Linger in love

(20) Help from a Duchess

Colin stepped forth from his carriage, smartened up his waistcoat by giving it a little tug and was greeted by the staff at the door.

It did not take long before the Duchess was standing at the door frame with her child Augie on hand. Augie was making some rather rebellious shuffling noises when Colin saw him.

He could not help but feel a little envious, he was older then Daph, yet she was married to the one she loves, and they have a beautiful boy.

Daphne and Simon were setting up Hastings house, Eloise's presentation to the Queen was short lived. Due to the Whistledown delivery interrupting her debut.

Simon was busy in the study, but promised he would be in attendance for her brothers visit. Unfortunately the pile of paperwork thought otherwise.

Daphne had already apologised on her husband behalf, she did not want to pull him away from such important work.

"Brother, what an unexpected surprise" Daphne walked over giving him a kiss on the cheek and passing Augie straight to him.

"Hello little one!" He watched as the baby cooed. "He is getting to be a bit of lump, is he not"

Daphne laughed "I fear one of my arms now looks more slender than the other"

Colin smiled, motioning to the chair "May I"

"I am still your sister Colin, you don't need to ask permission to sit" Colin's face contorted.

"Oh, this isn't a social call"

"I come for advice" he spoke softly, while bumping Augie up and down on his knee.

Daphne's face looked practically elated. Colin was always the brother she was closest too, and the sibling she misses the most. There age gap was such a small one that they always played along with each other when they were children.

"The floor is yours"

He half smiled trying to find the right words.

"At the Vauxhall ball.. " he started to explain in details what had happened from Pens point of view. He could not help but keep reminding her that he does not remember.

Colin was not one who lied, she knew that to be true. She just nodded every now and then so he knew she was paying attention to the details.

She reached for Augie "Colin. I am so sorry. She must have felt terribly confused when you courted her cousin Miss Thompson"

"I wish I could remember, Daph. This is madness"

"Do you have any feelings, more than friendship?" she asked cautiously

"I do not know"

Daphne took an almost disappointed breath, Colin noticed and continued "... but I did dream of her while I was away"

Daphne's eyebrow twerked, for him to go on.

"In the dream I was kissing this lady, yet i did not know it was her. When I realised, I felt a sense of.. "

"Dread. confusion" Daphne shook her head while she questioned hoping for neither reaction.

Colin paused "Happiness."

"Well that is interesting. Oh Colin, you must tell her"

"It was just a dream Daph, and I would want to know for certain she cares for me"

"Why does it matter what she feels? You said yourself that you do not know"

Colin's jaw tightened "Because at the end of the day Daph, I did wrong because her. I need to rectify the mistake"