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The Castle, two months later

S arah opened the letter on the top of her pile of correspondence and spread out the single sheet. Reaching for her cup of tea, she sipped as her eyes scanned the letter.

“Good heavens!”

“What is it, my love?” asked the duke, peering round his newspaper.

“Daphne writes that the Earl of Tavistock has won the battle for Cecelia Woodrow’s hand.”

“Who?” asked the duke blankly.

“Did she make so little impression upon you that you don’t recall her name? Cecelia was one of your heiresses—the pretty blonde.” Sarah raised her eyebrows at him.

“Oh, the spoiled one?” he grimaced. “I wish him well of her. And she was not my heiress. None of them were, save you.” He bestowed a smile upon her.

Sarah smiled back and returned to her pile of letters. Putting the one from Daphne aside, she reached for a piece of toast and cut it in two. “Have you heard how Emrys is faring after the funeral? That whole affair was so terribly sad. I so felt for him at the ceremony. He looked devastated.”

“A horrible conclusion to a shattering situation,” agreed the duke. “Emrys did not deserve any of that. If it were not bad enough Caro should leave him for Greathouse, for her to perish in a carriage accident with Greathouse at the ribbons was tragic.”

“I cannot help but feel a little sorry for Greathouse, too. By all accounts, he loved her to distraction.”

“You are more compassionate than I, my love,” said the duke grimly.

Sarah considered this in silence for a moment, finishing half her toast. “Is Emrys still in London?”

“No. He has taken the children to visit his grandmother in Bath.” The duke sipped his tea. “Do I gather that you have finally forgiven Lady Holbrook, since you are receiving correspondence from her?”

“I have. Her motives were perhaps self-serving in many ways, yet I think she genuinely thought she was doing the right thing by me. She was inadvertently correct, as it turned out—my happiness did lie with you.” She paused to refill her teacup and his. “Do you mean to write to Emrys again soon?”

“I will. In fact, I would like to extend an invitation for him to bring the children here when Mama and Ava return at the end of July. See what we can do to cheer the poor fellow up.”

“What a lovely idea! I should be delighted to see him. I wonder if he has found a nanny for them yet.”

“As of his last writing, no. He was full of complaints about it.”

“If you mean to invite Emrys and the children, should I invite Zibby and the boys to stay as well?”

“An excellent notion,” replied the duke warmly. “Although Miss Pringle may abandon us if Emrys can’t find a nanny. I don’t think she relishes assuming responsibility for so many little ones.”

“No indeed. I shall make enquiries, see if I can locate someone suitable for him, shall I?”

The duke nodded. “Who is your last letter from?”

“Mama Duchess.” Sarah broke the seal and reviewed the crossed sheet. “She says that she expects more of Ava’s suitors to apply to you forthwith.”

The duke made a harrumphing noise, and she looked up at that. “What does that mean?”

“She has refused three of them already. I doubt she means to accept anyone at this juncture.”

“How many have applied to you, so far?”

“Six. I knocked three of them back as unsuitable and Ava refused the other three herself.”

“Well, she is a very pretty girl, and with such vivacious spirit, it is no wonder she is popular.” Sarah spread jam on the last of her toast and took a bite. “I have got Papa’s permission to bring Deb out in the little season. You will be happy to return to London in September?”

“As you wish, my love. Parliament resumes in October in any case, so I shall have to be present then.”

“With any luck, I can then bring Ruthy out next year. It will be at least a couple of years before Mary is ready.”

“Has anyone told Mary that?” he asked with a smile.

“No. Making her wait so long is going to break her heart, poor love. When will your mother bring Heather out, do you think?”

“As soon as she has Ava off her hands, I am guessing. Why?”

“Mary will be so miffed if Heather is presented before her.”

“Well, perhaps you can speak to Mama about that. Thornbury won’t be ready for her and the girls to move into until at least August.” He paused to finish off his tea and settled the empty cup in its saucer.

“Would you care to take a ride with me this morning, love? I would like to show you the repairs being made to the tenants’ houses. See your money at work.”

“I would,” she smiled and leaned across the table to take his hand.

He tugged on it and said, “Come over here. I want to kiss my wife.” She rose and came round the table, whereupon he pulled her down into his lap and kissed her.

After a bit she said, flushed and breathless, “The servants or even Miss Pringle or the girls could walk in at any moment, Your Grace.”

“Let them,” said the duke and resumed kissing his wife senseless.