The children cheered.
Connor’s eyes were alight, and he cast her a surprisingly soft smile. “Thank you, Eden. That sounds perfect. But are you certain?”
She nodded, now feeling quite remorseful for kicking his chair out from under him earlier. Spending time with his children was a nice idea. “Yes, I am looking forward to it.”
“Then the motion passes,” he said, casting her another soft smile. “All in favor, say ‘aye.’”
“Aye!” his three children exclaimed with enthusiasm.
“Motion has passed.” He turned to her, his expression noticeably wistful. “In truth, I wish I could ignore all my guests and join you for the entire day.”
*
Later that evening,once they had put the children to bed, she and Connor returned downstairs. He ordered her rig brought around. “I’ll drive you home and then walk back here. It’s a nice night, and I’ll have enough of the fading light to see my way home.”
The sun never set before ten o’clock in the evening at this time of year. Eden knew there would be little danger in his walking back to Lynton Grange, since their homes were not far from each other. There were several shortcuts available either through the woodlands or down along the beach. In the wintertime, she could see the Lynton Grange chimneys and the upper part of the magnificent manor house from her bedchamber. But the trees were lush in summer and obscured her view.
Once her rig was brought around, Connor assisted her in before climbing into the driver’s seat beside her. He gave the reins a light flick to get her sprightly roan to a trot, and then waited until they were out of hearing distance of his staff before he turned to her. “Eden, did you mean it about taking my children on daily expeditions? I feel as though I have coerced you.”
“No, it is my pleasure,” she said with a firm shake of her head. “I wouldn’t have offered otherwise. Truly, I am looking forward to spending time with them. I think it will be fun for all of us, and it will keep them out of your hair for much of each day. Assign a maid or two to assist them in getting ready in the morning and preparing them for bed in the evenings.”
He nodded. “That is easily arranged.”
“Being outdoors all day ought to wear them out. More important, it will keep them out of mischief. I shudder to think what dirty tricks they might play on your guests if they are stuck at home, bored and restless.”
Connor threw his head back and laughed. “Well, that is one way to scare away the peahens and their matchmaking mothers. Honestly, the week you have planned for the children sounds wonderful. I’ll join you as often as I can. It seems much more fun than what is in store for me.”
“Ah, poor Connor. All those beautiful women tossing themselves at you,” she said with mock sympathy. “How will you ever endure it?”
“Do not tease me, Eden. Being accosted at every turn is not fun at all. I am nothing more than a target for their own selfish advancement. Everyone lies to me in the hope of gaining my favor. If I crack a stupid joke, they will all declare it is hilarious and I am a wit for the ages. I could spout the most inane drivel imaginable and still be proclaimed brilliant. The only reason women toss themselves at me is because I am a duke. It is thetitle they love… That is all I am to them. That is all I ever was to Mary, too. The best that can be said is that she did her duty and gave me sons.”
She regarded him thoughtfully, surprised that his late wife had not been more devoted to him, because he truly was a good man who valued his family life.
Not to mention he was handsome as sin. But it was his strength of character that made him worthy husband material.
That and courage. He had been away from home for long stretches at a time while fighting Napoleon on the Continent. Even while he was in England, his duties often kept him in London for sessions of Parliament. For years this had been his routine. War. Parliament. Home.
Mary and his children would only have him for a month or two before the cycle started again and he returned to the Continent.
“Ah, I am doing it again,” he said, sounding apologetic. “I don’t know why I find it so easy to talk to you.” He turned to study her again as her horse trotted along the familiar path between their homes, requiring little prompting. “Perhaps it is because you actually listen and care. You would be amazed how few people ever do.”
“In many ways, we are in a similar position. It is easy to understand and sympathize.” The fact that he was handsome, wealthy, and titled added to his allure, but Eden could not see herself marrying someone for those qualities alone. She was an heiress and did not need to secure a man with deep pockets for her survival.
Her problem was similar because of her own wealth. How could she be sure a man would love her for herself? It was easier to assume they all wanted her dowry and simply trust none of them.
When she turned silent, Connor continued. “Will any of these peahens be any different from Mary? They’ll pretend to like me in the hope of gaining an offer from me. The smarter, more calculating ones will also pretend to like my children because they’ll understand that no one will get that marriage proposal out of me unless my children approve of them too. Connor, Alex, and Priscilla come as part of the package. I will not compromise on that.”
“Nor should you. They are wonderful children.”
“Even if they are scheming devils?” He laughed affectionately, but his mirth did not last very long, and he sobered. “How soon after the wedding will the fakery cease? Care to place bets on when my new wife will demand that my children be sent off to boarding school?”
Eden’s heart lurched at the mere thought of poor Priscilla being sent away. No, the sweet child so desperately needed to remain at home and be surrounded with love. Eden’s parents had sent her off to boarding school when she was quite young, and she still felt anguished just thinking about it.
Perhaps it would have been different if her parents loved her and had come to visit her, or welcomed her home with gushing displays of joy and love. But no, it had never happened. She was the product of benign neglect.
“I understand how one can feel so cynical about finding the right match,” she said in commiseration. “I was an awkward girl of nineteen when I made my London debut, all skinny arms and legs at the time. But you would think I was as renowned a beauty as Helen of Troy by the way these bachelors flocked to me.”
He frowned. “But Eden, you are beautiful.”
