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“Daddy, Don’t Marry Her!” — Three Triplets Crashed the Duke’s Wedding, and He Recognized Them

“Daddy, Don’t Marry Her!” — Three Triplets Crashed the Duke’s Wedding, and He Recognized Them

Chapter 14

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"Does that not enrage you?""Of course it does! But if I spend my strength chasing print, the children eat mine with breakfast."He looked through the window toward the lawn. The triplets were outside with Clarabel and two footmen: Pippa was organizing a race, Milo was arguing with a hoop, Kit was searching pockets for smuggled cake.Rowan said, "What do you want me to do?"Evelyn came to stand beside him. "Give them something true to live inside. Let the lies tire themselves against it.""Legal recognition?""Eventually.""Eventually?""Do not rush them into your name as if it is a cloak you throw over rain. They have had a name: mine. Hart.""Yes. They can keep it."She looked at him. "What?""They can keep Hart. Add Vale if they choose later. I will not erase the name that sheltered them."Her face changed; for once, no quick answer came. "That will anger your family.""My family is being rearranged by triplets, among others."She laughed softly. He treasured it and did not show how much.A week after the interrupted wedding, Lady Clarabel left Ashcombe for Bath. She left in a carriage purchased with money Rowan helped force from Lord Bramwell's delayed settlement. Lord Bramwell raged; Clarabel smiled. It was magnificent.The triplets stood on the steps to say goodbye. Pippa handed Clarabel a folded paper: "Rules for Bath."Clarabel opened it. "'Do not marry wrong gentlemen,'" she read aloud.Pippa nodded. "First rule."Milo added, "Second is check doors."Kit said, "Third is pack biscuits."Clarabel folded the paper carefully. "I shall obey all three." She turned to Evelyn. "You have extraordinary children.""They are expensive and nervous.""Most worthy things are." Then Clarabel faced Rowan. "Do not become noble at her. It is exhausting.""I will try.""Try harder than that.""I will."She kissed his cheek—not as a lover, but as a friend who forgave selectively. Then she climbed into the carriage and left with her future in her own hands.Evelyn watched the carriage disappear. "I like her.""So do I.""That is inconvenient.""Many true things are."She glanced at him. "Do not become philosophical, either.""Noted."The solicitor's first proposal arrived two days later. It was full of proper language and improper assumptions: it named Rowan as natural guardian, and it named Evelyn as mother with residence privileges.
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“Daddy, Don’t Marry Her!” — Three Triplets Crashed the Duke’s Wedding, and He Recognized Them

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