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“It’s high time you considered settling down, Jonathan.” She started listing the things he already knew, “Starting a family, continuing the bloodline…”

Jonathan chuckled, moving over to the small table and proceeding to pour himself a cup of tea. “You sound like an old matron, Rebecca.”

“You talk as if there is plenty of time for that,” she frowned.

“There is,” he shrugged without a single care in the world.

“Time waits for no one, Jonathan,” she replied, her voice softening with love. “You like to think that isn’t so, but you do bear some responsibility to your family, you know.”

He sipped his warm tea, feeling a bit more awake by that point. However, he was in no condition for such grave conversations. “There is no need to rush things, Rebecca. I am still young.”

“That depends on what you consider young,” she replied, teasing him. “Seven and twenty sounds about the right age for marriage, if you ask me.”

“Too soon I say,” he shook his head. “Besides, the last thing the world needs is another Whitlock.”

“I beg—” she started, but he raised his finger at her, interrupting her.

“Before you get offended about your own children, they do not count. You have diluted them with Kirdale’s blood. And you were never really like our fathers in any case.”

Rebecca sighed, obviously feeling exasperated about having the same conversation over and over again without a different outcome.

“So, is that why you have come so early in the… noon?” he asked playfully. “I could have been resting, you know.”

“You could be resting in the carriage while you accompany me,” she suggested, placing her cup down onto the silver tray, signaling that she was done with it.

He raised a displeased eyebrow. “Accompany you? Where?”

“I have been invited to the Earl of Langley’s garden party,” she explained importantly, “and I would like you to accompany me.”

“Me?” he frowned again. “Why can’t your husband go? Isn’t thathisduty and not mine?”

“He cannot,” she clarified. “He has gone off on a business trip to Wales.”

“Why didn’t you accompany him then?” he asked.

“Me, go to Wales?” she asked incredulously as if that were the most preposterous thing she had ever heard. “What on earth for?”

They exchanged a meaningful glance, and then they both burst into a chuckle. She was one of the few rare people in his life who had the ability to make him laugh like that.

“No, Rebecca,” he shook his head once the onslaught of laughter had subsided. “I am in no mood to withstand lordlings and their incessant jabber about themselves. I have no patience for it; my mind and body have not taken their rest.”

That was only partly true. Indeed, he was in no mood for that, but also, he knew that while there, Rebecca would not resist trying to get him to speak to some ladies of her choosing in an effort to make a match. She had been caught doing that numerous times, and still, she persisted, despite his urging against it.

“But it’s not a ball,” she reminded him. “You will not have to dance with anyone or exert yourself in any way. Just?—”

“Talk,” he ended her sentence. “Yes, that is the worst part about it, talking. No, thank you.”

“If you appear looking likethat,I doubt anyone will want to talk to you anyway, so you will be safe,” she teased.

He almost burst into a chuckle again, but instead, he only smiled. “It is rude to come into someone’s home, wake him up, and then point out he is not dressed for company.”

“If you were in your night robe, I would understand, but considering how disheveled you look now, I’m assuming you barely got changed from last night’s… ahem, adventures,” she continued with an amused smirk.

“Is this your way of trying to convince me to come with you?” he asked mischievously. “Because I have to tell you it is not working.”

She laughed melodiously at his words. “No,” she shook her head. “I actually didn’t want to resort to this, but you made me.”

His eyes widened. “No… please, no. Not now.”