Chapter Five #2
She led him onto her terrace because the day had turned beautiful and sunny. “Have a seat, won’t you? It should be quite pleasant in the shade. There’s a gentle breeze and the roses are opening up now. If you breathe in deeply, you’ll catch their light lemon aroma.”
She then summoned Biggs to set out tea and refreshments. “At once, m’lady.”
Gwendolyn’s staff must have been prepared for his arrival, James realized. Biggs was back in a trice with a tray laden with all manner of treats that he set before them on the table.
Once Biggs had returned to his post by the door, Gwendolyn set about pouring James a cup of tea and cutting him a slice of lemon cake. “Now, let’s talk about the house party and who is to be invited. Are there any ladies who have caught your eye?”
Other than her? Bollocks. He hadn’t given it a thought.
He took a sip of his tea. “None.”
“None?” She cast him such a perplexed look.
“Gwen, I am not good at this sort of thing. Relying on me to toss out names is impossible.”
“Then you wish to leave all the choices to me?”
“Yes, is it not wiser?”
She rolled her eyes and graced him with a surprisingly sincere smile. “You still believe this after yesterday?”
He nodded and smiled warmly in response. “Yes, more than ever.”
“More than ever?” She shook her head and sighed. “I was certain you would conclude I was deranged and wanted nothing more to do with me.”
He regarded her with much surprise. “You thought I would put an end to our matchmaking endeavors?”
“Yes.”
He gave a light snort. “I was convinced you would give up on me and do the same.”
Her eyes rounded. “So, we are to continue?”
“Full cavalry charge forward,” he said, taking a bite of his lemon cake.
“Excellent, then let’s get to work on this bride list. May I make a suggestion? We are both invited to Lady Fielding’s soiree this evening.”
“Everyone is invited, Gwen. It is going to be a crush.”
“Oh, you have such a look on your face. I know how much you hate these ton affairs. Well, it cannot be avoided. Lady Fielding is a charming hostess and everyone adores her parties. You’ll simply have to endure,” she teased.
“Look for me once you arrive and we’ll take a walk around the room together.
I’ve put together a list of seven names for you.
It’s a good start, I think. I’m sure all these ladies will be in attendance.
We’ll pare the choices down to four while there. ”
“Or three.”
She rolled her eyes. “Four. Any fewer, and there will be too much attention put on you while you go about the business of choosing a wife.”
“Attention will be on me no matter what I do, whether I’m with one prospective bride or fifty.”
Gwendolyn ignored his comment. “I’ll ask Fiona to invite a few of the local bachelors in order to round out the house party and provide some distraction for the ladies.”
“As I dismiss them from contention,” he muttered.
She cast him a chiding frown. “You are forbidden to dismiss any of them before the house party week is up. Do you have any bachelor friends to recommend who might like to join us?”
“No. I’ve spent the last few years concentrating on my sons and doing my best to make Milbury Hill a happy home for them.
I only acquired the place a few years ago, but it is one of the best decisions I have ever made.
It gave me and the boys a fresh start that we desperately needed. We’ve made it our own.”
“I look forward to seeing it.”
“You’ll fall in love with it instantly, just as we did.
We haven’t made very many friends there yet, but those we have made are true and trustworthy.
Fiona and her husband, the Duke of Durham, for example.
The Duke of Bromleigh and his wife, Cherish, for another.
Unfortunately, they do not have children the same age as my boys.
But that is something to work on over the summer, extending our circle of friends while we are there. ”
“At least Jordan and Robert have each other.”
He chuckled. “Yes, and they are good friends and brothers for the most part. But to get back to your question, I do not mingle with a bachelor crowd. I think it is wisest to rely on Fiona when it comes to selecting eligible men to round out our party.”
“All right.” She took a sip of her tea, now seeming lost in her thoughts.
“What else, Gwen?”
She shook her head. “Nothing more at the moment.”
He leaned closer. “Yesterday was rough for you. Are you all right?”
“Yes, I am fine. I’ve said all I wish to say about Andrew. Do not bring him up again.”
