Page 9 of Once Upon a Devilish Duke

The butler presented him with a silver platter with a single envelope on top. He recognized his mother’s handwriting immediately. “Thank you, that is all.”

Once the door closed behind his butler, he opened the letter. He skimmed over it, wondering where the problem lay, for there was always a problem to be fixed if his mother wrote. Ah, there it was. Marianne was bringing a friend with her to London. The Lady Rose Montgomery. He vaguely remembered a blonde child running around with her sister for a few summers by that name. The Earl of Brookhaven’s daughter, their neighbor. His mother explained that her father had died, and that she did not get on with her brother, so had come to stay at Ashtonvale. Another debutante, he thought. Like Lucinda, now Anthony’s wife. This time it would fall upon him to play his part as host. While partly dismayed to have a guest forced upon him, he wondered if Rose would be as charming as he remembered. He hoped she still liked music. It had been months since he had gone to a good opera.

It was close to dinnertime. Anthony and Lucinda were joining him. They had just returned from a short honeymoon, and now that Lucinda was close to giving birth, they had decided to stay in town. This made him ridiculously happy for some reason, though he would never say so. He did find Lucinda an enjoyable guest.

His valet, Jameson, was ready when Edward entered his bedroom. He tied his cravat in a loose, casual style suited to eating at home. Edward shrugged into his jacket, where he gave him the once-over with a lint brush. The butler came to the door.

“Your Grace, Lord Anthony and his wife have arrived.”

“Thank you, you may tell them I will join them directly,” Edward answered. He took one last look in the mirror and pulled his cuffs. The very picture of a duke. Sometimes it felt more like dressing up for a role he must play. He took his time going down the long hall and descending the stairs. These were the very stairs down which he had descended the night Lucinda had arrived. How very long ago that seemed now.

Strolling into the parlor, he greeted Lucinda with a kiss and shook Anthony’s hand. “Shall we?”

Lucinda smiled and took his offered arm. He knew this would annoy Anthony, and so did Lucinda. “You are quite the pot stirrer tonight, Your Grace.”

“Only for your benefit, I assure you.”

“I can hear you both. You know I am right behind you.”

“Anthony, you must not take everything I say so personally.”

“You may be a duke, Edward, but you are still my brother, and as such, I can black your eye if provoked, so watch yourself.”

“He has been in a mood all day. I think he may be frustrated by something, but he will not tell me what.”

“Do we need to have port after dinner, Anthony? Is there something you need to discuss?” Edward said over his shoulder.

His brother frowned. “Let us just get through dinner first.”

Edward allowed a smile to form on his lips as he let go of Lucinda. They took their seats, and he was glad to have a glass of wine to hide behind while he studied his brother. If he were unwilling to talk about it in front of Lucinda, it would be serious.

Lucinda kept the conversation flowing, teasing him that they were planning on naming their son Edwardo. All this talk of babies always brought back memories. Bittersweet memories. He had been so happy to know he was about to be a father. He hadn’t even cared whether it was a girl or a boy. However, Victoria’s last words to him still haunted him. Taunted him in the dim light before dawn, every time he saw the disappointment in his mother’s and sister’s eyes.

“Oh, I should mention that Mother and Marianne are bringing a friend when they come for the season.”

“Do we know her?” Tony asked.

“Yes, I believe you do. Rose Montgomery, Lord Brookhaven’s daughter.”

“Rose? We haven’t seen her in years,” Tony said, turning to his wife. “She used to come and spend the summer and get up to all sorts of mischief with Marianne. Her father’s estate is next to ours. Well, well, little Rose.”

Edward leaned back in his chair to let the footman remove his soup bowl. “Her father just passed away. She has been nursing him for the last few years.”

Tony made a face. “So, Cecil is the new earl?”

Edward nodded. “I am afraid so.”

Lucinda looked at him. “I take it this Cecil is not your cup of tea.”

“He is no one’s beverage. He is sly and untrustworthy. The company he keeps in town are all miscreants as well. Spend all their time in the hells of London.”

“Until they get kicked out,” Edward added. “Do you know how hard it is to get tossed from a hell?”

Lucinda raised an auburn eyebrow. “I have no idea. You do mean places of gambling and women?”

“Yes. Very unsavory places, but good for information as nearly everyone is deep in their cups and losing their fortunes,” her husband explained.

“Sounds absolutely horrid,” said Lucinda, placing a few stalks of asparagus on her plate. And smiling to herself.