“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 ofmy 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 byimprove. 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 yournotmarrying, 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. Thetonis still reeling over that. And now, their attention is turned on you.”
Jonas frowned. “I was never a Silver Duke.”
“Brother, dear. You are presentlytheSilver 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.
