Chapter Two #2
“Ten, including their parents. Not counting all of you. Although, thanks to you and your friends, our numbers for unwed men and women will be even. We’ll have five sets of those who are unmarried.”
“Please tell me you aren’t cooking up some kind of matchmaking scheme,” Elias said, issuing a warning with his tone.
She waved him off. “I invited people I enjoyed during the season. Based on your reputation, I don’t think any of them will be interested.”
“Reputation for what?” Grace, who was only three-and-ten, asked.
“His inability to keep from mussing his cravat,” their father said to Grace before casting an annoyed glance at Elias.
By the time his father got around years later to having the conversation he had promised about the birds and bees, Elias was beyond need of the explanation, having already partaken in such delights.
Papa supported a young man sowing his wild oats, but with Elias aged six-and-twenty, his father believed it was about time to consider taking a wife.
Elias wasn’t certain how his father could push him to marry so soon after the pain the man still lived with for the last twelve years.
When Elias challenged him on the matter, his father always said that he would rather live with the pain than to have never had the time with his mama.
Seemed far easier in Elias’s mind to just avoid the whole matter entirely.
At least until an heir became necessary.
“Well, I don’t think you should marry a lady who cares so much about your cravat, brother,” Grace said, raising her chin.
Elias grinned at her. “Quite right, sister.” He shifted his focus back to Diana.
“I had better not catch you sneaking off with any gentlemen you have invited.” He narrowed his eyes, giving her the expression he’d used throughout the years when he needed to convey that he was serious and would brook no argument.
“I have already given her the same lecture,” his father said before Diana could retort. “With you and your friends in attendance, I think she shall be well chaperoned.”
“And as I already told Papa,” Diana said in an annoyed tone. “I don’t have interest in any of the invited gentlemen, nor do I wish to cause a scandal. We shall all have a happy Christmas.”
“Hear, hear!” Jude exclaimed, raising his teacup as if he were toasting a fine brandy.
Elias raised his cup to join him, and they clinked their teacups together. Causing Diana to roll her eyes, and his father to chuckle.
The sooner they got the whole holiday behind them, the better.
His contented bachelor life could return to normal.
Well, perhaps it wasn’t always a life of contentment, as it had its lonely moments, but a life of merriment was far better than the devastation that came from allowing one to succumb to the misery of love.
*
The next day, Diana was busy ordering them all about the house.
Elias knew to pick his battles with his sister.
He typically maintained the upper hand as an older brother and lord were rife to do, but there were times when it was in all of their best interest to take orders, and this was one of them.
Matt, Hudson, and Hannah had arrived the previous day as planned, which made for an entertaining dinner with all the banter and jabs at each other.
He wasn’t certain he’d seen his father laugh as hard or smile as much as he’d done in his place at the head of the table of chaos.
It warmed Elias’s heart to see more of the man his father used to be returned to them. He hoped that man would stay.
“Elias, there are carriages arriving,” Diana called, pulling him from his thoughts. “We must line up to greet them.”
They all donned their coats, and then Elias escorted Jenny and Grace on each arm, while their father escorted Diana to await the carriages.
“Your cravat doesn’t look mussed,” Grace said, giving him an approving smile.
He bit back his laughter, and they took their places.
They greeted their first guests, Lord Duncan and his mother. Diana sent them along with Miller to be shown to their chambers.
Another carriage wheeled up behind that one, and Elias did a double take, and then groaned when he saw who was being handed down. His father eyed him curiously, and Elias shook his head, willing his father not to call attention to his reaction.
Lady Billings caught his gaze as she made her way to where the family waited. Diana stepped forward, making the necessary introductions to everyone in the family.
“I believe we are already acquainted, my lord,” Lady Billings said in a not-so-subtle way to Elias after Diana introduced them.
“Indeed. I hope you have been well, my lady,” Elias replied, not lacking sincerity. He hoped the lady had been well. He would just have preferred not to be trapped in his family’s home with her for a sennight.
Miller had returned and went to escort the widow to her chamber.
“Brother,” Diana sighed, once Lady Billings was inside.
“Don’t start, Diana.” They didn’t need to discuss such matters in front of their younger sisters. Hell, not with Diana either. “Why did you invite the woman, anyway? I’m not aware that the two of you are friends?”
Diana folded her arms across her chest. “She was kind to me during the season, and I thought she might make for pleasant company.”
“I’m certain her kindness toward you was well intentioned,” Elias said, not bothering to hide the sarcasm and disdain in his tone.
He glanced to his father for support and found the man’s eyes crinkled at the edges where he fought his laughter.
“Father,” Elias ground out.
“Come on, son. It’s indeed quite funny.”
He couldn’t disagree more.
“Perhaps you should have warned me,” Diana said, looking toward the other carriage making its way to their home.
“Perhaps you should have run your guest list by me,” Elias challenged.
“Do we even want to know?” Jenny asked, watching them all with amusement.
Grace chimed in next. “Isn’t it obvious, sister?
” she asked, raising her chin as if she were a haughty debutante on the Marriage Mart.
“The lady takes issue with our brother’s cravats.
Yours still looks perfect, brother. Pay the lady no heed.
” She paused as if she were contemplating something, then started again. “I don’t think I like her at all.”
They all fought their laughter, even Elias, as the next carriage arrived.
An older gentleman stepped out of the carriage, then turned to hand down a woman of similar age, although still quite pretty. Elias assumed the woman was his wife, as he hadn’t met them before. The man reached back up toward the carriage opening and handed down another lady.
Something struck Elias when he saw her, causing him to steady himself.
She had dark brown hair that he would have almost thought was black if he hadn’t seen her in the daylight.
Her skin was a creamy alabaster shade, and her perfect heart-shaped face was made even more beautiful with her light eyes.
He couldn’t quite tell the shade from where she stood, but just that they were a light color, which contrasted perfectly with her dark hair.
She carried herself with a confidence that intrigued him, since she didn’t appear to be much older than Diana.
His father cleared his throat, and Elias glanced at him to find him smirking.
Elias huffed and glanced back at the perfect, far-too-attractive miss approaching with who he could safely assume were her parents. Especially given how much she favored the older woman with her.
Diana greeted the older couple. “Lord and Lady Cary, I’m so glad you could join us.”
She shifted her attention to his beauty. No, not his. Never his. He just thought she was beautiful. That’s it.
“Miss Cary,” Diana continued. “It’s so good to see you again.”
Diana turned toward the rest of them and introduced them all to Viscount Cary and his family. Elias was the first to step forward and take the perfect Miss Cary’s hand, bringing it to his lips and placing a light kiss on her glove.
His heart raced, and he wasn’t certain why. But he couldn’t take his eyes off hers. Gray—the color of her light, mesmerizing eyes, was gray.
She pulled her hand from his, more like jerked it away, and gave him a tight, polite smile. “Nice to meet you, my lord.”
He couldn’t help but notice that when she went to greet his younger sisters, her expression was far more genuine, and pleasant. What was she about?
Once everyone had made their greetings, Lord Cary and his family followed Miller inside to settle into their chambers.
Elias watched them, unwilling to admit to himself that he hoped Miss Cary might turn back to glance at him.
She had been less than interested in him, and it only made him all the more curious about her.
As soon as their guests were inside and the door closed, his father released a stream of chuckles.
Elias jerked his head toward his father, irritated that he was almost certain that his father was laughing at his expense.
“Oh, son,” his father said, controlling his laughter. “This is going to be so much fun.”
“And just what is that supposed to mean?”
His father clutched Elias’s shoulder. “You’ll figure it out.”
Elias rolled his eyes. His father had lost it. One step away from Bedlam. That was the only explanation.