The Scandalous Love of a Duke Read Online Free Page A

over. “You are no different, other than a little older, and no-one calls me Mary-Rose anymore, it is just Mary now. That is a childish name.”
    “And more worldly,” another female voice reached along the hall.
    John looked beyond Mary and saw his mother had stepped out from the drawing room. She was also still strikingly beautiful, their colouring was hers. But there were now two wings of grey in her hair at her temples. His smile softened. “Mama.”
    “John.” She swept towards him as Mary moved aside, and she was in his arms in a moment and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “You have been away too long. I’ve missed you.” There were tears in her eyes.
    “And I have missed you too, Mama.”
    “Liar,” she whispered before she drew away, low enough so Mary could not hear. It was not a malicious word, just the truth, and they both knew she was right.
    Tapping her beneath the chin, he made a face. “I am home now, anyway.”
    “And I am glad. Come and meet everyone else.” She slipped her arm through his as she turned back towards the drawing room. Mary occupied his other arm, and both women questioned him eagerly as they walked.
    He felt very strange and disorientated to be so besieged.
    When they reached the drawing room though, all hell broke loose. He was mobbed by his various aunts and elder female cousins.
    Once they finally pulled away, hankies in their hands, John was then greeted by the men, his uncle’s by marriage first, and then his male cousins. His stepfather, Edward, held back.
    When the pandemonium ceased, John looked at his stepfather. He stood across the room with a youth beside him.
Robbie
, John’s eldest brother, he looked so like his father it was unmistakable. Robbie was fifteen; the age when awkwardness set in. He seemed to deliberately not look at John. That must be why Edward stayed back, torn between welcoming his stepson and supporting his own son.
    John smiled and approached them. He greeted his brother first. Robbie was already over shoulder height against his father. “Robbie.”
    The boy coloured up with palpable self-consciousness. John’s smile broadened. Robbie had idolised John as a child, but he’d only been eight when John had left. The gap between them was too wide for any real relationship.
    “John.” Robbie took the hand John had offered and shook it limply. But John used the grip to draw his brother into a brief embrace and patted his shoulder.
    “You’ve grown,” John stated the obvious as he let Robbie go. “Would you like me to take you to Tats with me when I look for a carriage and horses?”
    “
Yes
.” The enthusiasm thrust into that one word was completely at odds to the demeanour of his welcome and the boy’s face lit up as Mary’s had done earlier. “God, John. Will you really take me?”
    “If you’re good.” He lifted a closed fist to press to his brother’s jaw, in a masculine gesture of affection, but the lad ducked away laughing.
    “I’m always good. You’ve just not been here to know it,” the cocky brat responded, and John laughed. Then his stepfather interrupted.
    “Perhaps you ought to ask
me
if he’s been good. I think his masters at Eton may have some tales to tell if they were asked.”
    John turned.
    “John.” His name was spoken with warmth and layered with hidden emotion.
    John smiled again. Edward’s hair was still a dark brown, untainted by age. He was younger than John’s mother and yet there were definitely more lines about his eyes, marking John’s absent years. “Father.”
    A twinkle in his eye, Edward said, “Son,” and gripped John’s shoulders firmly. The man had always treated John as a real son, no different to Mary or Robbie or the rest. “I’m glad you are back.” Edward’s grip fell away.
    Robbie then began urging his father for agreement on their outing to Tats.
    ~
    John was woken by a sharp rap on his bedchamber door. He sat up and threw the sheet aside from where it had lain across his