“It’s good to see you too, Mother,” Devlin said as he stood and went to embrace her. Some maternal instinct of hers always made her believe it was her duty to plump him up before his next trip. Releasing her, he waited for her to claim the vacant spot on the sofa before returning to his own. Caleb, who’d also risen upon their mother’s arrival, sat as well. “I wasn’t aware you were here. You haven’t moved back in have you?”
“No, no,” his mother replied. “I’m still at my townhouse on Cavendish Square, but I came to visit for the day and decided to take a nap after luncheon, which I must say was rather fortuitous as it allows me to see you straight away.”
A maid entered at that moment, bringing tea and two plates of sandwiches and biscuits. Devlin’s stomach made a rumbling noise, causing his mother to turn to him with an arched brow. She offered him the plate filled with sandwiches and encouraged him to take at least two.
“Your return to London,” she said once she’d offered the plate to Caleb as well and proceeded to pour herself some tea, “could not have been timed any better if I’d engaged my secretary to do it.”
Devlin stilled and began chewing more slowly. Something was underfoot and he very much feared it wouldn’t be something he liked. He glanced at Caleb, who suddenly seemed incredibly interested in the ceiling.
“Your brother and sister-in-law will be hosting the first Camberly ball in six years this coming Saturday. And since you are officially the only remaining Crawford bachelor, you will—”
“No,” Devlin choked. “Whatever it is you think you can talk me into, it isn’t going to happen.”
“Please, Devlin. It really is the least you can do after staying away as long as you have.” She sniffed. “One would think you cannot abide your family’s company.”
He groaned and used the rest of his brandy to dislodge the chunk of sandwich wedged in his throat. “I refuse to be trotted out like some stallion seeking a mare.”
“Dev,” Caleb said, his tight voice conveying his censure.
“My apologies, Mama,” Devlin said, “but you know I don’t wish to marry. Everyone knows it and yet—”
“I’m sure it’s just a question of meeting the right woman,” his mother said. “Wouldn’t you agree, Mary?”
Devlin jerked his head around and saw that his sister-in-law had arrived. He stood, as did Caleb, and waited to sit until she’d lowered herself to the armchair adjacent to her husband’s.
“There are men who never marry,” Mary said.
The dowager duchess looked like she might have crossed herself if she’d been Catholic. “Please don’t say that,” she groaned while Devlin silently thanked Mary with a smile. She had certainly been the right woman for his brother. No doubt about that.
“Although,” Mary added, causing Devlin to frown, “I would have thought that a man who’s experienced as much as you, Devlin, would want to share it with his progeny, as a legacy of sorts.”
“All I ask is for you to put in an appearance, chat with a few young ladies, and dance,” the dowager duchess implored. And then, to ensure his compliance, she gazed directly into his eyes and said, “It would mean the world to me, Devlin.”
Only a horrid, selfish, ungrateful son who didn’t love his mother could say no to such a heartfelt request. Even if he knew she’d laid it on a bit thick. He sighed and took another bite from his sandwich while mulling over the situation. It wasn’t what he’d been hoping for. Hell, what were the chances of Caleb, who hatedtonfanfare as much as he did, suddenly deciding to host a ball at a time whenhejust happened to be in town? It was deuced unfortunate was what it was.
“Very well,” he sighed, acknowledging there was no way out if he wanted to please his mother. “I shall put in an appearance and talk to a few young ladies. But I am only dancing one dance, after which I intend to remove myself to the card room.” He eyed Caleb. “There will be a card room, won’t there?”
“Of course,” Caleb assured him.
“And also,” Devlin said, deciding to do something nice for Monty, “I’d like to invite my good friend and first mate, Mr. Montgomery Quinn, and his wife to attend. They’re not upper crust, but they’re respectable enough and—”
“Your friend will be most welcome,” Caleb said. “I look forward to making his acquaintance.”
Later that evening,after the children had been tucked into bed and kissed goodnight, Mary sat at her vanity table, combing out her hair. “Your mother is up to something,” she said, watching Caleb in her mirror.
He removed his cravat and padded across the carpet, positioning himself directly behind her. Taking the brush from her hand, he continued what she’d started.
“Whatever gave you that idea?” he murmured in that low tone that did funny things to her insides. After years of marriage, the effect he had on her hadn’t faded one bit.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she told him wryly. “Perhaps the fact that you and I weren’t planning to host a ball this Saturday.”
“There is that,” he agreed.
When he frowned, she felt compelled to say, “We don’t have to do it, you know. I’m sure I can think of some excuse to get us out of it if you don’t want thetoninvading our home.”
He sighed. “No. I suppose a Camberly ball is long overdue.” Finishing with the brush, he set it aside and placed one hand on her shoulder. Their eyes met in the mirror. “Will you have enough time to plan it though?”
“I think I can manage if Emily and Cass help me write the invitations.”
