Free Duke Ever After (Dukes' Club Book 5) by Eva Devon Page A

remarkable. He had a way with people that should have been impossible, and yet, despite everything, a few moments in Tony’s presence generally made people malleable to whatever he suggested.
    The boy had traveled the world on Aston’s ships and he’d seen things that no other English youths had. In fact, he’d allowed the lad so much freedom that Tony had more knowledge of the world, women, and the strange workings of human relationships than any other youth of his acquaintance. It meant that the boy was far more clever about people than most old men.
    Such knowledge hadn’t stopped him from warning Tony, in no uncertain terms, that he was not to attempt to seduce Lady Rosamund.
    Tony had a way of appealing to all women, high and low alike. He was cheeky, fun, and completely won them over with his boyish charm before suddenly turning into what he was in truth, an absolute rakehell.
    After all, Tony looked like his mother. Dark with shocking blue eyes. He also had his mother’s winsome and good-natured personality. Unlike his father, Tony had never had a dark layer to his view of the world. At least. . . Not yet. And frankly, Derek hoped that Tony could keep such optimism throughout his life.
    It was Tony’s optimism that would be the kindest way to let Lady Rosamund down. The boy, who probably shouldn’t know what his father got up to when it came to the ladies but did anyway, would be gentle and lighthearted about the whole thing.
    Lady Rosamund might be disappointed but then she’d realize she’d been saved a great mistake. She’d return to her brother. She’d have had a bit of an adventure. And he’d feel secure in the knowledge that he had made the right decision. . . Something which did actually matter to him.
    The only regret he had was that he was missing Christmas with his son.
    Perhaps. . . Perhaps this year, he’d take Tony out of school and they could travel the world as they used to. He’d missed having him by his side.
    “Aston?”
    Derek sat at the pianoforte and blinked.
    “Aston?” The Duke of Darkwell prodded his shoulder. “Forgotten the notes, have we?”
    Derek cleared his throat and realized he’d been sitting at the instrument without playing a single chord.
    Bloody hell.
    Thinking quickly, he proclaimed, “I am transported by the vision of your wife dancing about the room.”
    “Well, stop, or I’ll transport you to a permanently unpleasant place,” Darkwell ribbed.
    Derek bared his teeth in what he hoped was a merry expression. “I think I’ll have a wander about the castle. No doubt the ladies have worn you out with all that dancing.”
    Darkwell’s brows drew together. “Are you well?”
    “Marvelous, old man. Marvelous.” He pushed back from the keyboard before any more questions might come his way.
    He grabbed a bottle of champagne as he swaggered out towards the nearest darkened hall, leaving the dukes and duchesses staring after him.
    There was no destination to his sudden departure or wanderings. All he knew was he needed to be alone. It didn’t help that he was alone in her home.
    Visions of her lithe, strong body slipping down the halls came to mind.
    It had been years since he’d ever been so thoroughly shaken by another person. . . In fact, he wasn’t certain he ever had been. He’d cultivated a deep distance from all those about him since his childhood. His only exception was Tony.
    Tony was his heart. Tony made him smile and thank God he was alive.
    In fact, if Tony hadn’t been born, Derek felt fairly certain he would have thrown himself into the Thames in a drunken bout of self-pity.
    It had been a blessing the day the child had arrived on his doorstep, his hand clutched in his aunt’s. Tony’s mother had died. . . And well, there simply weren’t the funds to take care of him. Derek had had no idea of the child’s existence. He’d taken one look into the blue eyes and lost his heart forever.
    He frowned, pulled away from the pleasant memory and