Chapter Three

“L ord help us, is he to be the next Duke of Bromleigh?” Gawain shook his head and sighed as he, Lynton, and Camborne returned from their early morning ride the following day in time to find Reggie already in the study with several of his bachelor friends, about to break open another bottle of brandy. “What is this country coming to?”

Gawain strode over to his nephew and grabbed the bottle out of his hand. “We haven’t even been called to breakfast yet, Reggie. If I catch you tippling before five o’clock this evening, I am going to give you the hiding of your life.”

“Uncle! That is unfair. This is a house party. Are we not permitted to misbehave?” Reggie glanced at his indolent friends, who did not look happy with Gawain but were too afraid to complain to his face.

Good, because he was not about to indulge these wastrels.

“I do not care what your friends do. They are not my responsibility, but you are, and I say you are not to misbehave.” He raked a hand through his hair in consternation. “Men do not act in this reckless way. Certainly not men who will be expected to shoulder responsibilities. You are to be my heir, so it is time you took your role seriously.”

His nephew frowned at him. “Aren’t you being harsh?”

“In truth, I have been far too lax with you.” Gawain glanced at Lynton and Camborne, both of whom were grinning at him instead of supporting him. He grunted at his two friends before returning his attention to Reggie. “You will destroy all that I and my predecessors have built within a year of your inheriting the dukedom if you continue down this dissolute path.”

“I am hardly dissolute. It is just a party and I am enjoying myself. Aren’t the ladies lovely? You ought to choose a tempting morsel for yourself and—”

“I am not interested in any of the ladies here.”

“But I am, so why are you determined to spoil my fun? What do you propose I do?”

Gawain began to feel exactly like the cantankerous ogre he feared he might become. He met his nephew’s gaze and noted his dismayed expression, but refused to soften toward the lad. “Start getting your life in order.”

“Here and now? Just how am I supposed to accomplish that? You might have given me fair warning about your purpose. Is it not cruel of you to spring this on me unaware? And unwarranted, in my opinion.”

“Fair or not, this is what I am doing, and I will hear no more argument about it from you or any of your friends.” He shot Reggie’s companions a warning scowl that had them all clamping their mouths shut. “In the short time I have been here, all I’ve seen you do is behave like a nitwit, drinking too much and ogling every girl you see.”

“But they are all so pretty,” his nephew said with a pout.

His comment was quickly approved by his companions, who were afraid to speak but did not hesitate to nod. One or two muttered under their breath, quick to point out their favorites among the young ladies.

Gawain was not surprised when not even one mumbled Cherish’s name. All these lads were young and foolish.

To his mind, Cherish was easily the standout among all the young ladies present at this party. “Looks fade over time, Reggie. The right wife must offer you more than just a pretty smile. You have to be careful about this, for the woman you marry will be a duchess someday. She will represent the Bromleigh family as much as you will. You cannot marry a peabrain or a wanton.”

“Is this why you never married?” his nephew asked, sounding not at all insolent.

This was the thing about Reggie—he was so likeable and did take things to heart. This was why Gawain wanted to ensure he found the right woman to guide his nephew. “My situation was different from yours. I was off fighting battles and never expected to be settled in one place long enough to set up a family. Nor did I ever expect to become a duke. It seems ridiculous for me to go on the hunt now. I am too old. You are to take up the mantle in continuing the family line.”

Reggie regarded him with affection and perhaps a touch of pity, something Gawain hated but could not fault the lad when even he looked upon his lost time with regret. “Uncle, you are too hard on yourself. There is not a woman here who would deny you.”

“I am not marrying someone young enough to be my daughter. Put it out of your head.” What genteel young lady would have him now, with these scars on his face or the gray in his hair? He had no desire to see the cringe in her eyes when she looked at him in the intimacy of their bedchamber. Oh, any sweet young thing would gladly accept his offer of marriage because she wanted to be a duchess. But none of them would want the man he truly was at heart. He had no doubt that bedroom door would slam shut against him as soon as he bred heirs off his chosen wife.

No, that humiliation was not for him.

