Jonas walked Ailisout of his study, not surprised to find his mother and Edward hovering close by. “Did you think I was going to eat her alive?” he said in response to their sighs of relief when she walked out unharmed.
How could they think he would ever hurt her?
Well, they could not have truly believed he was capable of it, or they would not have sent her into his study while he was on a rampage.
“What are you doing buzzing around me like so many annoying bees?”
“We were worried about you,” his mother replied. “Am I not permitted to show concern for my beloved son?”
“If I were so beloved, you would have left me alone from the start,” he grumbled. “Is that little viper you brought along with you gone yet?”
He had not outright ordered any of their guests to leave, but why would they stay when he was never going to offer for any of them?
Edward arched an eyebrow. “If you mean Lady Viola, no. She came prepared to dazzle you, and apparently that requires a lot of clothing. It will take her at least another three or four days to properly pack up for her return to London.”
“And the others? Have they decided to stay or go?”
“They are staying,” Edward said. “As I said, dazzling a duke takes a large wardrobe and a lot of planning. With Lady Viola out of contention, I would not be surprised if the remaining diamonds foolishly believed their chances of marrying you had improved.”
“Are they serious?”
“They are determined, I will give them that. By the way, you have arranged a supper party tonight for all our guests at the Marble House Inn in Broadmoor.”
“I have?” Jonas shook his head and groaned. “Why in heaven’s name didIdo that?”
“Because everyone was still overset by this morning’s incident and needed to calm down. Like it or not, these diamonds and their parents are here until after Christmas. It is unfair to have them travel back to London before the week is out. Besides, Pomeroy needs a few more days because he intends to offer for Viola.”
Jonas could not hold back his laughter. “Is he deranged?”
“No, just poor, and she comes with an enormous dowry. As an only child, she also stands to inherit quite a sum once Carstairs passes on. None of his entailed properties, of course. But her father dotes on her and is going to leave her everything he can. Pomeroy’s a good man. He won’t waste any of it and he won’t ever leave Viola without means. She’ll maintain her own residence in London and carry on like the princess she believes she is.”
Jonas felt sorry for Edward’s friend, for he wasn’t sure marriage to a girl like Viola was worth it even if she came with a king’s ransom.
“Whitcomb intends to propose to Lady Willa for similar reasons,” his brother continued. “So, all’s well that ends well, isn’t it? Their families will believe you are the rudest duke in allof England, but they will be content with the end result of their visit.”
“And what about the Tenney sisters?” Ailis asked.
Edward grinned wickedly. “They’ll join me in my bed tonight. I’ll keep those two satisfied.”
Their mother smacked him on the head. “Idiot. Is that any way to speak in front of Miss Temple?”
Ailis blushed, but she was smiling.
Jonas found himself relaxing, too. Ailis was prim and innocent, but she was no sour prune.
“I don’t suppose either of you will consider packing up?” Jonas asked his mother and Edward.
“Of course not,” she shot back. “We are family and devoted to you, so you cannot kick us out.”
“Well, I can,” he corrected her. “But you feel entitled to ignore my wishes.”
“Family should be together at Christmas,” Ailis said quietly.
Jonas heard the wealth of her pain, for he knew she had lost her entire family and still struggled with that loss.
She only had her uncle now, but for how long? The vicar was not a young man. What would she do once he was gone?
She had mentioned having a small inheritance, but this was not possibly enough to nourish Ailis’s beautiful soul.
