Page 19

“Yes, you did it all for me. We both know you signed up first because you wanted to protect me. I would not have survived a day if I was the one shipped off. So, I am forever grateful and will keep your little tendre for Miss Temple a secret.”

Jonas sighed. “There is nothing between us, Edward.”

“Your eyes say something different.” Edward held up a hand to stop Jonas’s protest. “I will hound you no more on the matter. Just make sure your servants do not let slip that she was ever here. But bloody blazes, Jonas. Did you have to put her in your bed?”

“Her shoulder had to be fixed without delay and the other rooms were not made up yet.”

“Very poor excuse, and you know it. But go ahead and deny the truth all you want. Mother will be quite put out when she realizes she dragged these lovely diamonds all the way out here in the midst of a blizzard for nothing. She will demand explanations.”

Jonas raked a hand through his hair. “How far back did you leave her?”

“Oh, you needn’t worry that she will arrive today with her entourage. She plans to wait in her comfortable inn lodgings for another day or two before daring to make the last leg of the journey north.”

“Are you certain?”

“Well, no. She does want you to meet the lovely ladies and their rabidly eager families. On second thought, perhaps it is wisest to get Miss Temple back to the vicarage at first light tomorrow morning.”

Precisely what Jonas had been thinking. “Who is in our mother’s entourage?”

“Several diamonds you have escorted around London previously. Lady Viola Carstairs, for one. She’s come along with her father, the Duke of Carstairs. Lady Willa Montroy, for another. Her parents, the Earl and Countess of Montroy, will be chaperoning her.”

“Chaperoning? Or conniving to have me compromise her?”

Edward shrugged. “I won’t deny this is going to be a battlefield for you. The betting book has Lady Viola and Lady Willa down as the favorites. But our mother has also brought along Viscount Tenney, his wife, and their two daughters, Faith and Hope. Watch out for them.”

Jonas arched an eyebrow. “Why?”

“My friends and I refer to them as Faithless and Hopeless. Those two young ladies might look sweet, but they are completely without morals and vicious schemers.”

He groaned. “What possessed our mother to invite them?”

“I don’t know. Perhaps she thought their presence might sooner push you into the arms of Lady Viola or Lady Willa.”

“Stupid idea.”

“Well, I shall leave it to you to tell her that.”

Jonas laughed. “Oh, no. I value my life. You will stay on for the duration, won’t you?”

Edward cast him another of his irritating grins. “Is that a plea or a demand?”

“Take it however you like, but I will cut you off without a farthing if you dare leave me alone to face that pack of hounds.”

“I braved the snow and ice to get here, did I not? I’ll remain for the duration. I’ve even taken the liberty of inviting two of my friends. You remember Lord Pomeroy and Lord Whitcomb, don’t you?”

“Yes, your university friends. I found both to be amiable, although a little dimwitted. Have they improved with age?”

Edward winced. “Well, we all managed to graduate from Oxford without being sent down. Depends on what you mean by improve . They do not get drunk nearly as often as they used to when we were at Magdalene College, nor do they gamble as frivolously as they once did. But will they ever achieve scientific breakthroughs or write brilliant poetry? Doubtful. However, they have wagered on your not marrying, so I think they will be quite useful to you.”

“Then I may count on them as allies?” Jonas asked, easing a little upon hearing that news.

“Yes, for they will not hesitate to sabotage the plans of these young ladies and their parents. Frankly, their bets seemed awfully foolish, considering what happened to Bromleigh, Lynton, and Camborne. All three were felled within weeks of each other. The ton is still reeling over that. And now, their attention is turned on you.”

Jonas frowned. “I was never a Silver Duke.”

“Brother, dear. You are presently the Silver Duke whether you like it or not. The ladies are going to swoon and flutter like butterflies around you once they catch sight of that glorious sprinkling of silver at your temples.”

“What utter rot, Edward. That dusting of gray just proves I am old enough to be their father. If they swoon, it will be over the title. Never the man.”

His brother gave him a friendly slap on the back. “You underestimate your appeal. Just ask Miss Temple—she’ll give you an honest appraisal.”

“Keep her out of this.” Jonas shook his head. “I am fully aware of what these young ladies are after. As I said, it is my title.”

“And your wealth,” Edward added with a shrug. “But take heart. My friends are going to undermine these young ladies because they cannot afford to lose their bets.”

“Oh, excellent,” Jonas said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Just what I need, an entire party of schemers with me for the Christmas holidays. What could be more joyful?”

Ailis was seated at the small table still looking embarrassed when they returned. But Jane must have brushed her hair and braided it again, because it was nicely styled and there were no loose strands of gold wrapping about her ears.

In truth, she looked soft and lovely.

Three place settings had been set out, and a cart with salvers stood beside the table. “I’ll serve,” Jonas said, feeling rather proprietary about Ailis.

Jane took a chair in the corner of the room and sat quietly, but was avidly watching him as he placed eggs and ham on Ailis’s plate, then piled larger portions on his and Edward’s plates. When he realized Ailis could not cut the slice of ham on her own, he did it for her.

This had his brother grinning.

Ailis merely looked perplexed. “Jane could have done this for me.”

“I know,” Jonas said, wondering why he was still behaving like a territorial ape and fussing over her.

This was not in his nature at all. He would not have done this for anyone other than Ailis.

