Page 14 of The Guardian Duke (Wayward Dukes’ Alliance #21)

Claybrook had the right of it and Henry had been wrong. Not that he would thank Lady Penelope for her interference just yet, and only because he feared what she may do with encouragement.

“What shall I do then?” he asked.

“About what, Your Grace?”

“About their matchmaking,” he clarified.

“Do not let on that you know and let them be.” She dismissed his concern.

“I do not think that is wise,” he grumbled. Besides, if he allowed them to manage him, as Lady Penelope had the habit of doing, then he would have six females attempting to control his household and such would likely send him to Bedlam.

No! He must gain control of them.

“I will reiterate once again that I will not marry them off so long as they cease matchmaking.”

“If they do not?” Lady Penelope asked with humor and too much confidence.

“Then I shall start inviting gentlemen that would make excellent husbands to dinner!”

She stopped and turned to face him, color high in her cheeks and her very kissable lips pursed with irritation.

He anticipated that she might not approve of such a plan but Lady Penelope angry with him was enjoyable. A comfort, like an expensive brandy after a long day.

Henry blinked. When did he start enjoying her taking him to task?

“What?” he asked.

“Your doing so will immediately eliminate all the security they have found in your home and might likely see them fleeing back to the country to hide away.”

“They would not dare do so!” The sisters would not leave their guardian, especially since he held the purse strings. “Were they not in London because they wanted to experience more of what the world had to offer?”

Lady Penelope arched a brow. “They have already lived with one man, their father, who made all decisions for them, and if you retaliate for something so harmless as matchmaking then you are no better than he was.”

Bloody hell!

His uncle had been a sanctimonious arse and Henry did not want to be anything like that man, or his own father.

“If my brother were still a bachelor and if I brought women into the home to play matchmaker, he would likely take revenge on me and do as you suggested and invite bachelors to dinner—an unspoken warning that he had the power to marry me off to anyone he wished. I would also know that his actions were to get back at me for trying to manage him, and not to attempt to do so again. I would also know that no matter who the guest, if there was no possibility of a love match, Noah would never force me into a marriage, nor would you do that to them. However, your cousins were sheltered and controlled and despite living in your household for over a month, are not yet secure in the fact that you would not force marriage if five bachelors dined with you.”

As much as Henry hated to admit it, again, Lady Penelope was correct.

He glanced over at his cousins who were excitedly looking at the displays. He had seen them before, but to them, it was a new experience because their father had been a bloody arse that likely tried to keep them sheltered at home, except for on Sundays. And, no matter how many assurances he offered, it would take time before they trusted that he would see them cared for.

“Is their playing at matchmaker truly inconvenient? It is only for a few moments each afternoon while they make introductions and are hopeful that you are finally smitten with someone.”

He snorted because he had never been smitten a day in his life except…Henry glanced back to Lady Penelope. Except for her.

What she was asking was not too difficult. “Very well. I will pretend to remain ignorant and I will not invite a horde of bachelors to my home.”

“Thank you, Your Grace.”

“I also want to thank you for the conversation you had with them earlier.”

“The one about rakes?” she teased.

“Yes, that one.” He cleared his throat. “It was a discussion that I had been putting off because it is well…”

“Uncomfortable?” Her lips quirked.

“Yes. Well, you provided them with more information than I would have even thought to do and for that I thank you and I hope that they take your warnings to heart.”

“As do I,” she answered. “And you are welcome.”

Claybrook had told Henry to thank Lady Penelope and now he had. Not for everything, but what he viewed the most important in light of the circumstances that his cousins would soon be returning to Society and attracting the attention of every bachelor.

“But it does bring to mind another concern.”

* * *

“What would that be?” she asked, thrilled that he was seeking her counsil when he had been irritated when she offered it before.

“What of the gentlemen who would lie and charm their way into their hearts in hopes of a dowry?”

“I thought you would be aware of which bachelors in Society would pursue them for simply mercenary reasons.”

“I am afraid that I have not paid that much attention. It was my father who guarded and protected my sister, accepting or dismissing those who came to call.”

In some ways, his sister had been as protected as the cousins. It was a miracle that the duke’s sister had found love.

“What if I put it about that their dowry is only a thousand pounds?”

She blinked at such a low amount but understood his intentions. Except, it might not work out as well as he hoped.

“For some, it might not be so simple since a desired connection with a duke could be just as powerful, especially for those who do not need to worry if a bride brings a dowry to a marriage.”

With those words, Eldridge frowned. “Yes. I suppose,” he grumbled. “I will need to consider what else I might say that would discourage any gentleman from pursuing them for that purpose.”

She understood his need for caution and agreed with Eldridge, but there was one matter he may not have considered. “With such a low amount, you also might run the risk of discouraging gentlemen who are truly fond of your cousins and wish to court them.”

He stared down at Lady Penelope and smirked. “What of love? Such things as money and connections do not matter when the heart is involved or are you not a romantic, Lady Penelope?”

“If I were, I would have wed before now.”

“Ah, pragmatic.” He nodded and looked ahead, likely watching out for his cousins. “A woman led by her head and not something so fickle as a heart.”

What did he mean by that? Should she be insulted?

“You and I have both witnessed misses falling in and out of love several times during the course of a Season,” he continued. “They are led by the heart, whereas the two of us are far wiser than to trust in such an emotion.”

“It is not that I do not believe in love, Your Grace. I simply have not experienced such.” The true reason why she was a spinster and independent. Had she fallen in love, true love, she might have compromised and lived happily ever after as a wife and mother, but a reciprocated love, deep and abiding, was the only thing that would ever make her reconsider the freedom she now enjoyed.

“Nor have I,” he said quietly, but it was almost as if there was a question in his tone, as if he were not certain. Not that Penelope would ask him, of course. Their discussion was what was best for his cousins, not them.

“It is also difficult for there to be love if a gentleman does not even meet one of your cousins simply because they need an heiress.”

“And some are willing to give up everything for the love of their heart,” he countered. “It happened with my sister. She tried to go about securing a match based on power, influence and titles and failed each time. However, one day, love simply found her. A love that was forbidden by my father because her now husband had not met the criteria he had set. She did not care, and the gentleman knew that if he married my sister, there would be no connection, no dowery and that he would be angering a powerful duke, but he did not care.”

“That gentleman also already had his own wealth and was landed. He did not need a dowry. What of a gentleman who is not so well situated. He will likely assume that he could never take care of his wife in the manner as expected for the ward of a duke even if she would be his perfect bride,” Penelope argued, to which Eldridge frowned. “Unless there is only one thousand pounds?”

“Their father only allowed five hundred.”

That was even worse. Only a wealthy man would consider them.

“And even though I have not considered the matter until today, I will see that it is a generous marriage settlement that allows for them to have funds in the event it is necessary but also an amount accessible to her husband, suitable for the wards of a wealthy duke.” He chuckled. “Afterall, and as you have pointed out, I do not want to be viewed as a cheapskate.”