Chapter Fourteen

E ffie allowed Mama to lead her about the drawing room. They looked at the gorgeous bouquets which had been sent by gentlemen she had met at last night's ball. The array of colors brightened the room, and the sweet smells of hyacinths, peonies, and freesias filled the air.

"How often do gentlemen send flowers to a lady?" she asked, bending down and scooping up Daffy, who had followed her to the drawing room.

"Daily if they are interested in you," Aunt Matty said, looking up from her needlepoint. "And the larger the arrangement, the more interest they have in you."

She snorted as she scratched the cat's head. "It seems like a waste of cut flowers to me. Why, look at how many arrangements are here. I will need Powell to distribute these throughout the house once visiting hours end. No sense in leaving them all here. Let the servants also have them, too. They might enjoy a fresh bouquet in their rooms."

"That is thoughtful of you," Sophie said, entering the room with James and catching the last of the conversation. "Remember, floral shops in London earn the majority of their funds during the Season, Effie, so it is not necessarily a waste."

"What are those?" James asked, pointing to an arrangement they had yet to reach. "The white ones which are drooping. I can't say I've ever seen those blooms before."

"Snowdrops," Mama said. "Along with tulips. A most unusual combination."

"I like it," Effie said, moving quickly along, not recognizing all the names from the cards. Hopefully, she would be able to match names to faces if all these gentlemen called upon her this afternoon.

When they reached the bouquet James had pointed out, she lifted the card.

Thank you for a memorable waltz and supper.

Waterbury

Effie felt her cheeks heat and quickly set down the card. She couldn't help but recall the kiss the duke had given her. She had decided that he had guessed she had never been kissed and thought to give her one so that she would know what to expect when a gentleman did kiss her. If only she had known how to respond. She hadn't known what to do with her hands. If she should lean in and press her lips back against his. Although Mama—and her siblings—had highly recommended kissing, she needed more practice at it before she would be able to say if she liked it or not.

But not with the Duke of Waterbury. Anyone but him.

"Who is that bouquet from?" Aunt Matty asked.

"His Grace. Waterbury," Effie said, trying to sound nonchalant.

James cocked an eyebrow. " Waterbury sent you flowers?"

"I think it rather sweet of him," Sophie said. "After all, he did dance the supper dance with our Effie, and he allowed her to dine with Lady Ada and her escort. Who knew Waterbury was so thoughtful? He always seems so quiet."

The captain strode into the room, glancing about and taking in all the flowers. Once he had, he came straight to her.

"Any of these fellows you have a fondness for?" he asked gruffly.

"No one as of yet stands out to me, Captain."

"I see."

He walked the room, reading the names on each card, nodding to himself as he did so. Effie thought it amusing and could never imagine her own father being interested enough to do so.

Looking about the room, she said, "All five of you do not have to be here. I know I need a chaperone, but I am perfectly happy for you to take turns. I do not want to keep James, Sophie, or the captain away from your shipping offices."

Her stepfather's brow furrowed. "This is the first day suitors will call upon you. We will all stay," he said firmly.

"Perhaps as the Season goes on, we can take turns," Sophie added. "I, for one, am happy to be here and meet the gentlemen interested in winning your heart, Effie."

James fisted one hand and punched it into the palm of his other. "And I most definitely want to see the type of man who believes he is good enough for my baby sister."

Horrified, she said, "Please, do not ever call me that again, James."

Everyone else laughed. Mama slipped her arm about Effie's waist. "This is the last time we will be doing this for many years, my dearest. James needs to practice for when it is Ida's turn to make her come-out."

"Ida will become a nun," her brother announced. "It is hard enough to watch men fawning over Effie. I cannot imagine them doing so over my sweet babe."

Powell entered the drawing room and smiled at the group. "The first of your suitors have arrived, Lady Effie. Shall I show them in?"

"Yes, Powell," she replied. "We might as well get it over with."

Mama said, "Remember, keep an open mind. You were not certain you would enjoy last night's ball, but you did. This will be same. Your callers will only stay a quarter-hour or so and then leave, so make the most of your time with each of them."

