The duke would remain in repose in the parlor until tomorrow morning when he would be paraded through the streets in grand style in a black hearse pulled by six black horses adorned in black ostrich feathers and laid to rest at Abingdon Park, the garden cemetery where he’d purchased two burial plots. Although she didn’t think he’d expected to make use of his so soon. His final words to her seemed to relieve her of any obligation to use the one designated as hers: “Love is all that matters. Find someone deserving of yours.”

As though he hadn’t been. It hurt if she contemplated it too much.

Despite being only thirty-seven, he’d designed every aspect of the ceremony that would mark his departure from the world. Tomorrow’s activities would not include her as she was too delicate for such a solemn and grief-filled occasion. The public was not to see her grieving. She was to stay in residence and do it privately.

“He had everything planned out, all the way down to his eulogy. Every Christmas Eve, he would pour himself a glass of brandy and rework his eulogy to better reflect his life at that moment. Who goes to such bother regarding how their death is to be handled when they are so young?” she asked.

“His three siblings never saw the age of twenty. On his father’s side, the members were plagued with ill health and accidents, which is the reason he has no relations from that half of his family. He once told me he saw himself as a lone survivor. It gave him a rather grim outlook, I fear. He always felt the cold scepter of death lurking. On the other hand, he did tend to appreciate more than most each day he was given, tried to make the best of it.”

“Was he faithful to me?”

Squeezing her eyes shut, she shook her head in order to erase the words spoken. But after the passion she’d experienced last night, she couldn’t imagine Lushing not seeking elsewhere the same sort of fire that she’d been unable to stir to life within him. Opening her eyes, she gave Kit a bashful smile, rather certain her cheeks were aflame. “I don’t know why I asked that. Please don’t answer.”

His blue eyes held sympathy and understanding. “He was involved with someone before you were married, but he had no relations with anyone other than you once your vows were exchanged.”

“Did he love her? Why didn’t he marry her?”

“It is not often that dukes are allowed to marry for love.”

“Is she the reason he had a falling-out with his father?”