Read Online A Visit From Sir Nicholas by Victoria Alexander - Free Book Online Page A

Nick aimed his cigar at his uncle. "That, Frederick, was the whole purpose of my departure."
    "I am not speaking of wealth or success." Frederick studied him for a moment. "I see a marked difference in your manner."
    "Older and wiser I should hope."
    "As do we all, but that's not what I mean." Frederick considered him thoughtfully. "Ten years ago, even on your last visit, you would not have sat calmly in your seat without fidgeting or leaping up to pace the room. You are far less restless than you once were. There is a distinct air of calm about you."
    "I have conquered my doubts, the demons of uncertainty that have long haunted me, if you will." Nick's voice was casual, as if his words were of no consequence—and perhaps, at this point in time, they weren't.
    Nick had always known it was important to him to succeed where his father had failed, but he'd never quite understood how deep that desire was until he had achieved success. It was as if with success came peace. "Indeed, one could call me satisfied with my life. Even content."
    "As admirable as that is, there is more to life than the accumulation of wealth. Or at least there should be," Frederick said. "A man needs a wife and an heir to make his life truly complete."
    "Yet I see you are no closer to marriage now than you were a decade ago."
    "And I freely admit there is an element lacking in my life that I regret rather more often than I should like to acknowledge. However, I am not dead yet." Frederick's voice was cool. "I confess I have kept my eye on a lovely young widow of late."
    Nick laughed. "Excellent, Uncle. I am glad to hear it. Perhaps this one will finally get you to the altar."
    "I wouldn't wager on it," Frederick murmured. "My interest in her is not of that nature."
    "Why not?"
    "We simply do not suit. I have known her for much of her life, she is the daughter of old friends. I have a difficult time thinking of her as a grown woman even though she most certainly is."
    "Who is this widow?" Nick said slowly.
    "She has two sons," Frederick continued without pause, "and while I am not opposed to children in a theoretical sense—they are the future of the nation and all that—I am not entirely certain I wish to play the role of father at this stage of my life."
    "Uncle." A warning sounded in Nick's voice.
    Frederick ignored it. "Regardless, she is still eminently eligible, of good family and an excellent disposition. Beyond that, the years have been most kind to her. The lady is every bit as lovely now as she was, oh, say, ten years ago. Possibly more so."
    Nick raised a brow. "Are you quite finished?"
    "For the moment." Frederick pointed his cigar at his nephew. "But only for the moment."
    "Then am I to understand that this is a beginning of a campaign on your part?" Nick downed the rest of his drink.
    "I hadn't thought of it as a campaign, but," Frederick shrugged, "that's not entirely inaccurate, and I rather like the way it sounds."
    "Then be prepared to accept defeat." Nick forced a casual note to his voice, placed his cigar in the saucer on the table beside him, and got to his feet. "I have no intention of pursuing Lady Langley."
    "Why not?"
    Nick crossed the room to the decanter of brandy on the desk. "Charles was one of my closest friends."
    "And?"
    "And nothing, Uncle." Nick drew his brows together. "I cannot betray his memory by pursuing his wife."
    "His widow ."
    "Semantics." Nick shrugged and refilled his glass. "She was, and always will be, Charles's wife."
    "He's dead and gone now."
    "From her life, but not from her heart." Absently, Nick moved to the nearest bookshelf and perused the titles.
    "Perhaps."
    Nick glanced at his uncle. "What do you mean, 'perhaps'?"
    "Nothing really. Rumor, gossip, innuendo, nothing of significance, no doubt." Nick narrowed his gaze. His uncle was not usually this vague. "What are you trying to say?" Frederick shrugged. "Only that one truly never knows what goes on behind the closed doors of a marriage. What