"Yes, Mama," she said dutifully.

Her mother was right. It was nice seeing many of the people she had met last night, and she understood they came here strictly to see her. Naturally, a few were probably interested in her connection to a duke or were curious about the size of her dowry, but for the most part, Effie felt these gentlemen truly wanted to get to know her better. She only wished they were more intriguing. While most of them seemed quite nice, she found the lot of them rather dull and their conversation boring.

The afternoon passed quickly, though, and she was happy she could place most of the names from the cards to the actual gentlemen.

Then Powell announced a name she had not been expecting.

The Duke of Waterbury.

Effie composed herself, wondering why she suddenly felt nervous around a man she had seen almost daily for several weeks. It was just in the last week she had not, when the dowager duchess had cooled the relationship between her family and the Strongs.

He did not make his way to her. It was probably a good thing he didn't because she was talking with two other gentlemen, one a baron and one an earl, and she wanted to give her full attention to them. Still, she watched the duke make his way around the room to each of the five chaperoning her this afternoon. She heard Sophie laugh at something Waterbury said, while Aunt Matty batted her eyelashes coquettishly at him.

Finally, once her other two visitors left, he made his way toward her. Her heart sped up, skipping a beat, and she told herself to quit acting like some schoolgirl. Yes, he was a duke, but that did not impress her.

Then why were her insides seemingly melting?

He reached her, smiling for only the second time since she had known him. It was a powerful smile, meant to draw a person in. She reminded herself he was not truly a suitor and had called simply to be considerate.

"Your Grace," she said, offering him her hand.

"Lady Effie," he replied, taking it and brushing his lips against her fingers, reminding her of how those same lips had been against hers only twelve hours ago.

"You did not have to call upon me today," she told him. "You went out of your way last night to dance with me and allow Lady Ada and me to sup together at our first ball. I truly appreciate your kindness, but it is not as if you are courting me."

"I am not?" he asked, cocking his head and studying her.

"Of course not," she said, brushing the thought aside. "I told you that I look upon you as yet another brother. You need not waste time in my company when you are seeking to find your duchess. Please do not feel the need to call upon me again when your time is better spent visiting with regal beauties whom Polite Society would view as the perfect duchess."

She felt Daffy brush against her legs and bent to pick up the cat. She caught disapproval in the duke's eyes as she stroked her pet.

"Do you not like cats, Your Grace?"

"Not in a house. They belong in a barn, chasing away the mice."

Effie held Daffy so they were almost nose-to-nose. "Do you hear that, Daffy? His Grace does not think you belong in the house." She smiled playfully. "What would the duke think if he knew you slept in my bed?"

"In your bed?" he asked, clearly astonished, his displeasure at the idea causing him to shake his head. "Animals are outdoor creatures, my lady."

"True. For the most part," she told him. "But I often take in ones which need extra love and care. Daffy here had been sorely mistreated. I nursed her back to health, and we are attached forever now. Where I go, she will go. If you do not like cats, Your Grace, do you favor dogs?"

"Hunting dogs are necessary," he said crisply. "But no animal should be treated as a pet, my lady."

"Then we have found something we disagree on, for you will never change my mind and I certainly will not change yours." She smiled playfully. "But Daffy is ever so warm on a cold night. She will climb under the covers and nestle against my feet, keeping them warmer than any hot water bottle ever would."

He looked aghast at the idea of a cat sleeping under the covers and abruptly said, "It was nice to see you again, my lady."

"And it was quite thoughtful of you to send the lovely tulips and snowdrops, Your Grace. Thank you for stopping by."

Effie looked about, seeing Powell at the door. The butler announced new visitors. "Excuse me," she said, leaving the duke with his jaw dropped. She supposed no one truly spoke his or her mind with a duke. At least most dukes and others in Polite Society. James was a different kettle of fish, having not been raised in this household and not even knowing he was destined to be a duke until he was an adult.

