Chapter 4
Four
“Ithought I might find you out here.” Warner Scott, the Duke of Scarfield, said as he followed behind his cousin.
Tobias was walking up a hill that overlooked his local church. It was where generations of his family were buried. Where he would one day be laid to rest, beside his brother.
It had been two days since he had told Rowen that they were to be wed.
How could those grey eyes hold so much fire in them?
The scent of violets drifted across the air, making him frown. He shook his head as though to clear it and focused his attention on his cousin.
“Were you telling him of your news?” Warner gestured towards the church. “That you are to be married.”
Tobias nodded, but did not say anything. He kept walking, his cousin falling into step beside him as they reached the top of the hill.
“You really are getting married then?” Warner leaned against the old oak tree, studying him.
“You need not sound so surprised,” Tobias said drily, catching himself as his body made to stand at attention.
Will that habit ever leave me?
“I saw how well marriage suited you and decided I should give it a try.”
He knew that his voice sounded cold. A part of him wanted to change it, but the foggy numbness that draped his world made that nearly impossible. Unbidden, the memory of his exchange with Rowen flashed through his mind.
The numbness rippled like the surface of a pond disturbed by a stone. He clamped down on it hard, as he remembered the way he had enjoyed ruffling her feathers.
What a wonderful shade of scarlet she goes when she is furious.
Warner arched an eyebrow at him. “You know what I mean. Only a few months ago, you were telling me that you had sworn never to wed. That you intended to let the Rothwell line die with you. What has changed?”
“Nothing has changed. That is still very much my intention.” Tobias ran a hand through his hair, his eyes scanning the horizon, taking in the lands that lay around them.
“But—” Warner began, a crease forming on his brow.
“But nothing,” Tobias cut him off. “My marriage to Ro—Lady Rowen is born of necessity, not desire. I swore to her brother that I would look after her, should anything happen to him. I intend to keep all my vows.”
A cold smile spread across his face as he remembered his father’s haggard expression when he had visited him in the stocks. He recalled the last words he had ever spoken to the man, the vow he had made, and the way his murderer of a father had howled in rage and pain.
The cold wind drew him back to the present, and he ran a finger across the scar on his neck absentmindedly. “Our union is a matter of obligation, nothing more.”
“I know a little something about marrying for such a reason,” Warner murmured.
“I am not you. Besides, my fiancée has made it perfectly clear that she has no wish for such an arrangement.”
“You will never charm your way into my bed.”
Rowen’s words echoed in his head.
Not that I want to.
He remembered the way her eyes had flicked to his lips, the way her cheeks had flushed. He ran a thumb across his fingers, remembering how soft her skin had been against his. In another life, he would have delighted in the chase.
“And if she were open to something more? I know what you are like around pretty women.” Warner gave him a pointed look.
“What I was like. And you also know that my reputation is rather overblown.” Tobias clasped his hands behind his back. “Besides, she is James’s sister. If I did anything to dishonor her, his ghost would surely haunt me for the rest of my life.”
“If his ghost did not, Adele certainly would. The widows are all very protective of each other.” Warner let out an amused laugh. “When they thought I had hurt Adele, they barged into my house and—well, let us just say that there will be hell to pay if you hurt your wife.”
“I will bear that in mind, though I doubt it will be a problem.” Tobias thought of Rowen’s grey eyes.
Warner scoffed. “See that it won’t be. I suspect, if you upset Lady Rowen, my wife will be calling for your hide.”
“And no doubt you will deliver it to her,” Tobias drawled.
“You know what they say, Cousin. Happy wife, happy life.” Warner grinned. “And in my experience, it is true.”
“You do seem in good spirits. I do not think I have seen you so happy in a long time.” Though his voice was not warm, Tobias was grateful that he had at least managed to sound sincere if somewhat unemotional.
“That is because I do not think I have ever been this happy. Even if the twins have started walking—well, running really. You know, the other day I had to get David down from the top of the doorframe, and while I was doing that, Fliss decided to climb the bookshelf.” Warner shook his head and let out a half-exasperated, half-amused sigh.
Tobias’s lips quirked into a smile, and he felt a surge of warmth as he thought of his cousin’s children, David and Felicity. “It is a good thing you have two hands. If they are anything like we were, they will keep you on your toes.”
