His nephew frowned at him. “Aren’t you being harsh?”
“In truth, I have been far too lax with you.” Gawain glanced at Lynton and Camborne, both of whom were grinning at himinstead of supporting him. He grunted at his two friends before returning his attention to Reggie. “You will destroy all that I and my predecessors have built within a year of your inheriting the dukedom if you continue down this dissolute path.”
“I am hardly dissolute. It is just a party and I am enjoying myself. Aren’t the ladies lovely? You ought to choose a tempting morsel for yourself and—”
“I am not interested in any of the ladies here.”
“But I am, so why are you determined to spoil my fun? What do you propose I do?”
Gawain began to feel exactly like the cantankerous ogre he feared he might become. He met his nephew’s gaze and noted his dismayed expression, but refused to soften toward the lad. “Start getting your life in order.”
“Here and now? Just how am I supposed to accomplish that? You might have given me fair warning about your purpose. Is it not cruel of you to spring this on me unaware? And unwarranted, in my opinion.”
“Fair or not, this is what I am doing, and I will hear no more argument about it from you or any of your friends.” He shot Reggie’s companions a warning scowl that had them all clamping their mouths shut. “In the short time I have been here, all I’ve seen you do is behave like a nitwit, drinking too much and ogling every girl you see.”
“But they are all so pretty,” his nephew said with a pout.
His comment was quickly approved by his companions, who were afraid to speak but did not hesitate to nod. One or two muttered under their breath, quick to point out their favorites among the young ladies.
Gawain was not surprised when not even one mumbled Cherish’s name. All these lads were young and foolish.
To his mind, Cherish was easily the standout among all the young ladies present at this party. “Looks fade over time, Reggie.The right wife must offer you more than just a pretty smile. You have to be careful about this, for the woman you marry will be a duchess someday. She will represent the Bromleigh family as much as you will. You cannot marry a peabrain or a wanton.”
“Is this why you never married?” his nephew asked, sounding not at all insolent.
This was the thing about Reggie—he was so likeable and did take things to heart. This was why Gawain wanted to ensure he found the right woman to guide his nephew. “My situation was different from yours. I was off fighting battles and never expected to be settled in one place long enough to set up a family. Nor did I ever expect to become a duke. It seems ridiculous for me to go on the hunt now. I am too old. You are to take up the mantle in continuing the family line.”
Reggie regarded him with affection and perhaps a touch of pity, something Gawain hated but could not fault the lad when even he looked upon his lost time with regret. “Uncle, you are too hard on yourself. There is not a woman here who would deny you.”
“I am not marrying someone young enough to be my daughter. Put it out of your head.” What genteel young lady would have him now, with these scars on his face or the gray in his hair? He had no desire to see the cringe in her eyes when she looked at him in the intimacy of their bedchamber. Oh, any sweet young thing would gladly accept his offer of marriage because she wanted to be a duchess. But none of them would want the man he truly was at heart. He had no doubt that bedroom door would slam shut against him as soon as he bred heirs off his chosen wife.
No, that humiliation was not for him.
He set the bottle of brandy back in the cabinet and herded the young bucks out of the study. “Go have your breakfast. I’m surethere are some lovely ladies already there by now enjoying their morning cup of tea. Reggie, try not to make an ass of yourself.”
“Thank you, Uncle. Your faith in me warms my heart.” Reggie marched out with his friends, leaving Gawain alone in the study with his own companions.
Camborne slapped him on the back. “Was that insolence I detected in Reggie’s last remark? Good for him. It is time he showed a little spine.”
Lynton laughed. “I would say something, too. But my children are going to rake me over the fire as soon as I get home, so I am hardly one to comment. Losing a nanny just now is the worst possible thing to happen. My hellions are going to burn down the house if this latest one walks out and I am not back in time to stop them. To add to my misery, my mother has invited a circle of her friends and their lovely daughters to Lynton Grange, no doubt in furtherance of her relentless efforts to marry me off. I will politely endure, but I stand with you, Bromleigh. No wife for me.”
“Aye,” Camborne said with a shake of his head. “I canno’ even choose my mistresses right. No, there’ll be no permanent commitments for me, either.”
As more guests began to make their way downstairs, Gawain and his friends joined them in the dining room for a quick bite. He was casually dressed, having just come back from that early morning ride with his friends. But house parties were generally relaxed affairs, so he did not feel as though any of them stuck out inappropriately. He would retire upstairs to properly wash and dress for the day’s activities after he ate. The early morning air and exercise had left him famished.
Gawain noticed Cherish was not down yet.
Frowning, he served himself from the salvers lined up along the buffet, piling on the eggs and sausages, then requested a footman to bring him a cup of coffee. “At once, Your Grace.”
He settled beside Fiona and was not surprised when one of the silly geese with flaxen hair and big blue eyes took the seat on the other side of him. “Good morning, Your Grace,” she said with a giggle.
“Good morning.” He forgot her name, blast it. But these young girls all looked the same to him with their baby faces and flirtatious manner.
She batted her eyelashes at him. “It is a lovely day for a picnic, is it not?”
“Yes, just perfect.” Dear heaven, what was her name?
He must have looked perplexed, because Fiona shot him a knowing smirk before leaning over and joining in the conversation. “Lady Margaret, each lady shall have a basket with the name of a gentleman written in it. That gentleman is to be your partner for the picnic.”