He set the bottle of brandy back in the cabinet and herded the young bucks out of the study. “Go have your breakfast. I’m sure there are some lovely ladies already there by now enjoying their morning cup of tea. Reggie, try not to make an ass of yourself.”

“Thank you, Uncle. Your faith in me warms my heart.” Reggie marched out with his friends, leaving Gawain alone in the study with his own companions.

Camborne slapped him on the back. “Was that insolence I detected in Reggie’s last remark? Good for him. It is time he showed a little spine.”

Lynton laughed. “I would say something, too. But my children are going to rake me over the fire as soon as I get home, so I am hardly one to comment. Losing a nanny just now is the worst possible thing to happen. My hellions are going to burn down the house if this latest one walks out and I am not back in time to stop them. To add to my misery, my mother has invited a circle of her friends and their lovely daughters to Lynton Grange, no doubt in furtherance of her relentless efforts to marry me off. I will politely endure, but I stand with you, Bromleigh. No wife for me.”

“Aye,” Camborne said with a shake of his head. “I canno’ even choose my mistresses right. No, there’ll be no permanent commitments for me, either.”

As more guests began to make their way downstairs, Gawain and his friends joined them in the dining room for a quick bite. He was casually dressed, having just come back from that early morning ride with his friends. But house parties were generally relaxed affairs, so he did not feel as though any of them stuck out inappropriately. He would retire upstairs to properly wash and dress for the day’s activities after he ate. The early morning air and exercise had left him famished.

Gawain noticed Cherish was not down yet.

Frowning, he served himself from the salvers lined up along the buffet, piling on the eggs and sausages, then requested a footman to bring him a cup of coffee. “At once, Your Grace.”

He settled beside Fiona and was not surprised when one of the silly geese with flaxen hair and big blue eyes took the seat on the other side of him. “Good morning, Your Grace,” she said with a giggle.

“Good morning.” He forgot her name, blast it. But these young girls all looked the same to him with their baby faces and flirtatious manner.

She batted her eyelashes at him. “It is a lovely day for a picnic, is it not?”

“Yes, just perfect.” Dear heaven, what was her name?

He must have looked perplexed, because Fiona shot him a knowing smirk before leaning over and joining in the conversation. “Lady Margaret, each lady shall have a basket with the name of a gentleman written in it. That gentleman is to be your partner for the picnic.”

Ah, Lady Margaret.

Right.

He hoped Fiona had not assigned him to her.

What was he going to say to this girl who would have been in leading strings when the Peninsular War started and not even a glimmer in the eye of her parents when hostilities arose in the American colonies? Perhaps he was being too harsh, but she did not appear to have anything but air between her ears.

However, that did not stop her from talking at him…incessantly. Drat, she was all giggles and effervescent chirpiness. How did a man survive this onslaught every morning?

No one was more relieved than he when Cherish finally walked in.

She was dressed in a fairly plain gown, but the rose color suited her complexion, as did the hint of lace at the collar and sleeves. Her hair was done up in a loose bun that flattered the fullness of her hair. She had little hoop earrings in her ears, but no other adornment.

She looked beautiful.

He came to his feet to offer his chair, since the table was crowded and most of the seats were already taken. “Please, have mine.”

She smiled at him. “I do not wish to kick you out.”

“Not at all. I am finished.” He glanced down at himself. “Besides, my friends and I only returned a short while ago from our morning ride and are hardly presentable. I understand we are to have a picnic later this morning.”

Fiona rose as well. “Yes, and as I’ve told Lady Margaret, each lady will have the name of a gentleman written in her basket.”

Margaret giggled and batted her eyelashes at him again.

Fiona, smirking once more, leaned over and whispered something in Cherish’s ear. Cherish blushed as she glanced at him.

He hoped this meant Fiona had placed his name in Cherish’s basket. The two of them needed to talk. Now that he had lectured Reggie and hopefully gained the lad’s cooperation, he wanted to waste no time in putting Cherish forward as a prospect for wife. But he had to be sure she would agree.

He excused himself, and then strode back to his room to wash and dress for the picnic.

Lynton and Camborne had mentioned they were leaving after breakfast, so he made certain to seek them out as soon as he returned downstairs. He caught them moments after they had said their farewells to Fiona. “Safe journey,” he said, giving each a brotherly pat on the back.

