In fact, his parents had chosen Northumberland because the townspeople had been so welcoming.His da set the example by treating both of them equally in both reward and the odd punishment, and the boys were closer than most siblings to this day.
“Ah.Quite right.I understand now, thank you.”The man squared his shoulders and reached into his satchel, drawing out some papers.“Well, sir.I have some sad news for you and felicitations, all at once.”
Xander wished the kettle would boil quicker.He really needed tea for this.
“Your father’s second cousin, John Manners, who was the Duke of Rutland, passed a few months ago.Quite unexpected, as he was not yet forty.The first cousin had died in the war.Neither had produced issue.”
“Issue?”
“Children.Heirs.”
What a strange way of wording it.Xander noted the man’s pursed lips and unblinking gaze.A tendril of dread worked its way up his spine.
“Which,” the Londoner paused for emphasis, “makes you the Duke of Rutland, Marquess of—”
“What?” The kettle chose that moment to whistle its boil.
Chapter Two
Evie’s carriage pulled into the driveway of her aunt’s modest home in the town of Rutland, conveniently only a half hour drive from Rutland Manor.That proximity to family had been one of several reasons Evie had been quick to accept the Duke of Rutland’s offer of marriage.She’d met him in her first season.Comely enough to catch several suitors’ eyes, she’d aimed high.After all, she was the grandniece of a duke and the daughter of an earl.
The carriage was still rocking on its springs when she unlatched the door and sprang from the vehicle without waiting for the step or any assistance.
Aunt Louisa followed her footman out the front door and stood grinning on the steps.
“Aunt Lou!”Evie waved her hands and flew toward her, almost tripping when she neglected to pick up her skirts for the steps.Throwing herself into her aunt’s arms, she squeezed the older woman tight.Aunt Louisa was her most beloved family member.She loved her parents to pieces, but they wereparental.Her aunt was family and friend all wrapped into one, and she’d been excited at the prospect of living within an hour’s drive from her.
Her aunt returned the hug and unconsciously echoed Evie’s sentiments, whispering in her hair, “Oh my.I could not wish for a better greeting from my favorite niece.How did you fare?”
“It was worth it to see you again.”The two days of travel with only her maid for company had been frustrating but imperative to get Aunt Lou’s help.
Evie dragged her aunt inside, aiming for the rear parlor.The room doubled as an office and something of a library with a wall of bookshelves, and Louisa detoured to her desk to collect a notebook before sitting across from Evie in a matching armchair.
“Have you seen him?”Evie asked, leaning forward.
“Briefly.He’s, mmm, not like the other duke.”Her aunt dithered.
“In what way?Is he ugly?Mean?”Alarmed at her own words, Evie gulped.What if he was mean?
John Manners had been the duke named in Evie’s marriage contract.When he’d passed unexpectedly, she mourned the loss of a young life but was not overly upset.She had been young and silly when she’d accepted his suit and hadn’t realized how much more important common outlooks were than looks and compliments.Instead, she’d relied on unfounded hopes to partner with her future husband to influence the passing of laws to help the poor.Sadly, her betrothed had been a staunch Tory, something she hadn’t discovered until after the marriage contract was signed.
Evie had nearly cried when her father told her he’d written to the new duke, some second cousin of the previous one, to renew the betrothal, assuming she was amenable.If only her father hadn’t enjoyed his elevation in status from being linked to a duke quite so much.She wished even more he hadn’t mentioned it to a few of his peers, causing a risk to her reputation if she or the new duke refused.There was a small amount of wiggle room, but it required finesse to avoid Ton gossip or worse, ostracization.
Whatever that threat, this time around, she planned to do her homework.
Aunt Lou answered her question, “First, I saw him.I did not talk to him.So I cannot speak to his mindset.Second, no, he is not ugly.I meant his physique.He looks like the working-class man he was.Barrel chest, big shoulders, thick arms and thighs…”
Was her auntblushing?Evie giggled and teased, “Auntie!Were you looking at his thighs?”
“All for you, my dear.’Twas a sacrifice to be sure, but I managed it.”
They both snorted before giving in to outright laughter.
Her aunt was the perfect person to help her, and it wasn’t due to her proximity to Rutland Manor.Much to her father’s regret, the women in her family took what most Ton members would consider an “unnatural” interest in the laws of their country.Her staunchly liberal aunt had influenced her reading and interests, so upon learning of her father’s overzealous request on her behalf, Evie had written immediately to Aunt Lou regarding her wish to investigate her new potential husband.
Her aunt had promptly invited her for a visit.However, given the frequency with which past visits had landed them in questionable circumstances, her parents would not have allowed her to go north without a specific reason.So Aunt Louisa had told them that she knew the new duke and would provide an introduction.
Finally, her aunt added, “He is very handsome.Simply in a different way than you might be used to from the Ton set.And I dare say his outlook is rather different as well.He was helping load barrels of wine and ale to go to the manor.”
