Page 14 of Duchess By Accident (The Matchmaker’s Scheme #5)

Chapter Fourteen

“ A rthur, Jonathan! You cannot simply hurl yourselves through someone else’s front door.” Rose Rokesby, the Duchess of Emberley shook her head as she followed her two sons through their front door.

Adrian had managed to side step the hurtling children, and placed a gentle hand on Melody’s shoulder. She was holding onto the leg of his trousers, peering at the boys with curiosity and apprehension.

“My apologies, Duke Blackwood. The boys can be a little rambunctious, especially after a long carriage ride.” The Duchess gave her sons an exasperated look.

“There are no apologies necessary, Duchess Emberley. Na- my wife told me to expect to be treated like family, and I would not have you stand on ceremony needlessly.”

“That is very kind, sir.” The Duchess caught sight of Melody peering out from behind Adrian’s legs and knelt down. “And you must be Lady Melody. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Melody glanced at Adrian and then back at the Duchess. He gave her a nod of encouragement and she took a step towards the woman.

“It is nice to meet you too.” Melody said.

“Would you like to shake hands? Or would you prefer a hug? Or we can simply nod to one another?” The Duchess smiled at Melody and Adrian felt his shoulders relax just a little. “It is whatever you would like.”

“Perhaps we can shake hands? Though Nanny tells me it is not what young ladies do.” Melody bit her lip.

“Then it is lucky that I am a Duchess. Not a young lady.” The Duchess held out her hand. “I am Rose Rokesby, Duchess of Emberley. And you may call me Aunt Rose if you wish.”

Melody nodded and shook Duchess Emberley’s hand. By this point, the Duke and Lord Peter had arrived, with a small girl in tow and Natalie chatting animatedly to her brother.

“Good to see you, Blackwood.” Emberly inclined his head towards Adrian. “I see my sons have wasted no time in getting into trouble.”

“I did warn him.” Natalie said from behind her older brother.

“I will get them.” Lord Peter said, and Adrian noticed a sombreness to him that had not been there the last time they met. His eyes had dark circles beneath them. “It is good to see you again, Duke Blackwood.”

“And you.” Adrian replied, watching as the young man moved towards the two small boys who were at that moment climbing on the banisters.

“I am Daphne.” The small dark-haired girl said nodding to Melody. “I turned seven yesterday.”

“My name is Melody.” His daughter replied. “I turned eight in May.”

“May is longer away than yesterday.” Daphne pointed out in a tone that suggested to Adrian that she thought Melody was missing an important point.

He was about to intervene when Lord Peter returned with his two nephews.

“You are supposed to say happy birthday.” The older of the two said, sweeping a lock of black hair out of his face. “I’m Arthur by the way.”

“This is Melody.” Daphne said, full of the kind of self-importance that only children seemed to have.

“And I am Jonathan.” The smallest child stuck out his chest proudly.

Adrian guessed that he would be no more than six or so.

“You can call him Bon Jon.” Arthur added in a stage whisper.

Melody and Daphne giggled, and Adrian felt his heart soar as he watched the two girls exchange looks with each other.

“No, she can’t. It is not my real name. And I do not like it.” Jonathan pouted.

Daphne teased. “Bon Jon.”

“Shut up.” Jonathan scowled, his face turning red.

“Jonathan, do not tell your sister to shut up. Daphne, stop teasing your brother.” The Duke of Emberly gave his children a tired look.

“Why do they call you Bon Jon?” Melody asked, moving closer to Jonathan.

“Because he loves bonbons.” Arthur explained. “That’s why he is Bon Jon.”

“It is not my name!” Jonathan shouted, clapping his hands to his ears as though trying to block out the sound of his brother.

To Adrian’s astonishment, Melody gently reached up and tapped the young boy’s hands. “I can call you Jonathan if you would like?”

“Thank you.” Jonathan blinked at her and then broke into a broad grin before proclaiming, “I like her.”

“Shall we play?” Daphne asked, clearly determined not to be upstaged by her brother.

“Actually, I wondered how you might like to have a little treasure hunt.” Adrian put a hand on Melody’s shoulder.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Natalie stop trying to get her brother’s attention and instead focus completely on Adrian. He resisted the urge to look at her, instead focusing on the children who were now gaping at him with barely contained excitement.

“A treasure hunt?” Jonathan asked.

“Will there be teams?” Arthur’s eyes were wide.

“I want to be on Melody’s team!” Daphne moved to stand beside his daughter.

Jonathan pouted. “I wanted to be on Melody’s team.”

“Fine, then I want to be on Uncle—um… What is your name?”

“You can call me Uncle Adrian.” He smiled at Daphne. “And I do not know if it would be fair if you and I were on a team. After all, I was the one who came up with the clues.”

“Perhaps you can all be on one team?” Natalie ventured, still looking at Adrian curiously.

“But then how will we win?” Arthur asked.

