“Speaking of hearts made of rock,” she continued, a slyness in her voice, “perhaps you may want to turn your attention to your other duties, now that you have settled into your title and inheritance and home.”
Philip bristled. He wasn’t stupid. He knew precisely what she was referring to, but he didn’t intend to make it so easy for her.
“What other duties, may I ask?” he said blankly. “Do you mean the estate ledgers? The tenants?”
The old woman set her teacup down and regarded him with bright eyes. “You know that is not what I mean.”
“Then please, be direct.”
“Why, I mean the task of finding a wife, of course!”
At that point, his sister, Lizzy, who had been most uncharacteristically quiet sitting next to their grandmother, choked on her tea.
Philip glared pointedly at her, and the hellion, instead of ducking her head and muttering some excuse like any gently bred young lady would have, burst into laughter.
She was laughing at him, the traitor.
Then again, they were not particularly close, neither in age nor affection. They barely knew one another.
“Oh, you are one to laugh, Elizabeth!” Their grandmother turned to her. “I took great pains to introduce you to the mostdarlingyoung gentlemen at your debut, and still, you spurned them all!”
“They had nothing to recommend themselves, Grandmama,” Lizzy countered.
“Nothing to recommend themselves? The young Marquess of Wilmington is considered the catch of the Season and stands to inherit his father’s title!” the Dowager Duchess huffed. “His manners are impeccable, and every young lady I know—except you, of course—is swooning at his feet.”
“He is also an inveterate flirt,” Philip supplied. “If darling Lizzy were to wed him, we would be attending his funeral a fortnight after the nuptials.”
Lizzy smiled sharply at him. “Thank you, Philip, for your backhanded support.”
“The pleasure is all mine, sister dearest.” His tone was just as dry.
“Much appreciated, Brother.” Lizzy sighed. “Besides, I am in no mood for courting fools when I am bereaved. Truly, I am glad to be away from London for a while.”
Philip knew his sister cared as much about their father’s passing as he did, and saw the excuse for what it was: his sister had seen what was on offer in society and decided it was not for her.
Their grandmother would be devastated. Meanwhile, Philip suspected it was the first thing that he and his sister had agreed upon since his return.
Just then, he noticed the shrewd glint in his grandmother’s eyes as her gaze swiveled between him and his sister. Saw her hand flying to her chest as she pretended to fall back against the settee in true dramatic fashion.
Some theatrics were to be expected when it came to his grandmother. What he certainly did not expect was the ruckus that erupted right outside the drawing room window at that exact moment.
“Ashbrook, you detestable cretin! Come out and face me, you vile blackguard!”
