Page 26 of The Duke’s Impossible Match

Clara lifted her hands, closed her eyes, and took a breath.

“What I am trying to get you to understand is that Gerald will choose how he spends his time. When you are older, you will have more choice as well, but for now I have to make the best decisions for you because you would choose poorly.”

“No, we wouldn’t,” Emily said.

“Is that so? Oliver, if you had the choice, what would you have for breakfast?”

Oliver tilted his head to the side and stretched out his lower lip. “Biscuits,” he said.

“And what would you have for lunch?”

“Biscuits.”

“Dinner?”

“Biscuits.” He nodded, this time smiling. Clara arched her eyebrows to show that she had proven her point, although Emily still wasn’t prepared to relent.

“That doesn’t count. Oliver is stupid,” Emily said.

“Emily! We don’t speak like that about each other. It’s unkind,” she said.

“It’s true though.” Emily leaned in her chair, sulking with her arms crossed..

“It’s not true at all. He may know fewer things than you, but that’s because he’s younger. And since you know more than him, you shouldn’t ridicule him for it, but should want to teach him. We help each other. Now, there is no need for this argument anyway. I’m sure that Gerald will be here with enough time to spare so that he can spend time with you all,” Clara said. “Now, eat your breakfast.”

The mood was tense because Emily didn’t seem happy at all. She made a poor attempt at finishing her breakfast, which mostly consisted of moving the porridge around the bowl to make it look as if she had eaten more than she had. Clara dismissed them all and, with Agatha’s help, cleaned up.

“Thank you for your help,” Clara said, clattering the bowls together.

“You had the matter well in hand, my dear.”

“While you were laughing. I fail to see what was amusing.”

“Really? I should have thought it was obvious. They remind me so much of you, Clara. Especially Emily.”

“I was never that disagreeable.”

“No, you were far more stubborn.”

Clara’s gaze shot up, glaring at her grandmother. Agatha had a twinkle in her eye, though and it was clear she was hoping to get a rise out of Clara.

“You are terrible, Grandmother,” Clara said, and carried the bowls out of the room, smiling to herself because she had to admit that Agatha was probably correct in her estimation.

After breakfast, Emily started arranging her dolls near her doll house, while Oliver wanted to go and play with the boat.

“Not until Gerald gets here,” Teddy said, peering out of the window. Whenever someone passed near the entrance, Teddy jumped up with excitement, which was quickly doused as he realized it was just a builder. The incessant hammering was difficult to ignore. It only added to Clara’s irritation. Like Teddy, she was glancing at the door as well, waiting for Gerald to arrive.

As the hours of the morning passed, the children nagged her, constantly asking when Gerald was going to arrive. Every time, Clara responded that she didn’t know. Teddy was the most anxious.

“Will he come at all?” he asked just after lunch.

“I’m sure he will, eventually. He did promise, after all,” Clara said. However, her heart sank as she wondered if he threw around promises casually. While watching him build the boat with the boys, she thought he might realize what they needed. Perhaps she had been mistaken. Her ire grew long into the afternoon, more angry with herself than him, in truth. She felt foolish for making such an effort for him, or being beguiled by his charming smile and his teasing manner. It was all just a hollow game to him, she knew that now, and she had to be careful to not allow herself to mistake their pretense for reality.

Clara managed to distract the children with a group activity. She didn’t notice the sound of the door opening, or of the familiar thud of the boots. She did, however, hear Gerald clear his throat.

“I apologize for my delay. There was something from which I could not get away. I hope that I can make up for it.”

“Gerald! I knew you would keep your promise!” Teddy abandoned what he was doing and rushed up to Gerald, just stopping short of giving him a hug. The other children seemed delighted as well. Clara was more guarded. She rose slowly, placing her hands upon her thighs. Her smile was cool, her eyes cold.