Page 20 of Love with a Notorious Rake

The heavy tread of boots hitting the stairs grew ever closer. Julian chuckled. “Too late, my sweet. We are caught, good and proper. How fortuitous I locked the door.” He had no sooner spoken when the handle rattled.

“Bert, are you in there?” Jonas called out. “Tens?”

“I’ll be out shortly!” Alberta buried her face in Julian’s chest. “Oh, drat it all.”

“Jonas, we will meet you presently in the parlor,” Julian called out.

There was a long pause. “Oh. Right.” The sound of his footfalls grew quieter as he descended the stairs.

“I believe he has deduced what we’ve been up to,” Julian laughed. “Especially since Garrett and I gave him the frank talk a few months past.”

“How mortifying,” Alberta moaned.

Julian rolled his hips. He was still semi-erect, and could easily go again. Gratifying to discover he still possessed a modicum of stamina. He gently tilted her chin and met her gaze. “No need to be ashamed or embarrassed.”

She smiled. “Truly, I’m not. Well, perhaps a little at Jonas guessing. This was wonderful, and it changes everything, doesn’t it?”

He kissed her, his tongue plunging deep. Now fully erect, he moved in and out of her, increasing the pace as he laid her shapely leg on his hip. “Yes, everything.”

Alberta moaned. “But Jonas—”

“Can wait.”

Twenty minutes later, they strode arm and arm into the parlor. Jonas looked everywhere except at them, obviously flustered.

“What is it, Jonas? No need to be uncomfortable, lad.”

He nodded, then smiled. “Aidan is home! I came to tell you.”

Julian’s breath caught. His oldest son. God.

Alberta clutched his hand. “Go to him. It will be all right, Julian. Speak from your heart. Mend the bridge between you.”

“Thank you.” Her words gave him the courage to do exactly what she’d suggested. Mend the bridge. Speak from the heart. After saying his goodbyes, he headed toward home at a brisk pace.

Julian entered the front hall and Martin stepped forward, taking his hat. “Master Aidan is in the earl’s private study, along with Master Garrett.”

“Thank you, Martin.” He took the stairs two at a time, his heart pounding fiercely in his chest. Upon entering the parlor, he froze as Aidan turned to face him. He was thin; his cheekbones were prominent. Father and son stared at each other across the expanse of carpet. It might as well have been a ravine. Aidan’s expression was guarded, his shoulders straight, as if bracing for a scolding. Julian recognized the stance from years of confrontations. Be damned if he would reproach his son. He crossed the space between them and pulled Aidan into an embrace, something he had not done for longer than he cared to remember. Aidan stood stiffly, not responding. Julian didn’t allow it to deter him; he merely hugged his son tighter. “Aidan. I don’t have the words, except to say I love you. I always have. I am glad you’re home,” Julian whispered.

With a strangled sound that to Julian resembled a choked sob, Aidan returned the hug.

His son was home. Safe. And in his arms.

All was right with the world.

Chapter 6

Aidan hadn’t expected such an affectionate welcome from his father. And when was the last time he’d said he loved him? When he was six? Eight? Ten? Certainly not after the age of ten. Aidan wasn’t sure he could form words. Would he fall completely to pieces? Instead he gathered his inner courage, which had been stored away and safely protected these past several months, and said, “I love you, too.”

They parted, and his father smiled. “Have you seen Riordan?”

“I journeyed there first.”

“Ah. He is well?”

“Exceedingly happy, from all accounts. Oh.” Aidan stepped away from his father, pulled an envelope out of the side pocket of his coat, and passed it to his grandfather. “From Mary Tuttle. I like her. She will be a welcome addition to the family. With Abbie and Megan already in residence, what is another woman about the place?” The men chuckled. “I was practically mowed down by my cousin and Garrett’s collie. And I was knocked to the floor by Jonas Eaton.” Aidan rubbed his shoulder at the memory. “Abbie is ordering tea, by the by, and will inform us when it is ready.”

“In the meantime, please, sit,” his grandfather said. “All together again, except for Riordan, but he is here in spirit, and will be here for good in about a month’s time. I cannot be more pleased.”