Chapter Nine #4
They stood together for a few minutes just watching the play of sunlight on the water. Birds hovered over the soft waves in search of fish while white tufts of clouds glided across the blue sky on a gentle wind.
“I thought I might learn to swim while I am here,” Gwendolyn said.
He nodded. “Good idea. I’ll teach you.”
Her lips rounded in a soft O. “Um, I thought Fiona would do it.”
He shrugged. “You can ask her. I don’t know if she will be available all that much.”
“And you would?”
“Yes, I make it a point to keep my afternoons free in order to spend time on the beach with my sons. They’d sleep on the beach if I’d let them.
Perhaps one night we’ll light a bonfire, boil crabs and corn, and dance like pagans under the moonlight.
Rob and Jordan will like that,” he said with a grin.
Gwendolyn laughed. “So would I. Should I fear returning to London completely corrupted?”
He winked at her. “Let’s hope so.”
They walked back to the house and saw Fiona waving at them from the terrace.
“Fiona!” Gwendolyn ran to her.
James watched from a distance while they had their joyful reunion, even though they had seen each other in London not all that long ago.
Fiona was busy tossing questions at Gwen about Duchess Square when he reached them. “How are Berry and Gideon? Are they enjoying my old house? Is it still recognizable or have they completely changed it?”
“They are happy as larks, and you know they’ve added the ballroom you always wished to have.
It is still a home filled with love. My cousin Suzanna and Gideon’s best friend, John Bonham, now reside in Berry’s old house, as you know.
They are just across the square from me and I could not be happier about it.
Miranda is also blissfully in love with her duke, Bram.
They plan to keep her house and use it as their London residence. ”
“Oh, good. I was afraid she might have to move away, as I had to do. I felt so awful having to sell my home. But the Durham holdings in London alone are vast, and it simply did not make sense for me and Rob to hold on to my Duchess Square residence.”
Gwendolyn laughed. “Your loss was definitely Berry’s gain.
She might never have met Gideon otherwise.
It is a comfort to have these men with us, especially Miranda’s husband, a brawny Scottish duke with big fists.
No one is going to dare trespass into our cozy enclave while Bram is there to keep the bounders away.
Of course, Gideon and Bonham are just as capable.
But having a duke in residence is an advantage. ”
Fiona cast James an expectant glance, as though to indicate a marquess on Duchess Square would also be to their advantage.
It wasn’t up to Fiona to decide this.
James ordered lemonade and cakes served on the terrace, and then excused himself to check on his boys, since Gwendolyn and Fiona did not need him around while they were catching up on all the gossip.
He marched upstairs to their rooms, not surprised to find them stripped down to their trousers, towels thrown over their shoulders, and ready to plunge into the water that would still be cold at this time of day.
But boys at that age were raging furnaces and would not feel any chill.
“Fiona’s here. Come down and greet her before you run down to the beach.
Gwendolyn and I will join you shortly. Take Alfred with you,” he said, referring to one of his footmen who was an able swimmer.
“If he tells you to get out of the water, you had better obey.”
“All right, Papa,” Robert muttered.
Jordan nodded. “See you down there.”
Fiona greeted the boys warmly, but did not remain long afterward. “I must get back to Rob and the baby. We’ll see you for supper tonight. Be prepared to talk about your party.” She gave Gwendolyn another hug and hastened home.
James was once again left alone with Gwendolyn. “Do you have something more casual to wear while on the beach? You’ll be getting sand and water on your clothes, so you don’t want to wear anything too fine.”
“Fiona advised me what to bring months ago. I have just the outfits for such outings.”
He raked a hand through his hair. “She advised you? How could she have known I would bring you here?”
“She is a brilliant military strategist and considered all possibilities. She planted this house party idea in my head from the very first.”
“Seriously?”
“Yes, but I dismissed it at the time. However, the more difficult you were—and she warned me that you might be—the more obvious it became that we would need to implement the house party strategy.”
In that moment, James realized Fiona had another strategy in mind. Gad, he had been dense as a donkey not to realize her true purpose from the start.
Gwendolyn was never meant to be his matchmaker.
No, indeed. Gwendolyn was always intended to be his match.
Fiona was indeed perceptive, for he was hooked. But would Gwendolyn be so easily drawn in?
Matchmaking the matchmaker. Fiona was more Machiavellian than Machiavelli himself.
Nothing would please him more than to have Gwendolyn as his wife.
But how was he to convince her while the specter of Andrew Clement loomed over them like a chilling fog?