“Well, as you are hunting for a pirate’s treasure… It might be for the best that you all band together. I hear that Captain Black Jack is a most fearsome man.”

The children all gave out a delighted gasp as Adrian procured an eye patch from his coat. Melody’s entire face lit up, and Adrian felt as though his heart would burst. He could not remember the last time they had played like this.

His daughter slipped her hand in Daphne’s. Adrian gestured to Mr. Kember who was waiting at the ready. He pretended to hold Adrian back as he handed the children their first clue.

“Quick, leave while you still can!” Mr. Kember called while Adrian growled furiously.

Adrian watched as Melody tugged Daphne down the corridor, the two boys following them, each laughing with delight. He waited until they were out of sight and then straightened.

“I hope you do not mind, Emberley. I thought it would be a good way for the children to bond.” Adrian explained. “I realise that you have not even been shown to your rooms. I had planned on starting the hunt once you were settled.”

“Well, you know what they say about plans and children.”

“I think you mean God, dear.”

“No, it is definitely children who disrupt our best laid plans.”

“Then you are not offended?”

“Of course not! It is an excellent idea.” The Duke grinned. “Though, I do not suppose you have room for another captain or perhaps a first mate?”

“I am sure I can make space in my crew for a disreputable man such as yourself.” Adrian grinned back, and threw him an eye patch.

“Wonderful. Will I have time to change do you think? I would prefer to get out of my travelling clothes.” The Duke gestured to himself.

“I would assume so. The treasure hunt should take them all over the estates, and there are several servants that I have instructed to gently waylay the children at certain points.” Adrian explained. “Unless you plan on taking several hours to change, we should have ample time to get to the treasure before they do.”

Adrian turned to Lord Peter. “Would you care to join us?”

Lord Peter shook his head. “I think I will retire. I am… I think the journey has tired me more than I thought.”

He saw the Duke and Duchess of Emberly exchange concerned looks, and even Natalie looked worried at her brother’s response. It is not my place to meddle.

Adrian nodded. “Of course. Mr. Kember, have one of the footmen show our guests to their rooms.”

“At once, Your Grace. Yates, our guests will be in the Western Wing, near Her Grace’s chambers. See that they are well looked after.” Mr. Kember gestured to the footman.

“Of course.” The footman nodded. “If you would follow me.”

Adrain watched as Natalie’s family traipsed after the man, chatting amongst themselves while servants followed on with their luggage. When he turned around, he was surprised to find Natalie studying him.

“Enjoying the view?” he swept into a bow, doffing his pirate’s hat to her. “If I had known pirates were so to your liking, I might have dressed up sooner.”

Natalie did not smile. “When did you do this? It must have taken you hours.”

“A few.” Adrian shrugged. “I have never created one of these, but I expect it will be worth it.”

“That is what you were doing last night!” Natalie shook her head. “Why did you not tell me then?”

“It was not all that I was doing last night. But yes, it was a large part of what was keeping me up.” Adrian looked at her face, and saw that rather than looking happy or even annoyed she seemed sad. “I thought it would be nice.”

“It is. It is just… Alexander used to make little treasure hunts for us. We were so young when Father died that he did not want us to miss out.” She blinked rapidly, and Adrian almost reached out to wipe the tear from her cheek.

He stopped himself and dug a hand into his coat pocket, handing her a handkerchief. “It sounds like your brother cares for you a great deal.”

“He does. He wanted to keep our father’s memory alive. But… But my memories are only of Alexander.” Natalie bit her lip. “Sometimes I worry that it makes me a bad person.”

“Why would that make you a bad person?” Adrian canted his head towards her.

“Because he worked so hard to make my father live on, and I still cannot remember him.” Natalie dabbed at her eyes with his handkerchief. “I have seen paintings of him, of course. But if I try and imagine him, I only see my brother.”

“I am sure your father would be glad that your love for your brother is so strong, and that his love for you is just as deep.” He said.

“I hope so. Though Alexander did his best… It was lonely without our Father. And for a long time, Alexander was only home occasionally.” Natalie sighed. “But all my memories of him make me smile.”

“It is hard not to miss a parent. Even though we have scarcely known them. And few parents would wish to leave their children.” Adrian felt a bitter taste in his mouth, and he pushed the memory away. “I am sure your father did everything he could not to leave your side.”

“I do not think I have ever hated a man as much as the man who murdered him.”

“I understand that. But he is gone now.” Adrian squeezed Natalie’s hand. “And in a way, your father lives on in all of you.”

“That is what my mother always says. And Alexander.” Natalie smiled. “You must think me frightfully silly.”

“Not at all.” He wiped a tear from her face. “I am glad you told me this.”

“I-” Natalie was interrupted by the sound of Duke Emberley behind them.

“Avast ye scurvy dog.” He called.

Adrian broke away from Natalie, turning to face the Duke. By the time he looked back, his wife—and whatever had passed between them—had vanished.