“I won’t. Is there anything you wish to ask me? Or would you prefer that I leave?”
Her eyes widened, as though she were actually surprised that he would consider leaving.
“No, don’t go. You’ve hardly touched your tea.
I only meant that there is nothing more to discuss about Lady Fielding’s party.
But I would like to know more about you, not merely the marquess you portray outwardly.
What do you enjoy? What riles you? Are there things you wish to accomplish that you haven’t yet? What were you like as a little boy?”
He laughed. “I am not in the habit of talking about myself.”
“I’ve noticed. You are a private person. One has to pull information out of you, and you are very good at deflecting questions. I blamed myself for not doing an adequate job of getting to understand you, but then I realized that I had been asking you questions all along.”
“And I have avoided answering them.” He drank the last of his tea. “I’ll do better. I promised you that I would. Ask me specific questions. I’m not good at just talking about myself. In fact, I hate it.”
“Why?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know. Perhaps this reticence was ingrained in me from an early age. I was taught to always hold back, to be wary of all the sycophants who surround those in power. People are always trying to get something out of me. It helps to keep them guessing about what I am thinking.”
“How did you know your wife was the one for you?”
He gave a gruff, snorting laugh. “I have no explanation for it, other than I just knew. Jessica was shy, not one to put herself forward. In fact, she was trying to hide behind a potted fern when I noticed her. A dozen other ladies were fluttering around me, all of them with too-bright smiles. But Jessica… Her smile was hesitant, hopeful. Honest. I watched her. She was kind to the harried servants. She helped an elderly countess to her seat.”
“She sounds lovely.”
“She was. Meanwhile, I watched the other ladies flitting around me. They were all false, underhanded. They were not above sabotaging each other to gain advantage. It was an easy decision for me. Jessica had a lovely smile and a sweet nature. I chose her.”
“Did your family approve?”
He winced. “There wasn’t much family left by the time I married her. My father had died and I was already the marquess.”
“Hence all the fluttering going on around you at these ton affairs.”
“Yes.”
“How do you spend your days? Do you keep to a particular schedule?” she asked, cutting him another slice of lemon cake, since he seemed to enjoy it.
“Oh, yes. I am very much regimented most of the time. The Milbury estate requires my constant attention. I have trusted estate managers for the day-to-day operations of our farms, orchards, and breweries. But I often travel to inspect them for myself. Keeps everyone honest. Most of my travel is done while my sons are in school. But their term has ended now, so we’ll be heading to Milbury Hill for the entire summer.
We have farms not far from Brighton. I’ll take my sons with me to look in on those operations. ”
“That is a good idea, not only keeping them close to you but also teaching them how a farm is run. What are your favorite things to do when in London? And when in the countryside? Which do you prefer, the—”
“Gwen, slow down,” he said with a grin, interrupting her barrage of questions that were already making his head spin. “How about you tell me a little about the ladies you have selected for this next round of matchmaking?”
“Oh, that is important. A good idea. I think I have come up with a nice selection. A duke’s daughter, three whose fathers are earls, and three whose fathers are viscounts. All of them are on the younger end of your range, so they are in their mid-twenties, and each is quite accomplished.”
“Oh, Lord help me. Am I going to have to listen to them sing or play the pianoforte?” He wasn’t looking for a bride to make his house noisy, since his sons were doing an excellent job of that.
“Well, that’s a fine attitude,” she muttered. “I must warn you that the well is going to run dry soon. There are only so many intelligent, charming spinsters of a certain age and suitable pedigree available in London.”
He winced. “I know. I’ll do my best to cooperate.”
“Well, all right then,” she said with a lick of her lips.
No, not all right. He was once again feeling the urge to kiss her.
What would she do if he kissed her?
Because, by heaven, he was going to do it. Just where and when had yet to be determined.
Also to be determined was the sort of kiss he ought to give her. Soft and gentle? Or blazing hot?
He watched as she absently licked her cherry-sweet lips again.
Oh, yes.
Her lips deserved…
Blazing hot.