“If this is about Father,” Belle interrupted, “he’d be proud of you because you’re a decent person, not because you wear the right fashions.”
“It’s not the clothes,” Alexander said. “It’s what’s inside of them.Me. Father isn’t here anymore… but you are. Mother is. My future heirs will be. I have to think about them.”
“Can you think about making them with a wife youlike?”
Alexanderhadn’tthought about that, to be honest.
His personal preferences had never entered into the decision-making process.
Perhaps therewasa middle ground.
He would choose someone respectable and proper, as his mother and forefathers expected.
And he would try to make certain that person was someone he liked.
Surely it was possible.
He enjoyed his conversations with Miss Finch, and she wouldn’t do at all. Conversations with therightperson could only be better.
“Here she comes,” Belle whispered. “Lure her in.”
Alexander scowled at his sister, but she was already retreating into the crowd and therefore missed his irritated expression entirely.
A duke didn’t need tolureanyone. One mention of Alexander’s intent to take a bride, and the walls fairly shook from the effort of containing the plethora of contenders.
Not that Miss Finch was interested in being a contender, he was forced to admit.
If he wanted her to be—which he did not—his sister was probably right.
He’d have to lure her in.
“I’m going to lock Max in my bedchamber.” Miss Finch motioned in the general direction. “Walk with me?”
Of course not.
That would be highly improper.
“I’ll accompany you as far as the corridor,” he said.
A dreadful idea, but no harm would come of it.
This was his house. He could stroll any corridor he pleased.
She was aspinster. Achaperone. She was here to keep nubile nymphs out of his arms, not to tempt his self-control herself.
There was absolutely no danger of anything untoward occurring.
Nothing at all.
“Your party is an unequivocal success,” she said the moment the roar of the crowd was behind them. “But areyouhaving any fun?”
“Dukes don’t have fun,” he explained to her. “Dukes have duty.”
She made a face. “IfIwere a duke, I’d have nothingbutfun.”
“That’s why there’s a patriarchy,” he muttered. “Someonehas to manage things.”
“I manage to havefun,” she said with an unrepentant grin. “I brought skis. Do you want to try them?”
