Chapter Twelve #2
Camborne, Lynton, and Bromleigh had once been known as the Silver Dukes, all of them notorious rakes in their early forties and determined never to marry. The famous betting book at White’s had seen much action because of them.
As the years came and went, each year bringing speculation about the beautiful ladies they escorted around Town, the club members would wager on which duke would be the first bachelor to fall into the parson’s mousetrap, or whether they would ever fall at all.
Well, they had all fallen. Within the span of a month, no less. All three had gone from rakehells to faithful husbands, and the news had left the ton reeling.
But the entertainment was not yet over, because these three, having found themselves happily captured, next set up betting books on their bachelor friends.
None of their bachelor victims had complained once ensnared, as far as Bram knew, for all were rumored to have made love marriages.
This gave him hope that these dukes could impart some wisdom when it came to winning Miranda’s hand in marriage. He believed quite strongly that he already had her love, which ought to have been the hard part, but it was not.
Bram spotted the three of them seated in soft leather chairs around the hearth in the cozy, wood-paneled room. He was relieved they were not already tight as ticks, for he needed to engage them in a serious discussion about married life and wanted them sober.
Camborne cheerfully waved him over. “Over here, Solway! Come join us. Ye know my friends, of course.”
“Aye, I do.” Bram greeted Bromleigh and Lynton, two men he much admired even though they were Englishmen. But they had brains, something often lacking in English peers.
“What brings ye to the club?” Camborne asked.
Bram sank into a chair beside his kinsman. “I came in search of ye, hoping for a bit of advice.”
Bromleigh set aside his glass. “Shall we leave you to talk in private?”
Bram motioned him to remain seated. “No, actually, all three of ye would be helpful.”
Lynton arched an eyebrow. “How so?”
“I’m curious to learn how married life has worked out for ye.”
Camborne laughed heartily. “Och, no. Dinna tell me ye’ve succumbed to a pair of dark eyes and luscious lips.”
“Well, her eyes are a bright emerald and her lips are soft and pretty.”
“Who’s the lady, if I may ask?” Lynton said.
Bram hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Lady Miranda Lawson.”
“Not sure I know her,” Lynton replied.
Bromleigh frowned. “Nor do I.”
Camborne tsked at his friends. “Of course ye do. She attends the same societies as yer wives do when in London. She’s one of the ladies residing on Duchess Square, am I right?”
Bram nodded. “Aye, she is.”
“Intelligent, too,” Camborne added. “Jocelyn has mentioned her a time or two. What do ye wish to know about her? I’m no’ sure any of us will be of much help in that regard, but we could ask our wives.”
“I dinna need information about her. It’s more that I wish to know how ye wooed yer wives and got them to agree to marry ye.”
That got a guffaw out of all three of them.
“Och, ye’re laughing at me.”
“No,” Camborne hastened to assure him. “We are laughing at ourselves.”
“Why? Ye were obviously successful in yer courtships. How are each of ye faring in yer marriages? Are ye liking married life? Or are ye regretting the changes it has required?”
“It is a commitment, for certain.” Camborne took a sip of his brandy and then set it aside.
“In all seriousness, that commitment is heaven with the right woman. Jocelyn and I fight from time to time, of course. She holds her own opinions and is not shy about expressing them. But she loves me fiercely, and I know I will always have her loyalty and her heart.”
Bromleigh nodded. “I don’t think anyone resisted marriage as hard as I did.
But one look at Cherish and I knew I was in trouble.
The empty dalliances wear on a man, and there comes a time when he is ready to drop his scoundrel ways.
I cannot speak for all husbands, but I am happiest when at home with her… and I always return home to her.”
“Same here,” Lynton said, raising his glass in toast. “Eden’s the best thing that’s happened to me and my children. I like to think we three were wise in the women we chose. Although they are all quite different, at their core they share the same important characteristics.”
“And what are those?” Bram asked.
“Ours were love marriages,” Camborne said.
