The ogre had done it for no other reason than sheer spite.
Gawain gave him a hearty slap on the back. “Reggie and Margaret arrived just before you, and are upstairs unpacking. Potter,” he said, referring to Cherish’s faithful butler, “will see you to your room. Then come down to the study and share a brandy with me and Reggie before you face the onslaught of young ladies eager to meet you.”
“And while you share that drink with my husband,” Cherish said jovially, “try to convince him not to pair Fiona with Lord Pershing in our party games.”
“Seriously? You invited Lord Pershing?” Rob laughed. “Bromleigh, you are evil.”
Gawain arched an eyebrow. “Turnabout is fair play. Fiona put me through hell by sticking me with that sot at her house party last year to make certain I would come in last in every game. Meanwhile, she was handily winning every round because she had you, Reggie, and Cherish on her team.”
“It served you right,” Cherish teased. “You were so busy trying to foist Reggie on me, when we were clearly anincompatible match, that she had to make you suffer a little for your own manipulation.”
Gawain gave her a kiss on the forehead. “Will you listen to this, Durham? Chided by my own wife.”
“Well, it all worked out in the end,” Rob said, smiling. “Did it not? You both look happy as larks. Marriage obviously agrees with both of you.”
Gawain put an arm around his wife’s waist and nodded. “Never happier.”
Rob had to agree with that assessment, for Cherish seemed to be glowing. In truth, there was a radiance to her, and she had put on a little weight that suited her beautifully. But he shrugged off the thought as Potter led him upstairs to his guest quarters, a nicely decorated room obviously designed for male guests—unlike most of the house, which had a bright, airy seaside feel.
This chamber with its polished, dark wood wainscoting and large bed anchored by a dark wood footboard and headboard suited him perfectly. The carpet was a deep blue shot through with threads of silver in afleur-de-lisdesign. The windows looked out onto a landscaped garden and the sea beyond.
He expected Cherish would give everyone a tour of the house that she had refurbished with such pride over the course of the year, but this would likely wait until more guests had arrived.
Since no one was to know he had been staying with Fiona this past week, Rob pretended to have come over from Devonshire, where he had conducted his most recent piece of business. He did not bother to feign fatigue, since he knew that he looked too well rested.
He quickly washed up from his nonexistent trek and headed downstairs to the study, where Gawain and Reggie were waiting for him. Reggie was another newly married friend who also looked ridiculously content.
“Gad, I never expected to be the only bachelor among us,” Rob remarked, sauntering in and taking one of the comfortably padded leather chairs beside Reggie. “Am I going to see this same silly grin on Margaret’s face?” he teased. “Marriage agrees with you.”
Reggie laughed. “Amazingly, it does. Margaret is wonderful and sweet as anything. You ought to try this marriage business. It has worked out quite well for me. For Uncle Gawain, too.”
Rob accepted the drink now handed to him. “I’ll keep an open mind about it.”
“You had better,” Gawain warned. “Cherish and Fiona have been giving the downfall of your bachelorhood much consideration.”
“Not to mention the betting book out on you at White’s,” Reggie said. “Thetonis in a frenzy wagering over whom you will marry.”
“Bollocks, do not remind me.” Rob turned to Gawain and scowled. “Are you going to deny that you and your Silver Duke friends were the ones who opened it, Bromleigh?”
“I have no intention of denying that we set up that betting book, but we never meant for the attention to fall to you. We were thinking of Fiona.”
Rob leaned forward. “Fiona? You were betting onhermarriage prospects?”
“That was our first thought, since she’s my cousin and I love her. I want to see her happily settled. But that idea was quickly cast aside. The club members at White’s refused to permit us to place wagers on a lady. So we changed the terms of that betting book, and it soon became all about you. Anyway, Fiona is not yet ready to marry, despite any rumors to the opposite effect. As for you, I think you will like the ladies Cherish and Fiona have chosen for you.”
Rob forced a smile. “I am sure they are all lovely.”
Gawain laughed. “I might believe you if you did not look as though you were being led to the gallows.”
Rob shrugged. “Can you blame me? I do not enjoy this attention being foisted on me. Did you like it any better when you were one of London’s most sought-after bachelors? And a Silver Duke, no less.”
“I will admit, I detested all the attention.” Gawain nodded. “But that unwanted interest in my every movement was a small cost, considering all the benefits gained from inheriting the Bromleigh title. You are the Duke of Durham now, and that comes with responsibilities. You need to sire heirs to continue the line and protect all those who rely upon your care. And before you lace into me for my resisting this very task into my forties, let me point out that our situations are not quite the same. I had a capable heir,” he said, glancing at Reggie, “who would step into my place when the time came. You have no one, Rob.”
“I know.” Wasn’t this what Fiona had gone on about this entire week?
“Margaret thinks you are going to like the choices Cherish and Fiona have made for you,” Reggie said, frowning slightly. “She says they are all smart ladies.”
“Then why the furrowed brow?” Rob asked.
