Page 101 of It's All About the Duke

“Can you blame me? She’s beautiful.”

“She is, so go stand by her.”

“Yes, please,” Hawk said. “So we can be by our wives, too. They are much better company than you are.”

Rath grimaced and then grinned. “I can’t believe you were the two I offered to share my port with when I first entered Oxford. I should have kept the whole bottle for myself and left you dry.”

The three of them laughed as they walked over to their wives.

Rath slid his arm around Marlena and gently pulled her close to his side. “Should we stand closer to the entrance?” he asked.

“I don’t think so,” she answered, looking up at him with a smile. “This is Mr. Portington’s night. I think we should stay in the shadows.”

“The shadows? Hmm. That is an interesting turn of phrase.”

“I’m glad you like it.”

“And I’m glad you now write poetry and short stories and not scandal sheets.”

“I’m glad, too. Though I sometimes wonder if—”

“No,” Rath said.

“Not even another book of words, wisdom, and warning?”

“Miss Truth no longer exists. However.” He stopped.

“Yes?” she asked with a hopeful look in her eyes. “However what?”

“I don’t think I would object to you thinking about the possibility of a book of words, wisdom, and warning about gardening.”

Marlena laughed. “Yes,” she said, touching his arm and giving it a squeeze of appreciation. “I could do that. Why hadn’t I thought of that?”

He smiled. “Perhaps you can now that you no longer have to worry about Mrs. Portington or Mrs. Bramwell.”

“That is comforting and I owe Veronica’s happiness to you, Griffin, and Hawk for giving them this wonderful and educational museum.”

“Sometimes I do miss it when you don’t call us the Rakes of St. James.”

“In that case—” She smiled, rose on her toes and lifted her face to his. “—perhaps you should do something scandalous and remind me you are a rake.”

“I think I will.” He lowered his head toward hers to kiss her when out of the corner of his eye he saw the door open. He turned. “At last,” Rath said softly. He leaned away from her and turned toward the entrance. “Marlena,” he said. “Look who has arrived.”

She followed his gaze. Her lips parted. Her eyes widened. “It can’t be,” she whispered. She took a step and faltered.

Rath took hold of her arm and steadied her. “You didn’t,” she whispered breathlessly.

“I did,” he smiled. “It took a while, but I found your aunt Imogene and uncle Fergus, and they have brought two of their sons with them. The other three are well but have families of their own and couldn’t make the journey. I know you’ve missed them and wanted to see them again.”

Marlena threw her arms around Rath and buried her face in his neck as tears of happiness threatened. “I can’t believe you thought to do this for me. I—I don’t know what to say.”

Rath took hold of her upper arms and forced her to look at him. “I love you, dearest wife. I want to do things for you that make you happy. I think the only thing you have time to say isI love you. They are looking at you with smiles and waiting for you to go to them.”

Marlena dried her eyes and sniffed, too. “I love you, Rath.” She reached up and kissed him quickly on the lips and then ran toward her family.

Rath smiled.