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Left alone in the reception room, the Duke and Duchess of Tereford sat down side by side on an aged sofa. He put an arm around her. She smiled up at him. “Why did I allow my grandmother to harass us into coming here?” wondered the duke. “I really cannot remember.”
“Lady Wilton can be quite persuasive,” said his wife.
“No, she cannot. Demanding, dictatorial, even threatening, yes. But she does not try to persuade. And I’ve never liked being ordered about.”
“You would rather be cajoled,” she suggested.
He laughed down at her, his deep-blue eyes warm with affection. “As if you have ever done so.”
“I have! Dozens of times.”
“Name one.”
The duchess considered. “When you decided to set up a racing stable.”
Tereford, often called the handsomest man in London, grew reminiscent. “You presented me with a chart of likely costs and ‘inevitable’ losses. The thing covered half the dining table and was as complex as a plan of attack for Waterloo.”
His wife nodded. “What a lot of work it was.”
“You call that cajoling?”
“One can cajole with mathematics,” she replied.
“I don’t think one can, really, Cecelia.” He shook his head. “Or perhaps only you can. You were all of thirteen, I suppose. Solemn as a lowly church bishop.”
“Fortunately, for your sake. If your affairs had been left to you and Papa…”
“We would have murdered each other, I suppose. No, I would have murderedhimand been hanged for killing my trustee.”
“Don’t be silly.”
“I think that is what you said the day you marched into your father’s library and ordered us to stop arguing. A small, blond Valkyrie of nine.” He gazed at her fondly.
She giggled. “Papa was so grateful.”
“I was, too, eventually.”
“After a good number ofyears,” she replied.
“I admit I was slow to recognize your genius. But I am fully appreciativenow.” He punctuated this assurance with a kiss.
She returned it with equal enthusiasm, and conversation lapsed for a delightful interval.
“One of the servants may come in,” the duchess said then, catching a hairpin as it fell from her golden locks.
“They must be accustomed to our scandalous behavior by this time.”
“Not the new ones.”
“Who are not our employees, strictly speaking, Cecelia. They belong to the elusive earl. Or will do so when he turns up and takes the reins.” The duke sighed. “Why did we leave London?”
“We decided we should make the rounds of all the ducal properties and put them in order while the workmen restore the London house.”
“We? That is not precisely the way I remember it. Was there cajoling involved?”
She smiled at him. As always, the effect was glorious. “You agreed with me.”
