10. Chapter 10 #2
Emma drained the last of her tea, pulling her thoughts back to the present.
She thought about her dance with Andrew last night and the laughter in his eyes.
If she were looking for a husband, which she definitely was not, having a man she could laugh with would be at the top of her list. Emma chuckled.
A man would need to have a sense of humor to put up with her crazy house full of children and dogs.
No, she was doing all right, taking care of things herself, heart intact, and only one minor lapse in judgment.
Today was a new day with no mistakes. Emma got out of bed to get dressed.
At Gilchrest House, Andrew came downstairs with the reluctance of a man facing the firing squad.
All he wanted to do was hole up in his study and try to decide what he was going to do about Emma Whittingham.
The longer he was awake, the more doubt crept in that he was wrong about the identity of his mystery lover.
What had happened to his predictable, well-ordered life that he would even be contemplating the identity of a woman who came and seduced him in the middle of the night? A woman who was most likely a thief. A woman who was possibly a viscount’s daughter?
Andrew walked into the breakfast room to find his family already eating. “Good afternoon, everyone. Jack, is that you behind there?”
Jack pulled the paper down away from his face to greet him. “Just trying to ignore the endless discussion of last night’s event.”
Vivian pinched her husband’s arm. Jack grimaced. “I was there. I don’t need a recap of the evening’s entertainments.” He snapped the paper back up and continued to read.
Andrew smiled and sat at his place at the head of the table. A footman came over at once to pour him tea. “What are you ladies discussing? Or should I say, who are you discussing?”
“In fact, we were talking about Miss Lucy Whittingham,” Caroline said. “I couldn’t be prouder of her debut. She appeared to have had a grand time.”
“I agree,” his mother said as she spread lemon curd on her toast. “I will be anxious to find out who comes to call on her today. I did see her dance with one man who I think would be a perfect match, Lord Davenport.”
“Yes! Why didn’t I think of that?” Caroline agreed. “He is just the sort of gentleman who would make a good match for a quiet girl like Lucy.”
“I think we should have a dinner party and invite them both, along with a few others. Allow them an opportunity to converse for longer than a turn around the dance floor.”
Jack pulled his paper down, a frown on his face. “You’re going to invite who to dinner?”
“Lord Davenport.” Vivian patted his arm. “They want to match him up with Lucy Whittingham. Don’t scowl, he is a perfectly nice man.” She gave him a stern look. “You will have to be on your best behavior.”
Which made Jack’s scowl deepen. Andrew chuckled. Lord Davenport had been courting Vivian earlier this year, much to Jack’s ire. Even though Vivian had turned down Davenport’s proposal of marriage, the man was still not Jack’s favorite person.
Andrew agreed with the idea for the match. Davenport was a good chap and an old friend of his from university. He had recently inherited his title and was looking for a wife.
“Oh dear, do you think he would decline to come because of his embarrassment over Vivi’s refusal?” Caroline asked the table at large. Then she turned toward him. “Andrew, would you invite him? He’d be more likely to say yes.”
“Yes, I suppose I can without too much difficulty. I often see him at White’s.
Just let me know the details when you decide.
” Andrew ignored the frown his brother threw in his direction.
“Jack, you shouldn’t hold a grudge. You won the lady in the end and are disgustingly happy.
” Andrew spread raspberry jam, his favorite, on a piece of toast.
“That I am.” Jack picked up Vivian’s hand and kissed her knuckles.
“Andrew,” said his mother. “You looked like you were having fun last night. I don’t know the last time I’ve heard you laugh out loud in the past year. Was it something Miss Whittingham said?”
Andrew thought about Emma’s contagious humor. How she had tried to hold back her laughter and failed miserably. “Yes, Mother, it was something she said.”
“I have heard him laughing recently,” Caroline said. “Last time it was he and Miss Whittingham on the floor of her breakfast room, roaring with laughter about some bird or something.”
Andrew gave her his best ducal glower, the one that froze most men in their tracks. Unfortunately, Caroline was not most men. She grinned at him over her teacup, her eyes filled with mischief.
“Tangled on the floor with an unmarried miss? I didn’t think you had it in you, Mr. Lord and Manor.” Jack smirked, happy to add to his discomfort. Vivian held her napkin to cover her mouth, but it didn’t stop the giggle that burst out.
“We weren’t tangled together. Her behemoth of a dog had just knocked me on my ass.”
A loud huff of indignation came from next to him. “Language.”
Rhodes entered the room, saving Andrew from any further explanations. “Your Grace, Mr. Holmes is here waiting for you in your study.”
“Thank you, Rhodes.” Andrew poured himself another cup of tea. “Excuse me.” He gave his brother and sister another withering look and walked out of the room.
“Mr. Holmes, what can I do for you?” Andrew asked his man of business as he settled himself into his leather desk chair, relieved to be away from the questioning looks of his family.