Free Jilting the Duke by Rachael Miles Page B

Aidan’s own.
    â€œIf you would like, Ian, I could come by tomorrow, and we can enact another battle.” Aidan spoke without thinking.
    Joyful, Ian turned his face up to his mother. “Would that be acceptable, Mama?”
    Aidan nodded his willingness, and Sophia, seeing his acknowledgment, smiled broadly at Ian. “Of course it’s acceptable. His grace will send us a note letting us know when to expect him.”
    Aidan stood and offered Ian his hand. “Excellent battle, Commander; we meet on the battlefield tomorrow.”
    * * *
    On the way back to the main floor, Aidan stopped on the landing in front of the large Palladian windows to look out over the garden. “I believe we still have much to discuss.”
    Sophia felt her knees weaken, but her hand on the stair railing steadied her. So, he had not forgotten their past, but only delayed broaching the subject. She felt the pressure of her heart heavy in her chest. The silence extended between them for several moments, but she ignored the growing quiet, waiting until she could speak deliberately.
    â€œCertainly, your grace. Would you like to return to the library?”
    â€œNot your grace . . . Aidan.” He gave a distant smile. “We were all so young, even children together. Surely—if nothing else does—that gives you the right of my name.” He turned down the final set of stairs.
    â€œThen . . . Aidan . . . what remains for us to discuss?” She braced herself for his answer, keeping her eyes on the stairs as they descended.
    â€œThe past and the future,” he offered enigmatically.
    She swallowed, waiting for the next sentence.
    â€œAnd by that of course, I mean Tom and Ian. . . .”
    She felt relief and disappointment in the same moment. So, they were to be cordial, ignoring the passion that had once connected them. But she had little time to consider the implications of that position; Aidan had continued speaking.
    â€œShould we conclude our discussion of the guardianship now? Or would some other time be more convenient?”
    Sophia thought of her preparations, her clothes, her hair, the air of distance she’d worked to maintain. Waiting would gain her nothing but more anxiety. “Perhaps we should make some preliminary decisions.”
    Aidan held open the library door, and she entered, walking once more to the middle chair on the assumption he would again pick the couch. This time, Aidan chose the chair next to hers. She tensed.
    â€œI can see why you wish to keep Ian here rather than send him to Harrow. He is sociable, but there is something . . .” Aidan’s tone remained pleasantly cordial.
    â€œLike Tom.” Sophia hoped spending time in the nursery had changed Aidan’s perspective on Ian.
    â€œYes, like Tom. In his manner.”
    â€œTom would have hated Harrow, had you not been there.” She allowed herself to relax slightly. “Ian is not ready to have to work so hard to make friends or to be isolated from family.”
    â€œI can see that. We will keep him with a tutor this year. But I still wish to introduce him to boys already at Harrow, so that he has friends once he is there.”
    Sophia felt such relief that her body seemed to have lost all its sinews. “I’m pleased you agree that’s the wiser course.”
    â€œI’m even willing to leave him with you for the rest of the summer. I have a house not far from here; I could easily see him when I’m in town. At some point he might benefit from spending time on the ducal estate, but there’s no hurry.” His voice was low, confidential, his body leaning toward her just slightly. “Whatever Tom might have imagined, it is for the two of us to decide.”
    Sophia was surprised; he offered her everything she had wished for. All she had to do was agree.
    Then she remembered the look of joy on Ian’s face and the weight of Tom’s letter in her hand. “Delaying