“Take care of yourself,” Camborne said. “You know the ladies all want you. Watch out for their traps.”

Lynton nodded. “These wretched house parties ought to be outlawed.”

Gawain grinned. “Aren’t we a dour threesome? Yes, I’ll be careful. In truth, there isn’t much danger. These ton diamonds are little more than children, and their mothers are too old. I think I will be safe enough.”

Camborne arched an eyebrow. “And what of Lady Cherish? Ye spent quite a bit of time in her company yesterday.”

“For the sake of Reggie. She’s a good choice for him, don’t you think?”

Lynton patted him on the back. “Just remember she is for Reggie.”

Gawain frowned. “I am hardly likely to forget.”

He watched his friends ride off and waited for them to disappear beyond the entry gates before he rejoined the gathering in Fiona’s parlor. Wicker baskets had been set up on long tables along the walls, each having the name of a young lady pinned to the outside.

He paused beside Cherish, who was the only one not giggling, cooing, or squealing in delight. She arched an eyebrow in greeting as he approached. “Are you ready for the battle, Your Grace?” she said. “Every lady in the room hopes your name will be the one in her basket.”

“I am not concerned. Knowing Fiona, she has placed my name in hers or yours. Either way, I shall be spared the tedium of having to make conversation with a little goose.”

Cherish laughed. “You are a curmudgeon, aren’t you?”

He shot her a pained grin. “I suppose I am. Reggie thinks I am a complete ogre.”

“Why? Oh, no. What did you say to him?”

“Nothing,” he assured her, raising his hands in mock surrender.

“Oh, really? Then why is he frowning at you from across the room?”

Gawain sighed. “I merely spoke to him about his unacceptable behavior. He took it rather well, I’m pleased to report. How has he behaved so far this morning? Do you find him to be more sober? Behaving a little more responsibly?”

Cherish’s eyes lit up with mirth. “Do you mean before or after he danced around the parlor with an egret feather on his head?”

He stared at her in dismay.

She laughed heartily. “Oh, your expression is priceless. I am jesting, Your Grace. His behavior has been beyond reproach.”

“Blast it, Cherish. You had me going there.” He cast her an affectionate smile, liking she felt comfortable enough to tease him.

“Sorry, but I could not resist. Ah, you must excuse me. Fiona is calling us to our baskets. What do you think? Will it be you for me so that we may finish yesterday’s conversation? Or is she going straight for pairing me with Reggie?”

To Gawain’s relief, Cherish called out his name. Fiona called out Reggie’s name.

Poor lad.

Gawain almost felt sorry for Reggie, who obviously wished to be matched to one of the silly, giggling girls. But Gawain and Fiona were not going to let any young lady other than Cherish claim him.

He grabbed hold of their picnic basket and held out his arm to Cherish. “Let’s find a shady spot before the others grab them all.”

She nodded. “I’m sure there is no shortage of trees. But I would like to be far enough away from the others that we are not overheard.”

“Then you’ve given your situation thought and come to a conclusion?”

She nodded again. “I expect it will be to your liking.”

His stomach churned.

Why was he irritated about her bending to his will? She was a good choice for Reggie, and he would be a kind husband to her. “Right, let’s go.”

They wound up settling on the beach again, since Fiona had her staff set up several open-air tents at lengthy intervals along the stretch of sand. The day was hot and the wind off the water provided a refreshing escape from the heat.

Gawain removed his jacket so that Cherish could sit upon it while he stretched out upon the warm sand and watched her dig into the basket. “There’s a tablecloth in here, Your Grace. We can spread it out so that you need not get all those little grains dug into your clothing.”

He shook his head. “No, I’m quite comfortable. Besides, the tablecloth is not all that big. It’ll be just enough for us to set the food atop it. What’s in our basket?”

“Oh, it looks lovely. Chicken…fruit…a loaf of freshly baked bread. Oh, the aroma is heavenly. Cider for me. Looks like ale for you. Silverware and table linens. Are you hungry? I’ll set it all out now.”

“I am always hungry. Look at the size of me. Do I not look as though I have a hearty appetite?”

