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Lady Blanche closed her eyes briefly. “I’m just going to pretend you did not say that. Now. Back to the lighthearted conversation, where I say witty things and you laugh loudly.”
It wasn’t a suggestion, it was an order. “Hahaha.” He laughed loudly.
She hit him with her parasol. “I haven’t said anything witty yet. But I will. As soon as I determine what you are.”
“Do I have tobesomething?”
“Let’s see... you’re certainly not a Rake, because you haven’t even winked at me yet. Nor a Puritan, though some do pronounce you monkish.” She leaned closer. “What are you, Your Grace?”
“I’m retired.”
“Oh no, you mustn’t retire. Why, you’ll put all the ladies out of countenance. There are so few eligible dukes these days. One wouldn’t know it, to read the titles of the boudoir novels.The Devil Duke’s Dark Desires,and so on and so forth.”
“My society days are over, Lady Blanche. When I decide to take a wife, I’ll do so in a manner that will mean I won’t have to attend even one more ball.”
She pouted. “My friends, not to mention my four lovely sisters, will be most disappointed. My friends all swoon over my brother, because he’s a duke, but he’s acting most shamefully of late. Do say you’ll exert a calming influence upon him? He’s been drinking too much lately. He’s terribly dissipated. I fear he has become a Rogue.”
What would she say if she could read his thoughts about Miss Perkins?
They were definitely of the roguish variety.
“Never say,” breathed Edgar. “Not a Rogue.”
“Yes.” She closed her eyes briefly. “A sister’s work is never done. He must be reformed, before it’s too late.”
“I’m sure he’ll settle down eventually, Lady Blanche,” Edgar said reassuringly.
“Well he mustn’t have too much fun. He has four more sisters to bring out. Do please say you’ll exert your influence on him?”
“I’m not sure I’m the right fellow for that.”
“Oh Heavens.” Lady Blanche waved at a lady in a passing carriage. “There’s Lady Philippa. Wasn’t she just green with envy, though? Did you see the set of her teeth? That will leave a mark upon her lip, I daresay.”
“I can only hope Lord Laxton will be overcome by jealousy, as well,” Edgar said, steering the conversation toward her intended and away from him. “Do tell me about him.”
“Lord Laxton is my ideal in every way.” Her face fell. “Except one...”
“He hasn’t offered for you yet.”
“That is his one and only fault. And I’m so willing to forgive him, if only he would...”
“Offer for you.”
“Precisely. I don’t like trickery, mind you. It can so easily go wrong. One need only read the comedies of Mr. Shakespeare to know how very wrong. However, this is but a small maneuver, designed to win a war with as little show of force as necessary. And I daresay, you don’t find the duty too onerous?”
“Hardly.” He winked at her. “Your company is delightful.”
“Why, Your Grace, perhaps you are a Rake, after all. It’s not true what they say, that you’ve taken vows of monkhood.”
The feelings he was having for Miss Perkins were hardly celestial in origin. Firmly rooted in the earthly.
Why couldn’t he stop thinking about her? When Lady Blanche giggled in that silly manner, Edgar couldn’t help wishing he were still at home with Miss Perkins and the children.
They’d been so contented, eating their French bread. Miss Perkins had smiled at him approvingly.
He wanted to make her smile again.
“There’s West’s carriage,” Edgar said with relief. “It’s nearly time.”
