She put a hand to it and gently patted it. “Also your mother’s doing.”
“I heartily approve.”
“What? You don’t like the pencils usually poking out from my curls?”
His affectionate grin had the butterflies in her stomach aflutter. “Those pencils are a hazard. One is likely to get stabbed in the eye if one gets too close to you. Who did your hair?”
“Your mother’s maid, Delia. She is a wonder at styling hair.”
He had not stopped grinning with approval. “Where are your spectacles?”
She sighed. “Delia suggested I leave them atop my bureau.”
He nodded. “Smart girl. I ought to give her a raise in wages.”
“Honestly, Connor,” she said with a roll of her eyes. “Do I always look so awful that you should make such a fuss over me now?”
He reached out and tucked a curl behind her ear. “No, you always look lovely. In a cute, owlish way. But you look particularly breathtaking just now. A truetondiamond. In truth, better than anytondiamond I’ve ever met, and I’ve met more than my share. You are going to make all the young ladies jealous when they meet you. You really look stunning, Eden. I mean it.”
She blushed. “Why did you order me down here so urgently?”
“Just wanted a moment to catch up about my children and tomorrow’s plans. They had so much fun with you today. Would it be so awful if I arranged for all of us to join you on your morning hike tomorrow?”
“Yes, it would,” she said with a light frown. “The entire point of having me here is so that I can keep the children out of your way while you charm the young ladies. Your children are little saboteurs and will not give you the chance to flirt with anyone. So, let us stick to the original plan.”
He did not appear happy with her suggestion. “All right. I’ll take the men out for a morning ride, but I’ll stay behind and walk with you and the children if we happen to cross paths.”
She folded her arms over her chest to indicate her exasperation with him. She did not mind that he was stubbornly objecting to marriage because… Well, it did not bear consideration. But she had no desire to be surrounded by baby faces and made to feel like an old lady. “No. Do you or do you not wish to meet these young ladies?”
“I donot. Have I not been clear about this all along?” He mimicked her stance, crossing his arms over his massive chest. “This is my mother’s foolish idea, not mine.”
Eden sighed again. “You are the duke. You are their host. Just be cordial. You do not have to court any of them. But do not insult them after they have traveled all the way here. Attend to your duties and leave the children to me.”
“Maybe,” he grumbled. “I’m not sure I am happy with this arrangement.”
She arched an eyebrow. “Are you or are you not the one who dreamed up this plan in the first place?”
“If I recall, you did not much like it. You knocked me out of my chair and called me an idiot.”
“I do not recall accusing you of being an idiot.”
“You were thinking it, not that I blame you. But my point is, this is an opportunity foryouto meet someone special. Seriously, Eden. You look beautiful. Do not pass up the chance to meet a young man who could be a potential husband for you. Lothmere’s heir is here. So is the Marquess of Rathburne and his eldest son, Damien. Rathburne has given him the courtesy title of Earl of Hawley.”
“And you think the sons of Lothmere and Rathburne are interested in a spinster of seven and twenty years?”
“Is this how old you are?”
“Yes. Do you not recall pulling my powdered bottom out of your fishpond when I was a plump two-year-old and you were a ruggedly handsome lad of fifteen?”
“I’ll never forget it,” he said with a soft laugh, arching an eyebrow as he subtly inspected her. “In fact, you still have a lovely, plump bottom. No wonder Sir Nero is always trying to pinch it.”
“Connor!”
“Truce!” He laughed and spread his arms in a sign of surrender. “My point is that you don’t look above twenty.”
“Thank you, but why are we speaking of me? Lothmere and Rathburne’s daughters are here, too.”
“I’ve met them,” he muttered, not sounding excited at the prospect of spending time with either of them. “As for their brothers, they are both men of good family and of an age to marry.”
