Page 28 of An Unforeseen Kiss (Captivating Kisses #4)

The thought of being in the library again with him, even though others were present, had Eden flustered. All she could think about was waking in his strong arms. How the scent of his cologne lingered on her skin. How she tingled, her softness against his hard, muscular chest.

“That is a good idea,” Lia said. “We could sit at the tables to write, and there is plenty of room for all of us.”

All four girls came quickly to their feet and left the drawing room, leaving her to walk there with the duke.

When they reached the corridor, he said, “We have things to talk about, Eden.”

“Miss Snow,” she snapped. “And we have nothing to discuss, Your Grace. I hope you will sit quietly and not interrupt as we toss about ideas for your fete.”

He chuckled. “I see you are putting me in my place and ordering me about, as usual.”

Mortified, she could only apologize. “I regret my hasty words, Your Grace. Naturally, your opinion is of value. Feel free to give it.”

“Oh, I will, Eden. You can count on that.”

She rushed ahead of him, her skirts swishing, his laughter ringing in her ears. She told herself to take deep breaths to calm her racing heart and reminded herself that four young ladies would be present. He would not dare bring anything up in their presence that was inappropriate.

Or would he?

Suddenly, she felt she couldn’t trust him, but she had no choice.

She reached the library and saw Justina and Verina had already gone to where she kept their school things, bringing out parchment and pencils.

“I can take notes. My handwriting is neat,” Verina said.

“Mine, as well,” Lady Lia shared.

“Then you two should sit at the table and write down whatever we talk about,” Justina said, sitting on a nearby settee, where Tia joined her.

Eden took a seat at the table with Verina and Lia.

She hid her dismay when Millbrooke joined them.

He was too large, taking up so much room.

It made her feel as if she were suffocating.

She kept silent, though. These four young ladies were all intelligent, and she did not want them to pick up on any strife she felt being in the duke’s presence.

“All right. Let us talk about the games for the children first,” she began.

They discussed various types of games, simpler ones for the younger children, deciding that they might put an age limit on those who could participate in them.

“No child over seven years of age,” Verina said, writing down the suggestion.

Within half an hour, they had a list of six games for younger children and five for older ones.

They spent another half hour discussing where to hold the games and decided they should all be in the same area, so parents could more easily keep up with their children.

Some of the games would require them making items to be used in play, while others, such as the bobbing for apples, would merely need barrels of apples to be collected and brought to the area, along with water.

“We can talk of prizes later,” she said. “While children enjoy prizes, simply playing a game will be fun for most of them. Let us discuss the contests for adults now. I will be honest. With so many children running about, I am not in favor of any contest involving pistols.”

“I agree,” the duke said. “But archery could be more confined and in an area away from the children’s games. The targets more obvious, even to children. I believe archery to be less dangerous.”

“Should we have divisions?” Justina asked. “Men and women. Even children?”

They debated the topic for a while and finally decided to hold separate contests for men and women. No children would be allowed to compete in this first year.

“Set a cap then, regarding age,” Millbrooke suggested. “Perhaps four and ten?”

They agreed and Eden said, “A riding contest was another suggestion His Grace made.”

“We could model the riding contests on the ones in our village, Miss Snow,” Verina said eagerly. “We are familiar with them.”

“Why don’t you explain it to the others?” she suggested.

Both Verina and Justina took turns sharing the various contests.

They decided to limit it to two this first time, with the possibility of adding new riding competitions in years to come.

One would be a timed course where jumps were required.

Another would be a race, and they discussed the distance riders should go.

“The meadow would be ideal for the horse racing,” Lia pointed out. “We could have three or four riders at a time, with the winner moving on to the next round. I think men and women could compete against one another.”

“I agree,” Eden said. “At Kidsgrove, which is near Traywick Manor, I competed against men and women in the same contest. A horse is the great equalizer between the genders.”

The duke spoke up. “The same would be true for the skills course.”

“I agree,” Tia said. “Why, I think Miss Snow could beat anyone, as long as you allow her to ride Andromeda, Val.”

“Oh, I would not be competing,” she said quickly.

“Why not?” demanded the duke.

“I am not from here. It should be for locals only. Besides, I will be monitoring all the booths. Making certain the many volunteers make it to their stations. Showing the judges to their posts. I simply will not have time to compete.”

“Miss Snow is right, Val,” Lady Lia said.

“I know usually those tasks would fall to Mama, but she will not want to participate so heavily this first time while she is in mourning.” She brightened.

“And by next summer, you might even have found a bride. She can be the one who takes on the planning of the fete.”

Quigby appeared. “Dinner is served, Your Grace.”

“Thank you,” the duke said. “In the meantime, Miss Snow, please draw up the number of judges you might need for the various contests. We will need to start asking some of my neighbors to participate. The older ones who still have their wits about them, but ones who would not wish to compete in archery or riding.”

“Yes, Your Grace,” she said demurely, her gaze lowered.

“Come along then,” he told the girls. “Off we go to dinner.” Then turning back to her, he said, “I will go over your lists after tea tomorrow. Better yet, before tea. The girls will not wish to ride tomorrow, with the assembly beginning at seven o’clock.

They will want to fuss over their attire and hair.

We shall meet at two o’clock. That will give us two hours before tea begins. ”

“I doubt we will need that long to—”

“This will be the first fete I host, Miss Snow. I want everything to run like clockwork. I will see you in the library at two o’clock. Please, be prompt.”

She bowed her head, waiting for him to leave the room.

Eden wanted to say that she was not his employee.

She should not have to be doing his bidding or work on something on such a large scale for him.

But she did want him to succeed. He wanted to be a good duke and leave his mark behind.

This fete could become a community tradition which would occur for decades to come.

Starting off on the right foot would be imperative.

Eden would do what she could in order to make the fete a huge success—and she would do her best to keep her contact with Millbrooke to a minimum.