“You look quite fit for an old man,” she said, purposely tweaking him.

He grimaced. “Ouch.”

“You know I am merely teasing you. You are all muscle, as far as I can tell. I suppose that is due to your years of military service. You and your friends were out riding early this morning, so I expect you keep to a fit routine.”

He nodded. “I am not used to idling about.”

“And now you are determined to work hardiness into your soft nephew?” She drew out the chicken and a knife and began to expertly carve the bird while he poured each of them a drink. “Do you have a favorite part?”

“Breasts, of course,” he said.

She blushed as he set a glass of cider beside her.

He took a swig of his ale and then sighed. “You asked; I merely responded. Every man enjoys a good breast…on a chicken. Do not read more into it than there is.”

“I wasn’t.”

Well, he should not have added the “of course” to it. “What’s your favorite part, Cherish?”

“Leg and wing.”

“Excellent, then we will not be fighting over the pieces.”

She laughed. “There is no need to fight when there are two of everything on the bird for us to share. But men do not think this way. They see what they want and will fight to claim all the spoils for themselves. Did it not cross your mind that we could each have had one of everything? But no matter, you are welcome to my breasts.” She blushed again. “Oh, that is…”

“I know you meant the bird.” He cast her a wicked grin. “See, sounds lewd even when you say it.”

She cleared her throat. “We ought to discuss your nephew.”

He nodded. “What have you decided?”

“I will give it a try. It would be supremely foolish of me to ignore the chance to break away from a life that can only be filled with drudgery otherwise. Nor do I trust my uncle to give me what I am owed when I reach my thirtieth birthday. According to my father’s solicitor, that is when I come into the first half of my inheritance. The second part comes to me when I am thirty-five. Of course, it is all to be turned over to me immediately if I marry.”

“I assume this is why your uncle left you behind at Northam Hall while he and his wife went off to visit her family. He dares not have you in the company of men while he dips into your trust funds.”

“I do not know for a fact that he is using my funds for his own comforts. To my great frustration, I also do not know exactly what was left to me in trust. No one will tell me, not even my father’s solicitor, who refuses to respond to me now that my uncle has gotten to him and probably warned him to keep silent. However, I know that my father was no wastrel. I maintained his ledgers to the end, so I am fully aware of what he was able to pass on outside of his entailment.”

“They showed you the terms of the trust but provided no accounting of the corpus itself? Or the income it earns?”

“That’s right, not a single account of anything. I thought nothing of it at first, but over a year has elapsed and I am still being put off. My fear is that my uncle’s greed will get the better of him and there will nothing left for me.” She emitted a ragged sigh and looked at him with her big doe eyes. “I suppose revealing my concerns puts you in a better bargaining position over me.”

“No, Cherish. I would never take advantage of you in this fashion. You are to be a part of my family, and I will always protect you.”

She regarded him in obvious surprise. “Thank you, that sounds quite nice. I wish my uncle had even a smidgeon of your honor. He is so loathsome. Hopefully, his failings will no longer matter once I marry. But I do have a concern.”

He frowned. “What is it? Do you think your uncle will try to stop me? You are of age to consent. I do not need his permission to marry you…um, marry you off to my nephew.”

He took a swig of his ale, irritated with himself for almost leaving off that last detail. His nephew. Right. She was to be Reggie’s.

She nodded. “He is a sneaky fellow and I am too convenient to have around. He will lose an unpaid servant, not to mention now having someone powerful to hold him to account for whatever he has done with my funds. No, he will not like it at all.”

Gawain growled softly. “I will eat him alive if he tries to interfere.”

“Goodness, I think I am very much going to like having you on my side.” She cast him a breathtaking smile that managed to wrap itself around his heart.

No. No.

Not this girl.

Not his heart.

“Would you think less of me if I admitted how eager I am to watch you give my uncle his comeuppance?” she asked, unaware of his wayward thoughts. “There is much to be said for having a big, growling duke on my side.”

He could not get over how beautiful her face was as it lightened in that moment. She had a luminescent glow about her. But as lovely as she looked, her sparkle also brought home just how burdened she must have felt until now.

