Page 11 of More or Less a Countess
Nick gripped his teacup with numb, white fingers. He was aware he’d be required to marry at some point, but some point wasn’t necessarilynow, was it?
“Duty. Christ, what a grim word that is.”
His aunt’s mouth thinned. “Is that meant to be amusing, Nicholas? Because I don’t find it so. The fate of the Dare Earldom lies with you, and it’s time you began to behave like a proper heir.”
Nick stiffened. His father used to say the same thing, except when he told Nick to behave like an earl, what he meant was Nick should behave like Graham.
Become Graham.
At first, right after Graham’s death, Nick had tried—God knew he’d tried—but it hadn’t taken long before it became clear to them all he’d never be the man Graham had been, and even clearer his father would never be able to forgive him for it.
In the end, it wasn’t terribly painful to disappoint someone who expected no better from him, and he’d walked away from his father easily enough.
But his aunt—no, disappointing her was something else entirely.
For all her imperiousness, Nick loved his aunt with the singular fierceness of a boy who’d lost his mother at a tender age. When Nick was a child, his father had been kind enough in a careless sort of way, but the late Earl of Dare had only had enough love for one child, and he’d lavished it all on Graham, his heir.
Nick hadn’t ever blamed his father. Everyone who knew Graham loved him with that same kind of intense devotion, including Nick. He’d worshipped his older brother, and Graham had always been his best friend and most loyal champion, even when Nick hadn’t been worthy of either distinction.
But it had always been Nick’s aunt who’d trulyseenhim. At best, his father had simply tolerated him with a kind of careless, exasperated affection, but his aunt understood him. After Graham’s unexpected death, she’d been the one to suggest Nick leave England. Her insistence he journey to the Continent had likely saved his life.
He didn’t want to disappoint her, ever, and yet it was inevitable, wasn’t it? It was what he did, after all. She’d ask for something he was incapable of giving, and it would cause a rift between them that could never be repaired.
When the silence had stretched to the snapping point, Lady Westcott spoke. “Louisa Covington remains unmarried. She’s as lovely as she ever was, and you’ve always been fond of her.”
Nick’s blood turned to ice. Surely she wasn’t suggesting…
No. He must have misunderstood her. “Louisa Covington.”
“She’d do honor to the title. She was born and bred to become a countess.”
She had been, and not just any countess: the Countess of Dare.
“Graham’s countess, Aunt. Not mine.”
His aunt went on as if he hadn’t spoken. “And of course the connection between the Dares and the Covingtons is—”
“I could marry Graham’s former betrothed, Aunt. I could spend the rest of my days in West Sussex at the estate that should have been his, and wake every morning with his former valet looming over my bed”—Nick’s voice wasn’t quite steady—“and I’d still never be Graham.”
Her expression didn’t change, but Lady Westcott’s shoulders stiffened. “I’ve never expected that of you, Nicholas. It’s always beenyouwho expected it, and it seems two years on the Continent hasn’t changed that. How long do you intend to keep hiding?”
As long as it takes.
But there wasn’t any point in saying it aloud. There wasn’t any point in anything but negotiation now, because the problem, after all, was simple enough. He was back in England, his aunt would do everything she could to keep him here, and he’d do everything he could to escape.
He regarded her in silence for a moment, then threw out his opening gambit. “Come now, my lady. Let’s get down to it, shall we? First of all, I will not marry Louisa Covington.”
He had no wish to marry at all, but he was the earl now, and he was well aware legitimate heirs were not negotiable. He’d have to marry sooner or later, so it may as well be now, while he was already in England. “I’ll choose the lady.”
“I don’t know what possible objection you can have against Louisa. She’s lovely, and such a kind, agreeable young lady.”
“Oh, you want to know my objection? Very well. It’s a small thing, really. I object to her on the grounds that she’s still in love with my dead brother.”
“Even more reason for her to marry. Graham is gone, and Lady Covington is anxious for Louisa to move on. She needs a husband, and you can’t spend the rest of your life running wild on the Continent. You need a stabilizing influence, and Louisa can provide that.”
“Stabilizing influence? Good Lord. That sounds like a grim prospect for poor Louisa. Why not just hire the nanny, and be done with it?”
“Once again, Nicholas, I amnotamused.”