Perhaps that was the kind of man she could fall in love with. Both Pippa and Sophie had wed sea captains who had left the sea when they inherited their titles. She was not impressed by fancy titles or clothes. A rough-and-tumble man would be more to her liking. Unless some gentleman changed her mind, which she doubted, Effie would finish out this Season and return to Shadowcrest. She might find a country gentleman with no title, one who had good manners and was interesting and not opposed to dirtying his hands. An estate steward, such as Caleb would be more to her liking. Why, if she wed a steward, perhaps they could run an estate together. And then she could have the children she was growing to want, more and more.

Her new guests came to speak with her, and Effie saw the Duke of Waterbury taking his leave. James walked with him, an arm slung about Waterbury's shoulder. Hopefully, her brother would have some good advice for how to find a wife for Lady Ada's brother.

*

The Duke of Seaton led Malcolm into his study. "Sit," he ordered.

Malcolm did as instructed and accepted the brandy snifter the duke pushed into his hand. Seaton poured a drink for himself and sat opposite Malcolm.

"Talk."

"About what?" he asked, deliberately draining the expensive French brandy and slamming the snifter onto the nearby table.

Seaton merely reached for the crystal decanter again and poured three more fingers for Malcolm. This time, he sipped it, letting the burn slowly travel down his throat to his belly, which was now warmed by the liquid.

"You asked Effie to dance. You supped with her last night. You sent her a thoughtful bouquet. Now, you have turned up to see her." The duke paused. "Are you courting my sister?"

"No," he said flatly, sipping on the brandy again. "Because she won't let me."

Seaton's brows shot up. "This is getting interesting, Waterbury. "Unburden yourself. I promise what you say will not go beyond these walls."

Slowly, he blew out a frustrated breath. "Your sister is the woman I want as my duchess," he confessed, waiting to see how the duke took that before he continued.

"Go on."

"I do want to court her. She is the only woman who remotely interests me, one who possesses both a great spirit and heart. I already knew it would be an uphill battle because she has spoken plainly about not being a lady who seeks marriage. She has a full life at Shadowcrest, one which makes her happy."

He drained the snifter again and placed it gently on the table this time before raking both hands through his hair in frustration.

"She sees me as a brother. Compared me to all the men her sisters and cousins have wed."

"Then you need to kiss her."

"I did."

Seaton arched one brow. "Then you need to kiss her so that she understands how you feel."

Malcolm nodded. "I only kissed her briefly. Our lips barely touched. I did not want to frighten her and guessed she had no experience." He paused. "I was right. She had no idea how to respond. I do not wish to force myself upon her, Seaton, but she is driving me mad."

A slow smile crossed the duke's handsome face. "That is definitely our Effie."

He grew quiet, and Malcolm knew the duke contemplated the situation.

"I will call a meeting. Of all the men in the family. Together, we will help you achieve your goal."

"You would do that, Your Grace? Why?" he questioned.

"I myself have dealt with a stubborn woman. So have several of the men who have wed Strongs. If we unite, I believe we can solve your problem."

"When?" he asked eagerly. "I will do whatever you ask of me."

The duke nodded approvingly. "I like that you want to make this happen. But I cannot guarantee even after we help you that Effie will accept your offer, Waterbury. She alone is in charge of deciding her future. If she wants you in it, that will be your success. If she does not?" Seaton shrugged. "Then you will have to find yourself another woman to be your duchess."

Within five minutes, the duke had rung for his butler, requesting four footmen be sent to each of his brothers-in-law's residences, with the request they come immediately to Lord Edgethorne's townhouse.

"I will go to Edgethorne's myself now so that he knows to expect everyone," Seaton told the servants. To his butler, he said, "Ask the captain to join us in my study."

"Yes, Your Grace," the butler said, sending the footmen off with his verbal message.

"Why are you summoning all of them?" Malcolm asked. "What good will that do?"

"It will provide a united front. Also, they will tell their wives, who will no doubt support your suit."

"Will they tell—"

"I will make it clear that Effie is not to be told."

"Told what?"

He looked up and saw Mr. Andrews in the doorway.

Seaton rose, so Malcolm did the same.

"We are going across the street to see August and the rest of the men in the family. His Grace here has a problem—and we are going to try and help him solve it."