimate children? Why would he care? The man was such a delicious puzzle. Already her heart was engaged. There was no denying it. How much of it was involved was another question entirely.

Caution would have to be the watchword.

But it may already be too late.

Chapter 4

Olivia greeted him warmly. It was the first time Damon had seen his newly discovered half-sister since returning from Spain.

He recalled what he had said to her when he had discovered their blood connection: “Shall we become acquainted? Could we be friends? Will we, at some point, think of each other as brother and sister? Can it be achieved?”

When Damon said those words aloud, they sounded foreign to his own ears. Not only the uncharacteristic vulnerability, but when had he articulated with such compassion or even formed such anomalous thoughts?

Friends? Brother and sister?

It beggared belief and was far removed from his previous apathetic behavior. Had some horrible shift taken place within him? Or was kindness and vulnerability always within, waiting for an opportunity to escape? Isn’t this why he wished to locate half-siblings? Was he that desperate for some sort of blood connection, no matter how dubious? Did he desire to cobble together some kind of family?

He never had a family, not in the truest sense. All this turmoil of emotion made him feel pathetic and exposed, and Damon nearly stood to depart. But Olivia’s warm and sincere greeting kept him rooted to the spot.

He took her outstretched hand and squeezed it gently before releasing it. “I shall not stay long, but I want you to be aware before it makes tomorrow’s papers. The Duke of Chellenham is dead. Our common father, although he was not a father at all, was he? If ever a more loathsome, reckless, and self-centered man ever lived, I do not know him. Wait. That is not completely true. There is a couple worse in some respects and more than a few on equal footing.”

“How true,” Gideon murmured. “I am sorry for your loss, at any rate, for that pushes you into the dukedom limelight. Welcome to the club. Come, let us take a seat.”

They sat in the parlor, Damon in one of the chairs, Gideon and Olivia on the sofa opposite.

Olivia frowned. “I do not feel anything.”

“Exactly my reaction,” Damon replied. “And perfectly normal under the circumstances. You didn’t know him. Be glad of it. Blast it. I did not know him, either. We were strangers. I will spare you the details of how he was found, all I will say is that it was late at night, and he wasn’t alone.” He mentioned in general terms of the autopsy and its discoveries. “His heart ailment is not passed on to family members, so there’s a mercy.”

Damon exhaled. “There will be a funeral. I will not ask you to attend. I do not expect you to appear.”

“The only reason I would is to be there for you,” Olivia replied.

“Ah. I truly am touched by that, more than you know. I don’t expect either of you. Continue on with your summer plans. I will have someone by my side to offer support. With Parliament not sitting, you are both heading to Foxmont for the remainder of the summer, correct?”

“That we are, until the middle of September,” Gideon replied, taking Olivia’s hand. “We depart tomorrow, in fact. I can postpone it, stay behind, attend the funeral, and join Olivia later.”

“I thank you, but no. Do not alter your plans.”

“Damon, why not join us after the funeral?” Olivia asked. “Just stay for a week, rest, and get your bearings before facing the dukedom and all its responsibilities?”

The heartfelt suggestion caused his heart to hitch. Perhaps this is why he wanted to find any siblings. To have someone give a damn.