Despite his resolve to keep his hands off her, he found himself reaching out to tuck a finger under her chin. “I shall be just that whenever you are ready to defy him. I will fight for you, Cherish. But I am also glad you have finally come around to fighting for yourself.”

“I know. It was foolish of me to put it off for this long.” When he released her chin, she turned away to dig into the basket. She poured more ale into his mug and then handed it back to him. “But my problem is not really solved yet. I still have to appeal to Reggie, don’t I? Oh, I do not expect him to love me, but there has to be some little spark of affection between us or he will never accept me, no matter how hard you and Fiona push me at him.”

“I do not see a problem on that score. You are the prettiest girl at the party.”

The comment obviously surprised her. What had he just said?

Well, wasn’t she achingly beautiful? It was plain for anyone to see.

“Your Grace, I am not certain you and Fiona see me clearly.”

“We do.” He gulped down his ale. “Cherish, I am not just saying this to appease you. It is a fact. Fiona and I are not wrong.”

She brushed back a few curls that had loosened in the breeze, something that seemed to happen regularly because her hair was delightfully lush and unruly. “Reggie does not think so. He hasn’t ever looked my way. Perhaps at first, but that was only to dismiss me as a possible match. How am I to go about attracting him when I do not know how to flirt? I am not even a good dancer. I don’t ride well, either. In fact, I am deathly afraid of horses.”

He set aside his mug and leaned an arm on his bent knee as he concentrated his attention on her. “Did you have an experience riding that frightened you?”

She nodded. “I fell off the horse my father gave me as a present for my tenth birthday. I couldn’t control him and wound up with a fractured wrist and an egg-sized lump on my brow. But I healed quickly. It could have been so much worse.”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “Wasn’t your fault.”

“Nor yours. I’ll give you riding lessons if you are comfortable enough to trust me. Reggie enjoys riding. He’s quite good at it. However, he doesn’t keep to it with any regularity. Getting him off his rump and active is a trait that has yet to be instilled in him.”

“Poor Reggie. You should not be too hard on him. I’m sure he finds you quite daunting and does not think he can ever measure up to you.”

“But that’s just it. I think he can. He simply doesn’t try hard enough.”

“Have you done anything to encourage his participation? You might compliment him once in a while so he does not feel defeated before he ever starts. I can see he loves you and admires you. Your words are very important to him. He needs to feel you are proud of him.”

“Which I am not at the moment,” Gawain admitted.

“And he feels that acutely.”

“Cherish, are you rebuking me?”

She brushed back another lock of her hair that had come loose in the breeze. “No, I’m merely voicing my opinion. I know how it feels to be trod upon. Reggie may be feeling the same with you. Oh, I am not suggesting you are anything like my boor of an uncle. But have you ever trusted Reggie with an important project? Or shown him that you value his opinion?”

“He rarely ventures one.”

“And why is that? Are you too quick to dismiss him if you disagree with what he has to say? Or if he does not express an opinion immediately? He is not a soldier who needs to be trained for battle. He does not need to have orders barked at him. Nor will he die if he requires a few minutes to make a decision.”

Gawain did not wish to be lectured, but Cherish was making sense. “Go on.”

“Everyone absorbs information differently. I think you are a bit of a bull, quick to decide and act. But Reggie might be more thoughtful and need time to digest all the facts before he reaches a conclusion. His way isn’t wrong, merely different from yours. I think an encouraging word from you will work wonders on him.”

“Maybe.” He took the breast of chicken she now offered him and sank his teeth into it. After swallowing a bite, he continued their conversation. “What about your dancing skills? Why do you say they are not good?”

“Because they aren’t. I have not danced in years. Attending a few of the local assemblies and hopping about to a lively reel or two when I was a girl of seventeen is not at all the same as dancing among elevated Society. I have never waltzed. Nor ever learned the steps.”

“I’ll help you with that as well.”

She nodded. “Thank you. I think I can pick up most of the other dances without too much difficulty. Hopefully, the waltz won’t stump me either. It seems easy enough. I don’t think I would require more than an afternoon or two to learn it and refresh my memory on the other dances. I only need to master them enough to keep from making a fool of myself. But even if you had me dancing with the grace of a swan, I don’t know if it would be enough to attract Reggie’s attention.”