Well, he might have done it for Edward or his mother, had either of them required assistance. He loved them very much, even though he was monumentally irritated with them just now.

Ailis smiled in gratitude, making him lose the trail of his thoughts.

Ah, yes. His inexplicably proprietary claim on her. What was the point when he had every intention of keeping away from her while his mother and her entourage were here?

Sadly, this meant he would not be around to assist her with the Christmas decorations or setting up the booths for all the events planned for the charity ball.

Not that she needed him to do anything but open up his coin purse. The vicar, the villagers, and the few of his staff he could spare would help Ailis put everything in order for the big day.

“Miss Temple, tell me a little about yourself,” Edward said, sounding sincerely interested.

Ailis cast him a shy smile. “Oh, there isn’t much to tell.

I live at the vicarage with my uncle. He’s been the vicar in Broadmoor for ages.

I came here about six years ago, after my parents died.

It is a lovely village and I have enjoyed every moment of my stay.

My uncle is a dear, kind man, and I find working with him quite rewarding. ”

“I gather you organize the church events,” Edward said. “What other duties has he assigned to you?”

Jonas chuckled. “She’s his secret weapon when it comes to gathering donations.”

“What do you mean?” Edward asked.

Jonas arched an eyebrow. “Is it not obvious? No man in his right mind is going to turn her down.”

Ailis frowned at him. “But you did. It took me ages to—”

“Miss Temple…”

“Never mind.” She sighed and shook her head, turning to his brother. “It is all settled now, Lord Langford. Although your brother did give me a hard time at first.”

Edward glanced from one to the other. “How much are you seeking in donations? And to what purpose?”

“I was collecting for the needy to get them fed, housed, and clothed for the winter. My uncle and I estimated it would take about a thousand pounds to get them through the winter. But we’ve met our goal now.”

“Thanks to my brother?” Edward asked.

She nodded. “He has been most generous—as well he should be, since all the land in the village is his anyway. And should he not take proper care of all those who rely on him for their survival?”

“Miss Temple,” Jonas said again in a tone of caution, “I do not need you to box my ears. My brother was merely asking a general question and does not require elaborate explanations.”

Edward laughed and leaned closer to Ailis. “On the contrary, Miss Temple. I am eager to know exactly what you think of my brother. Do spill every lurid detail.”

Jonas set down his fork and pushed his seat slightly away from the table. “I forbid you to speak about me.”

This was exactly what he had hoped to avoid by remaining at Langford Hall and well away from London. But it seemed the meddlesome gossips, including his curious brother and stubborn mother, refused to be daunted.

“Gad, Edward. Stop grinning or I’ll toss you back out in the cold.”

“You forbid me?” Ailis frowned at him.

“Yes, Miss Temple. For it is in my power to do so, lest you forget.” He sighed and sank back in the flimsy chair that squeaked whenever he leaned back on it. “Edward, stop snooping into my affairs.”

“It is all innocently done,” his brother insisted. “I need to be informed in order to best protect you.”

“I do not need anyone’s protection, and certainly not that of my younger brother.”

“How wrong you are,” Edward grumbled. “Do you think our mother or any of her entourage will wait five minutes before shamelessly prying into your business? I’m merely trying to protect your flank from the advancing horde.

” He turned to Ailis. “I am a very loyal brother, but he can be hardheaded and does not appreciate all I do for him.”

She laughed. “You are a saint to put up with him. He can be quite tyrannical.”

“Ailis, for pity’s sake,” Jonas grumbled. “Not you, too.”

She cast him a remorseful smile. “Sorry, I could not resist teasing you just this little bit. But like your brother, I am on your side. He wants to see you happy and so do I.”

“I’ll be happiest when I am no longer invaded by guests. I shall dance a jig once everyone has returned to London.” He rose and strode to the window to peer out, for the weather should have warmed a little by now.

He noticed the icicles were indeed beginning to melt and the birds had come out from the shelter of their nests. Some were singing in the trees while others poked about on the frozen ground in search of seeds or worms.

He met the sight of this thaw with mixed feelings, for it meant that Ailis could go home today, if he were of a mind to escort her home.

But the sight he saw next had him tensing. “Edward, just how much of a head start did you say you had on our mother’s party?”

“About two days, I would guess.”

“Two days? And you did not stop anywhere along the way?”

“Well, I did have to stop whenever the wind and deep freeze became too much for me. Nor could I ride at night. You must own that this would have been the height of folly. And then Conqueror lost a shoe the other morning, just as I was about to depart the coaching inn. Took some time for the blacksmith to get around to replacing it. By then, I’d lost precious hours of daylight. Why are you asking me these questions?”

“Come have a look,” Jonas said, studying the string of carriages slowly making their way up his drive that was now a mix of icy patches and slush.

Ailis rose along with Edward and rushed to the window with him, but Jonas held her back. “Careful, you might be seen.”

She frowned. “By whom?”

“Oh, hell,” Edward muttered. “How in blazes did they get here so fast?”

Ailis poked her head around him and gasped. “Your mother and her entourage? Oh, no! How is it possible?”

Jonas wrapped an arm around her waist to steady her as the color drained from her face. Could this morning turn any more disastrous?

“Ailis,” he said with a piercing ache to his heart, “where are your clothes?”