“Eden, it should be never at all,” he said as the churning in his gut arose once again. This irritation had nothing to do with his food or the general condition of his stomach, which was in excellent shape. He was not so ancient as to require a nightly physic. “I’ve made a decision.”
“Oh? Do you mind telling me what this monumental decision is?”
“We are all going with you. We’ll load up the carriages and bring along every guest who wishes to join us for bird watching and then the fair.”
“You want to bring your bevy of peahens to watch birds with us? Do they even have sensible shoes? I do not need any of them slipping and tumbling off a cliff.”
His eyes widened in horror. “You don’t take my children climbing to the top along those precarious ledges, do you?”
“No, of course not. We set up our watch from the beach below, or from a low ledge. One that is secure and has plenty of room for all of us. I would never risk anything dangerous with your children, especially the boys. You know how they always shove each other around. They do it playfully, of course. But they are often quite rough with each other.”
“That’s boys for you.”
“You big boys are no better. Are you going to behave around Lord Aubrey, or must I keep the two of you apart?”
He grinned.
“I’m serious, Connor. You had better be nice to him.”
“Or what? I shall be spanked and sent to my room without supper?” His grin turned even more wicked. “I wouldn’t mind if the punishment came from you. I find you quite appealing when you talk like a priggish schoolmistress.”
“Connor, honestly!” She kicked his shin under the table, which was draped in an exquisite lace tablecloth no doubt smuggled in from the city of Nantes.
The next courses came out. Connor’s footmen carried in silver trays stacked with racks of lamb, game fowl baked in ornately decorated pies, and an enormous fish that had been smoked for days, along with the usual array of potatoes, leeks, onions, and peas.
Desserts came out next, an array of cakes, tarts, flummery, and blancmange.
Connor noticed Eden stifling yawns by the time the ladies were ready to retire to the parlor for tea and sherry. He, too, was eager for the evening to end. But it was tradition for the men to remain seated around the table with their glasses of port wine and cognac.
He drew back Eden’s chair when she rose along with the other ladies. “There’s to be dancing later. Has Aubrey already claimed the first dance?”
“Yes, he has. But I think I am going to beg off and simply go to bed before the dancing starts. I feel so weary.”
“You’ve had quite a trying day.”
She nodded. “But I’ll look in on the children before I retire. Sarah told me that Priscilla was crying for me earlier. I’ll give her a kiss goodnight and make certain she is ready for tomorrow’s excursion.”
“I’ll check on them later, too. But I won’t be able to escape before the dancing ends. They had better be sound asleep by then.”
“I’m sure they will be. Well, goodnight.” She left his side and sought out Aubrey to beg off their dance. Connor knew he was being petty to enjoy Aubrey’s disappointment, but he also understood that he could not have it both ways with Eden. If he chased away her suitors, then he had better be ready to stand in their place.
He was ready, but this was not a discussion to be had amid a houseful of guests.
He endured hours of dancing, managing to be snared twice by the ever-persistent Persephone. Finally, as the clock in the entry hall chimed three, Connor completed his round about the house to make certain all doors and windows were secured. Usually, Brewster attended to this duty. But the hour was late and his staff had worked hard all day. They would be workinghard again tomorrow and every day afterward until the infernal house party ended.
Feeling quite tired himself, he made his way upstairs to look in on his children before retiring to his own bed.
He peered first into the rooms his sons occupied, his heart warming as he saw their angelic faces in innocent repose. They were such little demons when awake.
He next walked into Priscilla’s room.
Blessed saints.
He thought his heart would melt at the sight.
Lying beside Priscilla, her arms wrapped around his daughter, was Eden. Both of them were sound asleep.
Connor had never seen a more beautiful vision in his life.