“He’ll ask you to dance. Let me take care of that part.”

“Then it shall be up to me to keep him interested? Oh dear.” She began to nibble her lip, looking adorably distressed.

Botheration, she is pretty.

He arched an eyebrow. “I see you will also need lessons on how to flirt with a man.”

She laughed. “Desperately.”

“I’ll show you how it is done. Believe me, I’ve been assaulted by the best. We’ll add that to your lessons.” He took another bite of the breast, refusing—absolutely refusing—to think of her breasts. It was wrong on every level, so very wrong. “Cherish, you’ve told me everything you cannot do. Now tell me what you can do to impress my nephew. Surely you must have a few skills.”

She winced. “I can manage an estate and am a wizard at sums. But I do not think this is the sort of thing you mean. It might attract a practical man like you, but no one else. As for the traditional feminine accomplishments, I can sing. And I play the pianoforte quite well. But that is about the extent of my talents.”

“How good are you at those?”

“Fairly good, I think,” she said with a shrug.

“Does Fiona know this?”

“Yes, I’ve played for her whenever she asks me. She often hosts recitals when she is in residence. Nothing fancy, just the local gentry and other neighbors coming around for an evening musicale or afternoon tea.”

Knowing how modest this girl was, her shrug probably meant she had a voice of professional quality and an equal ability on the instrument. “Would you feel comfortable if I asked Fiona to feature your talents one night this week? Tonight or tomorrow night, since I would like to have you noticed as soon as possible. I’m sure Fiona can fit in a casual musicale after supper, or an afternoon recital.”

“I suppose,” she said, putting a hand to her cheek as she blushed. “As you may have gathered, I am not very good at being the center of attention.”

He cast her a wry smile. “I’ve noticed.”

“But I will perform if you arrange it with Fiona.”

“Good. I’ll speak to her about it as soon as we are through with the picnic.” He set aside his chicken and drank more ale. “Cherish, you haven’t asked me.”

She frowned. “Asked you what?”

“What I will provide for you in return for agreeing to marry my nephew.”

She appeared confused by his question. “He has to ask me first, don’t you think?”

Honestly, this girl needed a little of the mercenary in her. If he were not honorable, he could so easily cheat her. He wasn’t ever going to hurt her, of course. If anything, he had a surprisingly strong urge to protect her.

A ridiculously strong urge that would sabotage his best-laid plans if he weren’t careful. “Should you not look out for yourself if our matchmaking fails?”

She nibbled her fleshy lower lip in thought. “I suppose, but what would you suggest is fair?”

The notion of Reggie nibbling those luscious lips had his stomach roiling again.

There was something about the shape of her mouth that fascinated Gawain. It had a graceful, bow-like curve, and was the slightest bit too broad for her face. The bottom lip had a plump fullness to it. The whole of her mouth had him wishing for a taste…

Oh, blast.

This would not do at all.

“Well,” she said, continuing her thought when he did not immediately respond, “I could not demand a large sum of money from you to free me from my uncle. First of all, he would likely grab anything you gave me. I think my only safe way out is through marriage. So let us see how this week progresses.”

“We are already three days into the week, since my friends and I arrived late. There is little time left. I think we must have an immediate plan of action.”

“Ah, that’s the bull in you talking again. Are you always so impatient to charge ahead?” She cast him another of her delicious smiles. “If it is clear Reggie will never ask me, then perhaps you will agree to help me find someone else. Would you do this for me? You are sharp and know the character of these men. I would trust your judgment. This is the best reward I could have, to be safe and married to someone kind.”

He growled low in his throat. “I would kill anyone who ever dared hurt you.”

Gad, where had that come from?

Her eyes widened and she laughed. “That ought to scare every man away from me. But what a marvelously apish thing to say. Hopefully, a worthy man won’t need to be threatened by you, or he wouldn’t be all that worthy, would he? Do you think Reggie might ever desire to protect me in this way?”

He raked a hand through his hair, startled by the pang of jealousy now gripping him. Him? Jealous of his own nephew?

What was happening to him?