“Watch yourself,” Jason warned under his breath. He smiled at the duke, who held out his goblet in one limp-wristed hand.
“Oh, I’m so clumsy,” she lied. At her brother’s glare, she only giggled, prompting a frown.
Kendra never giggled.
With exaggerated force, she pulled the stopper from the decanter, then giggled again when it went flying across the room and hit a portrait of one of her solemn ancestors square on his painted forehead.
Her great-great grandfather. She looked to his image for help, but no advice was forthcoming.
“Quite all right, my dear.” Lechmere raised his chin. “It’s natural to be nervous when meeting a man of my stature. When you’re a duchess—”
“When I’m a duchess, I shall open lots of orphanages,” she babbled. “There are so many disadvantaged children who would blossom with a proper education in a caring environment. And speaking of blossoms, have you extensive gardens, your grace? Because I’ve theories on crossbreeding flowers—”
“I told you she’s a good conversationalist,” Ford interrupted.
“Here, your grace, let me just take this goblet.” She grabbed it from his hand, cringing when her fingers met his cold, clammy ones. “My, what a lovely ruby.” Unbelievably, the ring she was speaking of was lodged on his thumb. Evidently his fingers weren’t numerous enough to properly display his wealth. “Amy would adore seeing it, I’m sure.”
“Amy?”
“My sister-in-law. My brother Colin’s wife. She’s a jeweler.” Kendra set the goblet on the table with abangthat made everyone jump.
“Your brother’s wife is ajeweler?”
The duke looked positively scandalized. Since Kendra could hardly control a grin, she giggled again to cover it. “Oh, yes. Colin found her on the streets of London.” Which was true, in a sense—since he’d rescued her from the Great Fire two years earlier—but more than a tad misleading. Though her family had been commoners, Amy was educated and wealthy in her own right. “Of course, she’s a countess now as well, but a jeweler all the same.”
“Hmmph,” the duke sniffed.
“Yes, your grace. It’s an admirable thing for a woman to be more than just a lady, don’t you think? Well, let me just pour, then.”
And she did—right into his lap.
He jumped up, watching in horror as a red stain spread on the turquoise satin in a very embarrassing place. “I think I’ve had enough, my lady, of both the wine and yourself. If you’ll excuse me.” With his pointy nose in the air, he strode awkwardly from the room.
“Crossbreeding flowers?” When her twin’s eyes met her own, they both burst out laughing.
But Jason wasn’t amused. “Very charming, Kendra.” Deliberately he placed his elbows on the arms of his chair, then steepled his fingers, pinning her with exasperated green eyes. “That’s one prospect off your list. Need I remind you who is left? I’ll expect a decision after the weekend, and you’ll be wed by the end of the summer.”
Three
KENDRA AWOKEthe next morning with a massive headache.
Jason couldn’t be serious.
He and Ford and Colin were off to a monthly house party they attended—no females allowed—and, as usual, she and Caithren would be joined by their sister-in-law, Amy, and her baby daughter, Jewel, for the weekend. Usually they had something of a house party of their own, playing with the babe and gossiping until the men returned.
But when the men returned this time, they’d be expecting to hear whom she’d decided to marry.
She stared up at the underside of the mint-green canopy she’d begged for in her youth. Although their parents had depleted the family fortune financing the king in the Civil War, Jason had always seen to it that she’d never wanted for anything. To the best of his abilities, he’d indulged her every whim. He wouldn’t force her to marry now.
Would he?
With a huff, she rose and pulled on her new hunter-green riding habit. She ran a comb through her hair, not bothering to call her maid in to curl and pin it. Amy would be here within the hour, but she needed to think. Alone.
In no time at all, she was mounted on Pandora, her mare, galloping across the Sussex Downs. Her brothers would be mightily vexed if they knew she was riding unescorted, but the three of them could go hang for all she cared right now.
Besides, they were away all weekend and would never know.
The fresh country air eased her aching head, but just thinking about that weasel Lechmere made her shiver. And the rest of her prospects weren’t much better.
