He was a short-tempered duke with three demon children and a meddlesome mother. Not to mention he was already over forty, and his hair—which he still had, thank goodness—was starting to turn gray.
Why would she ever choose him over Aubrey?
Chapter Seven
Eden knew shehad overdone it last night and was going to regret not getting to sleep until the wee hours of the morning. She never stayed up this late but was glad she had done so this time, because she never would have gotten her moonlight dance with Connor if she had retired earlier.
Yes, completely worth it, she decided, even though her head was pounding and her legs felt like lead weights had been attached to them.
She hoped her stamina would last into the afternoon. She and the children intended to return to Lynton Grange before the four o’clock hour, when tea was served.
She could skip it and grab a much-needed nap instead. Yes, that was a workable plan.
After preparing herself for the day with Delia’s assistance—it seemed Duchess Evelyn was going to send her maid to Eden every morning and throughout the day in order to keep her as stylish as possible, even while on her bird-watching excursion—Eden went upstairs to fetch the children.
She had allowed Delia to fuss over her hair and attire without complaint, but one thing she would not compromise on was wearing her spectacles, which were now firmly ensconced on her nose.
She was just about to enter Priscilla’s room when she was brought up short at the threshold. Connor was there, bent onone knee beside his daughter while he plaited her hair and tied it with a bow. Eden’s heart did leaps and flips as she watched him. “Oh,” she said when he suddenly looked up and saw her standing there.
“Good morning, Eden.” He rose to his full height now that he had finished his task, and smiled at her.
Had a handsomer man ever existed?
“Good morning,” she replied. He must have just returned from an early ride, because he was dressed quite informally. In truth, he looked dashing in a white lawn shirt that stretched across his broad chest and caressed the rippling muscles of his arms.
He had held her in those arms last night. Danced with her under the moonlight.
“Um, I see you have been out riding.” She tried not to blush as she perused the rest of him. He wore buff breeches and had on some old brown riding boots. His hair was slightly windblown, and a few curls clung to his damp neck in sinful temptation.
“Yes, my usual morning routine. I saw no reason to change it.”
“Of course… Did others join you?”
“Surprisingly, no. Everyone seems to be sleeping in except for us.” He was eyeing her with amused detachment, no doubt sensing her discomfort after he had held her in his arms last night.
“They appear to be more sensible than we are.” She then turned to Priscilla. “Don’t you look lovely? And your hairstyle is sheer perfection. Your father did an excellent job. I love the pretty bow he tied in your braid.”
Priscilla took hold of her father’s hand, because this little girl was not keen on his leaving. She truly looked adorable. But then, all of Connor’s children had his good looks. She smiled proudly. The girl was little and sweet, as cuddly as a precious lamb.
Connor gathered her hiking gear. Eden’s heart melted as she watched him prepare his little girl for their outing. He slung her pouch over her slight shoulder, placed the binoculars to hang from her neck, and put the sunhat Eden had let her borrow atop her head. All one could see peeking out from under the hat was Priscilla’s big eyes and little cherry lips.
“I wanted to kiss my children and wish them all a good day,” he explained, although he really did not owe Eden a reason for visiting his own offspring. They were his flesh and blood.Shewas the interloper among them.
“And compliment them on the fine letters they wrote?” Eden suggested, since the boys and Priscilla had truly agonized over that punishment. But they took it seriously and wrote surprisingly touching letters. Sarah and Millie had shown her the ones written to them.
Connor smiled. “Yes, I was about to do exactly that…now that you mention it.”
He knelt again so that he was once more at Priscilla’s eye level. “I am so proud of you, sweetheart,” he said with all the warmth of his love. “You wrote beautiful notes of apology.”
“Thank you, Papa.” She threw her arms around his neck, lunging at him so that he almost fell over.
He laughed and kissed her on the cheek. “Promise me you will behave yourself today. Stay close to Eden and do what she tells you.”
Priscilla nodded. “I will.”
He had a similar conversation with the boys, who beamed with pride as he spoke to them. Of course, one could only hope the exercise had made them more thoughtful, and they would not get into mischief again. Eden did not know if the letter writing had beenthatsuccessful. It was too much to hope they would suddenly change their devilish ways.
After all, the point was not to turn them into obedient drones. They did not live in a beehive. They were meant to be spirited and adventurous.
