Page 26 of A Duchess of Mystery

“So you told him you would?”

“Sort of.”

Dora smiled again. “Then perhaps we’d better take on this task between us. I feel it might be a two-woman job. He will need to be steered well clear of any young lady who might have ideas above her station in life. Or who might hold the purse strings so tightly you and I will be discomfited. If we intend to eventually take on the Dower House, we will need to train Diccon’s wife-to-be so that she puts us first, or at any rate, not last.”

Isabella nodded. “I could not have put it better myself. We need to think of ourselves, and how a new duke with a new duchess will affect us. He can’t be allowed to let delusions of grandeur overtake him. We will have to try to manage him far better than either of us ever could manage Marcus.” She gave a shiver. No one had ever been able to manage Marcus. She lowered her voice. “Although, I will tell you now that I have no intention of finding him a wife for quite some time. My objections to each young lady will be of the most imaginative.” She chuckled.

They descended the last few steps into the hallway and crossed to the breakfast room, arms still linked.

Dora nodded. “He won’t know what’s hit him,” she whispered, as Isabella pushed the door open.

Richard was seated at the head of the table, his coffee cup in his hand.

“Good morning, Diccon.” Dora disengaged her arm from Isabella’s and came over to plant a kiss on his cheek as he rose to his feet. “Isabella has been telling me about your morning ride.” She sighed. “I do sometimes wish I was able to ride myself and enjoy the mornings with her. And now with you as well. Perhaps I shall take the carriage out later on while the sun is shining.”

She sat down at the table, but Isabella went over to the sideboard where the breakfast was laid out. “What shall I fetch you?”

Dora’s sniffed, her nose quivering. “I find I’m rather hungry today, for once. Could I have eggs, do you think, and a slice or two of the bacon?”

Isabella brought this for Dora before returning to fill her own plate with the same. Glancing up, she caught Richard looking at her a little quizzically and smiled. “What? You think I would not help my best friend?”

Dora smiled as well. “Don’t chide him, Bella. He doesn’t know our ways.”

No, he didn’t know them at all, and they were going to make sure it stayed that way, then he wouldn’t be able to work out what they were up to. Poor sap. Poor handsome sap. He had no idea what was coming to him.

Richard pushed his own plate away. “My food has gone cold, and my appetite has vanished. Shall I pour you both some coffee?”

Isabella bestowed her sweetest smile on him. “That would be lovely, thank you.”