“Your godchildren are little rascals when the mood strikes. Adele insists that they get it from me, but I have assured her that I was a model child.” Warner chuckled and gave him an innocent look.
“Isn’t it bad to lie to one’s wife?” Tobias crossed his arms over his chest.
“I am not lying.” Warner gave him a mock indignant look, before a grin spread across his face once more.
Tobias rolled his eyes. “We practically grew up together, and I know for a fact that you regularly got me into a lot of trouble.”
“You act as though I was the instigator, when more often than not, it was you,” Warner retorted.
“I think you will find that it was an even split between us.” Tobias nearly smiled, and his heart clenched as a heaviness settled over him, the coldness snapping into place like a rubber band. “Or at least that is what Eric would have said.”
He looked back in the direction he had come. From this height, he could see his brother’s resting place and the fresh flowers he had placed there. They had not been the only wreath laid on the headstone. His chest tightened, and he looked away.
He should be here.
“I expect he would have. He was always getting us out of trouble.” Warner’s voice was soft, and Tobias could hear the pain in it.
“He was.”
And now he is gone.
The thought reverberated around his chest like a stone dropped into an empty well. “He was a good man.”
“You are not too bad yourself, Cousin.” Warner placed a hand on his shoulder.
Tobias shrugged him off and moved away from him. “I am not him.”
I will never be him.
Eric had been the firstborn, trained to inherit from practically the day he was born. Tobias dug his nails into his palms.
All I can do is try to honor your memory.
“He would not want you to be.” Warner moved to be closer to him, but made no effort to touch him again. “Besides, you are doing a rather noble thing, marrying a friend’s sister to save her from ruin.”
Tobias barked out a laugh. “Do not make this into more than it is. I am doing what was asked. That hardly needs a celebration.”
“If you say so.” Warner clasped his hands behind his back. “Though surely you will not entirely forego a celebration. A nice wedding ball is just the thing to lift one’s spirits.”
“Says the man who did not even have a wedding breakfast.” Tobias shook his head. “There will be no ball. It would not be proper. The fact that we are getting married at all is stretching the bounds of propriety—her brother has just died. I will not add any more rumors and scandals to her name.”
“How gallant of you.” Warner eyed him carefully.
“I just do not want to deal with the hassle.” Tobias made a dismissive gesture with his hand. “This all needs to be done as quickly as possible. Once her house is repaired, we will go our separate ways, and I will have fulfilled my duty to Jenkins.”
“How efficient. I suppose this means you will have no groomsman?” Warner gave him a sidelong look.
Tobias could tell his cousin was forcing his eyes not to drift towards the graveyard.
“Only if you do not wish to assume the role.” He shrugged.
There was a beat of silence. “I would be honored to.”
“I would ask you to bring David, but I think he is a little young for such a thing.” Tobias gestured vaguely.
“He struggles to sit still for half an hour, let alone an entire wedding ceremony,” Warner admitted. “Though I have no doubt he will want to come.”
“He is welcome to.” Tobias’s smile was genuine. “Perhaps my bride will have Fliss be her flower girl, unless her own daughter is taking on that role.”
“George—I mean, Georgie loves Fliss. She would probably suggest that they share it. Though I am not sure where that would leave young Alistair.” Warner stroked his chin thoughtfully.
“I will make sure that he is not left out. If it comes to it, he can be a groomsman.” Tobias shrugged.
“You may find that Georgie wants to join as well.” Warner’s expression was neutral, as though he expected some kind of outburst from him. “I know she used to borrow Alistair’s clothes on occasion.”
Tobias remembered James mentioning something about his niece and the way she signaled things to the adults around her, and the protectiveness in his voice when he had said it.
That stirred something hot in Tobias’s chest, and he fought to keep his own expression calm. “If she wants to be a groomsman, I see no reason why she should not be. The ton will no doubt gossip, but when it comes to a child, I will not let those weasels dictate my actions.”
There was a long pause as he glared into the distance, aware of his cousin’s eyes on him.
There was no reason a child should suffer for the ton’s small-mindedness. It might be different if the girl were older, but for now? He knew how James had doted on her, knew that he had loved her unorthodox nature.
I will not be the one to break it.
“You know, it is a shame you will not be a father. You would make rather a good one.” Warner clapped a hand on his back and then walked away, leaving him to ponder his words.