“For us and for our wives. When we pledged to honor and love each other, we meant it. I dinna doubt Jocelyn will always be faithful to me and always strive to make a good home for me. I am no’ an easy man to live with, but she seems able to abide with me.
In truth, she enjoys being around me, and I feel the same way about her. It’s love and friendship.”
Bromleigh nodded. “Cherish has been a friend, a trusted confidante, and caring wife to me. No man can ask for better.”
“Right,” Lynton added. “Most important, these ladies saw us for who we truly were and not for the status a marriage to a duke would bring them. In truth, our titles might have been an impediment for them. I think I speak for all of us when I say that our wives would not have accepted us unless they respected us. We had to earn their hearts.”
“Did ye do anything special to win yer wife’s heart, Lynton?” This was where Bram felt lacking, for he was never a rake and rarely indulged in meaningless dalliances, although he was certainly offered such opportunities often enough.
Lynton laughed. “Gad, I was a complete idiot and almost lost her because of it. I’m not the right one to ask.”
“Nor am I,” Bromleigh admitted. “I stupidly tried to match Cherish with my nephew. Fortunately, he was wise enough to see that she was meant for me. I suppose I knew it, too. But I surely was a stubborn fool about it.”
Bram was more confused than ever. How could these notorious Silver Dukes not have had a clue how to win the hands of the women they loved?
He turned to Camborne. “And ye?”
“Och, I dinna think I’ll be much assistance either.
Despite all my experience and my glib way with flattering words, none of it helped me with Jocelyn.
There was no proper courtship. I met and married her within a matter of days.
Only afterward did we truly get to know each other.
It could have been disastrous, but my heart seemed to know it was the right thing to do.
Ye’re no fool, Solway. If it feels right to ye, then just ask her. ”
“That isn’t the problem. I know my feelings. She is the one who needs convincing.”
Camborne frowned. “If she is reluctant, then perhaps she isn’t right for ye, my friend.”
“It isn’t that. I know she cares deeply for me. It is the chains of marriage she fears.”
“Chains? Fears?” Bromleigh set his elbows on his knees and leaned forward. “Was she treated badly when young? Or saw her parents in a bad marriage?”
“That was Eden’s situation,” Lynton confessed. “Her parents were a disaster, and she never wanted to repeat their mistake.”
“How did ye win her over?” Solway asked, for this was information he needed.
“Time and a deepening friendship,” Lynton replied. “Flattery did not win her heart. In fact, I think she would have refused me had I come at her with flowers, gifts, and glib compliments. Truth, caring, and genuine friendship is what won the day.”
Camborne nodded. “Be yerself, Solway. If she is skittish about marriage, then I hope yer patience will be rewarded. Are ye sure about her? Is she worth the waiting? There may be other fine ladies who would no’ be so difficult.”
Bram tensed. “Would ye have given up on yer Jocelyn?”
Camborne shook his head. “No, I dinna suppose I would have. No’ after two days of knowing her. In truth, no’ even after an hour of knowing her.”
Bram could not say he’d got the information he wanted out of his companions, for his conclusion was that, despite their Silver Duke reputations, they had not done anything special or even anything right in wooing these ladies who had captured their hearts.
But this gave him hope that he could win over Miranda even if he had no flowery words and made no grand gestures. Perhaps the grandest gesture of all was to simply love her and remain true to her. And then hope she would grow to trust in his love.
The conversation shifted to governmental matters, and Bram spent the next few hours drinking and talking about the most urgent issues that needed addressing in this parliamentary session.
He left the three dukes as they were conspiring to open a betting book on another Scottish duke, one he knew quite well by reputation. And it was a bad reputation by Sassenach standards.
Of course, he and Camborne could not help but admire a Scot who spoke the truth, was arrogantly sure of himself, and was not afraid to engage in fisticuffs if the situation called for it.
Bram returned home, tossed off his clothes, and fell into bed just as the clock in the hallway struck midnight.
It was still early by Society standards, but Miranda was tugging at his soul and the heartache of it was wearing him out.
He was going to miss encountering her smiling face tomorrow morning. He already missed her so much.
What would tomorrow bring?