“He is young, handsome, and sincerely appears to like her,” his mother went on. “So, keep to your Silver Duke pact and live out the rest of your days a shriveled old man. But I am going to do all in my power to see Eden happily matched.”
That said, she was about to leave, but turned back to him again. “Consider this a declaration of war.”
Before he had the chance to respond, Eden’s mother burst in. “At last, you are back!”
Great, now he had to deal with this woman’s high drama. Well, she had to be anxious about her husband’s condition, even if the reason was merely to save her own hide.
She was followed in by Lord Aubrey and his irritating sister. Yes, Persephone was beautiful and charmingly coquettish, but she was little more than a spoiled child.
She wasn’t Eden. She lacked Eden’s quiet grace and intelligence.
And he couldn’t stand her flirtatious giggles and eyelash batting, as though dust particles were incessantly falling into her eyes.
“Well, Your Grace? Is my wretched husband alive?” Lady Darrow asked, taking on the role of put-upon victim.
“Yes, he lives. Dr. Weaver is with him now, sewing stitches in his head. I think it is best you stay here tonight. My housekeeper will have a room prepared for you, and—”
“Oh, I can take Eden’s room. You’ve given her a lovely bedchamber. I doubt she’ll be using it tonight, since she will want to stay with her father. She always takes his side,” she said with a practiced pout.
Did this woman believe her pouting would endear her to anyone? Connor itched to toss this irritating woman out of his house. “That chamber is Eden’s to use as she wishes for the duration of the house party. You will have a room of your own, and it will certainly not be Eden’s.”
“I do not see why—” She took a step back in response to his glower.
“Have I not made myself clear, Lady Darrow? That is Eden’s room. I will have you sleep in the barn if you dare attempt to take it over for yourself.”
Everyone gasped.
He thought he was behaving with remarkable restraint. “I’ll send word for your lady’s maid to bring over whatever you’ll need for tonight and tomorrow morning.”
“Let me carry that message,” Aubrey said, stepping forward.
The ladies leaped at his offer, both Lady Darrow and his own traitor of a mother eagerly agreeing to the suggestion. His mother cast him a victorious smirk.
“All right,” he said between clenched teeth, unwilling to be pushed into declaring himself for Eden. Whatever he felt was between him and Eden alone, and would be dealt with in due course.
He tried to go about the business of playing host for the next few hours, but he was going out of his mind with annoyance by the time supper came around. Neither Aubrey nor Eden had returned, and to make matters worse, his children were acting up again.
His mother must have taken pity on him, for she chose to come to his rescue as he stood in the entry hall with Priscilla crying in his arms and asking about Eden. “I miss her, Papa! Where did she go?”
Why was Eden suddenly everyone’s darling?
His mother took Priscilla’s hand when he set his daughter down. “Priscilla, why don’t you and I draw a pretty card for Eden’s father to wish him well? I think Eden will be quite touched by the thoughtful gesture.”
“All right, Grandmama. But I can do it myself.” His daughter smiled brightly, obviously taking to the idea with enthusiasm. She ran upstairs with Millie. That now took care of his youngest.
“I’ll leave the boys to you,” his mother said, and sauntered onto the terrace to join their other guests. The older crowd was seated in the shade and sipping tea while the younger guests were playing lawn games.
Unable to think of what to do with his boys, he decided to allow them to participate in a round of pall mall. It seemed harmless enough, just knocking a ball to a wicket.
Yes, harmless—until they started going at each other with their mallets.
Connor quickly put an end to that idea and sent them up to their bedchambers for an early supper while they still had all their teeth intact and did not require stitches. Dr. Weaver had done enough stitching for one day.
They gave little protest, not because his sons respected his wishes—they decidedly did not—but because they were growing boys and could eat an entire bear in one sitting if given the opportunity. They would behave for food.
This left Connor alone once again to entertain Persephone and the other peahens still flocking around him. He could not possibly be all that charming, and his jests could not be all that hilarious. But the women dutifully tittered and giggled and complimented him on his wit. Persephone did not stop clinging to his arm, as though she had taken a proprietary interest in him.
Well, the girl was in for a rude awakening. Nobody had claim to him. He was a Silver Duke.
