She shook her head. “It is a lovely city, and there is plenty to see and do there. But it was the endless round of parties and being put on display that I did not like very much.”
“Like the house party we are about to have?” Priscilla stared up at her.
Eden nodded. “A house party can be just as cutthroat as any London ball. I am not very good at dancing. And I am not a good flirt. Most young ladies and bachelors are there because they want to find someone to marry, so everyone is always putting on a show.”
“Like a peacock showing his tail feathers to attract a female?” young Connor asked.
Eden nodded again. “Yes, exactly that.”
“Don’t you want to marry?” Priscilla asked.
The questions seemed to be getting quite personal, but Eden did not appear to mind that Connor’s children were interrogating her. She took their questions quite seriously and pursed her lips as she gave each one thought before responding. “Back then, I did not want to find a husband for myself.”
“What about now?” Alex asked.
She shrugged. “I don’t know. It feels like a great effort to find the right gentleman now. I am very independent and have grown used to having things the way I like them. The man would have to be someone very special for me not to mind all I would have to sacrifice when entering into our marriage. I would only ever marry for love. He would have to love me, too.”
“My papa could love you. And we would love you, too,” Priscilla said earnestly.
Eden hugged her. “As I love you. I have always said I have the best neighbors. But I think your father’s choice is his own to make. I’m sure that if he chooses to take a wife, she will be someone quite special whom you are all going to adore.”
Priscilla appeared determined to pursue her questions, but a stag chose just that moment to leap into the meadow and distracted her. Then several does came to forage among the underbrush, and the conversation was forgotten as the children turned their attention to the family of deer.
Eden took out her notebook and pencil in order to sketch the stag. The children all had their binoculars out and were scouting the meadow scrub and brambles for all the animals they could find. Connor helped them by taking on the role of note keeper, making a list of all the hares, deer, foxes, chipmunks, and birds they spotted.
His heart melted over their innocent excitement. He loved being a part of this moment.
Eden glanced over and smiled at him.
This was all because of her.
He smiled back, wishing there was some way to properly thank her for bringing this about. She had done it effortlessly. And wisely, too. How did she know his children would enjoy this adventure so much? Perhaps she was taking them on all the things she wished she had done as a child with her father.
Gad, what rotten parents she had.
He returned his attention to his children once the deer ran back into the copse to find shade as the sun climbed in the sky. The meadow was in full sun now, for the last of the mist had burned off even from the little stream that ran through it.
“All right, time to head to the beach,” Eden announced.
Everyone packed up their binoculars and other supplies and started off toward the beach. This time, Priscilla held on to Eden’s hand as they marched at the head of their family queue.
Connor watched them as he took up a position at the rear of their line, smiling as a gust of wind caught Eden and Priscilla’s identical straw hats. They each stuck a hand to their head to keep the floppy hats from flying off, even though the hats had ribbon ties on them to keep them secure. But the combination of flimsy ribbons and broad brims were no match for the force of that gust.
Eden immediately helped to right Priscilla’s hat, and then fixed her own. The two held hands again as they proceeded on their way.
When had Mary ever done this with Priscilla? He could not recall a single time his wife had ever gone exploring with their children. His mother, even in her vaunted position as dowager duchess, might have done it were she a little younger. But she saved most of her running around for shopping excursions along Lynton’s high street.
When the beach came into view, he and his boys ran ahead. The day had grown hot and they needed to cool off. Of course, they could not shed all their clothes, so they merely dumped their pouches, took off their hats, boots, and jackets, and then raced into the water, diving in wearing their shirts and trousers.
His housekeeper, Mrs. Dayton, was going to box his ears. But surely she could get salt water out of their clothes with a thorough washing. Of course, he would have to sneak back into the house through the servants’ entrance, for his mother would also box his ears if he showed up sopping wet to greet their guests. But there was still time before the first of them arrived, wasn’t there?
He glanced over to the shore and saw Eden and Priscilla gather their discarded garments and place them in an orderly pile near the shaded beach stairs. Eden then helped Priscilla off with her half boots and afterward took off her own. They did not jump in, but frolicked at the edge of the water, raising their skirts as the waves broke at their feet.
Some waves came in stronger than others.
Connor tried not to gape as Eden raised her skirt to her thighs when a particularly strong swell surprised her and Priscilla. They shrieked with glee and darted back onto the sand, but not before he had caught a glimpse of Eden’s legs.
Was that his heart exploding in his chest?
