She emitted a soft breath. “All right. I’ll stay. But the three of you had better run up and thoroughly wash your hands. Connor,” she said to his eldest son, “see that Alex and Priscilla do a proper job of it. You are in charge and must set the good example. Soap and water. Hands fully lathered and scrubbed. I’ll be conducting an inspection before we sit down to dine.”
The children nodded before gleefully running into the house and almost knocking over Brewster in their haste.
Connor turned to Eden and cleared the lump of relief in his throat. “Thank you, from the bottom of my heart. Those little fiends are quite precious to me.”
Eden shook her lovely head. “I know. They really are wonderful children. But their nanny situation is troubling. Another one lost? This is getting out of control.”
He was painfully aware.
But why had he thought of Eden as lovely again? Surely he was feeling gratitude and nothing more.
“We have a houseful of guests about to descend on us tomorrow,” he remarked. “There is no way in blazes I’ll be able to find another nanny to attend them for the entire week this infernal house party is going on.”
She laughed softly as he took her hand to assist her down from her rig. “Poor dear. That is a problem for you. Your mother seems to be obsessed with getting you married off.”
“She’ll never succeed. I am quite happy in my present situation.” He escorted her into the parlor to await the return of his children. “Nor do I have any intention of shackling myself to a little peahen who is young enough to be my daughter.”
“Ah, Lynton. You are quite deluded if you think you will stave off that determined dowager. You are, and shall forever be, her little boy. Do not judge her too harshly, however. She desperately wishes to see you happy.”
He threw his head back and laughed. “I am over forty years old and have graying hair. I am no one’slittle boy.”
She sighed as she made herself comfortable on the settee. “You will always be that to her. She is a good mother and loves you.”
“I am too old to be mothered to death. I am a—”
“If you start spouting off about being a Silver Duke, I am going to kick you.”
He sank into a chair opposite her seat, casually tossing an arm over the back of it as he stretched his legs before him and relaxed. “Why should I not spout off about it? Iama Silver Duke, and proud of the fact. As it turns out, I just left Bromleigh and Camborne. We stopped in Brighton to visit Bromleigh’s cousin, Lady Shoreham. She happens to be throwing her own house party as we speak. Bromleigh and his cousin are determined to see Reggie Burton, his nephew and heir, married to a proper young lady.”
“Married? You are pushing Lord Burton toward marriage when the three of you are so desperately avoiding it? Is that not hypocritical of you Silver Dukes?”
“Not at all. Bromleigh is merely planning ahead. After all, unless he marries and sires sons of his own—which seems unlikely at this point—it is Reggie Burton who will become the next duke. Bromleigh is determined to see him well matched.”
Eden snorted. “Ah, the best-laid plans. I wonder how that will turn out.”
“Fine, I’m sure. It is an excellent plan and necessary to ensure the smooth transfer of the Bromleigh title. As a matter of fact, Bromleigh, Camborne, and I were just talking about howcontent we are as bachelors. Silver Dukes stick together, and none of us will ever get married…or in my situation, remarried.”
“Neither will I ever marry,” Eden said, her manner suddenly wistful. “The last thing I want is the disaster my parents have. I did not realize two people could bear so much hatred for each other.”
Lynton’s heart gave a little tug, for he knew how awful Eden’s upbringing had been. That she had come out of it as well as she had was a compliment to her fortitude and good sense. But it was a shame that their behavior had scarred her as badly as it had. She was kind, intelligent, and probably would have made some fortunate man a good wife.
She had rejected several offers, if the rumors were true. How old was she now? About twenty and four? Perhaps twenty and six. Not that she looked at all on the shelf.
In truth, she was quite pretty if one looked past those owlish spectacles and drab gowns that were serviceable and durable, and designed more for hiking up cliffs than sitting in parlors taking tea. They were not in the least fashionable. In fact, one might say they were defiantlyunfashionable.
“I hate to agree with your mother about your children needing a nurturing hand,” Eden said, interrupting his perusal of her features. “Priscilla especially feels the lack of a mother. Having felt it myself, I know how important it is to a child’s happiness.”
A wild thought came into Connor’s mind, one he needed to discuss with Eden before his Mongol horde came thundering down the stairs and interrupted their conversation. “Eden, about this dilemma…and knowing how my children need a gentle hand to guide them…and seeing as how my mother is determined to put her deranged matchmaking scheme into effect starting tomorrow…”
“Yes?”
He leaned forward, quite excited about this new idea. “And seeing as I will not have a moment to myself as she relentlessly hounds me into taking a wife…we might help each other out here. Would you… Well, I know this may sound absurd to you. But would you… Seeing as my children adore you, and seeing as you would rather be anywhere but in your home whenever your parents are around… Would you consider…”
She pursed her lips and frowned. “Connor, are suggesting that I marry you?”
“What?” He sucked in a breath and his heart momentarily stopped. “Wait…no. I was asking you to be my nanny.”
The air turned oppressively thick as Eden gaped at him. “Your nanny? Yournanny? You are asking me to look after your children while you flirt and picnic and dance, not to mention generally cavort with every peahen at your party? But I am to remain in the nursery tending to Priscilla, Alex, and Connor while you strut about like a silver cock in a henhouse? And this is helpingmeout how?”
