“I’m not really a guest.”
She frowned, her full, rosy lips puckering. “Then why are you here? Did you sneak in? Are you here to rob us? Should I be screaming?”
Affronted, Caleb took a step back, though he was beginning to suspect she teased him. “I simply accompanied my great-aunts.” He pointed to the three older women seated side by side.
She glanced down at the gathering before a smile burst on the woman’s lips. “Ladies Priscilla, Joanna and Esther Tilson!” She quietly clapped her hands in delight. “I’d not been told they’d be coming. I do so adore them. They may be just what saves this house party from being tedious.”
“Tedious?”
“Yes.” She sighed and leaned on the balcony. “Those ten are the only guests, other than you and your great-aunts. To make matters worse, the rest of my family has found a reason to be absent, leaving me, my father and grandmother to attend tothose lords.” She turned. “Forgive me, I’m Lady Lucinda Claxton.”
“Mister Caleb Copeland.” He bowed to the duke’s second daughter. “Why did he only invite ten gentlemen?”
She let out a deep sigh. “To see me married, of course.”
It was as he suspected, though it didn’t explain why his great-aunts needed him. They couldn’t expect him to be included in the group below, who would undoubtedly leap to do any deed to win Lady Lucinda’s favor.
He chuckled. “Ten lords a leaping,” he sang quietly.
Lady Lucinda scowled at him. “I don’t find you the least bit humorous.”
Caleb would have believed her if Lady Lucinda’s lips hadn’t twitched.
“Yes, you do.” He winked.
She brought a hand to her mouth to muffle her giggle. “Perhaps I do.”
Merriment danced in her grey eyes. “They do tend to jump, or in this case, leap to do one’s bidding when one is the daughter of a duke.”
“You should be flattered.”
At that she rolled her eyes. “It’s bothersome. I shan’t wed because they are of the right family with the correct title, nor should that be the reason anyone wished to marry me.”
“It is the way of things, is it not?”
“For some, but not for me.” She lifted her chin. “Shall we join the others?”
“You go on,” Caleb insisted. He’d much rather have a view of the leaping from where he currently stood.
“Are you not a bachelor as well?” A dark eyebrow lifted with the question.
“I am, but while my uncle may be a duke, and my brother a duke in training, I am but a simple mister from New Orleans.” He then grinned. “And I donotleap.”
“Such a pity for I do believe I’d enjoy you doing so.” She laughed.
Lady Lucinda swished away from him and for the briefest moment, Caleb almost wished that he could claim the title of lord.
Two
Lucinda tooka deep breath then entered the sitting room to greet her guests, though she wished she could remain above with Mr. Copeland, as he seemed far more enjoyable than the ten gathered. He was far more handsome too.
The tea service had been wheeled in, but it stood unattended and no one had yet been served. Of course, none of the servants really had the time to stand in attendance for such a simple task.
She first greeted the maiden sisters, who she truly adored. The three were outrageous and her grandmother always seemed happier when they were about.
Lucinda then greeted herten lords a leaping. As Mr. Copeland’s words sang in her head, she had to bite her bottom lip to keep from laughing.
Though she doubted any would really go so far out of their way to impress her, they would for her father. If only thetonknew that her father hated the scraping and bowing, they’d not be so quick to do so each time he walked in a room. But Lucinda wasn’t going to give away his secret. Especially since it might benefit her in the end.
