“I don’t mind answering,” Esmeralda said, once again hoping to avoid an argument between the two. “I’ll be twenty-six in a few weeks, and I don’t think that is considered young by anyone’s standards.”
“You’re probably right,” Vera said in a tone that let Esmeralda and Lady Sara know the subject was settled.
“We were expecting someone as old as Aunt Eve,” Lady Sara offered. “Most chaperones are. But I think we should like it that you are more our age than our aunt’s.”
“Miss Swift’s age is not important; that you listen to her and do everything she says is,” the duke said. “Show her the same respect you would your aunt. If I hear differently, I might decide send you back to Griffin, and wait until next year to make your debut.”
“I don’t believe you.” Lady Vera challenged her brother with a determined look. “You want us to marry so you can finally be rid of us.”
“I do want that,” he conceded with an affectionate smile. “But it matters not to me whether it is this year or next. You will be back at the estate in Griffin with each other for another year while I will be in London enjoying my life as usual.”
“You are teasing us,” Lady Sara said.
He gave her cheek a loving pat. “If you doubt me on this, give Miss Swift trouble and see what happens.”
“You are being a terrible bore, Griffin, and a bully too,” Vera accused.
“That’s because I’m your older brother and it’s my job to be stern and look after you as our father would have. Now, Lady Evelyn has asked to see you both.”
“Immediately?” Vera asked.
“Yes.”
“But we want to stay here and get to know Miss Swift,” Lady Sara complained.
“You will soon, but I need to talk to her first, and your aunt needs to talk to you.”
Lady Vera looked over at her sister and gave her a smug smile. “What our dear brother is trying to tell us in a most tactful way is that Auntie Eve can’t wait to find out what we think of our new chaperone.”
“But we haven’t had a chance to find out for ourselves yet.”
“Go,” the duke said to his sisters. “Miss Swift will be in the book room waiting for you when you come back down.”
The twins walked out, grumbling to each other. Esmeralda turned to the duke, folded her arms across her chest, and asked, “Why didn’t you tell your sisters about me before I arrived?”
He quirked his head and said, “I did.”
Astonished, she said, “You couldn’t have. They didn’t know who I was and I didn’t know what to say.”
Looking as if puzzled by her statement, he said, “I told them I was going to employ someone to take Lady Evelyn’s place as chaperone.” He paused, his forehead wrinkled. “Perhaps I neglected to say I’d actually done that, and also your name.”
“Perhaps?” He was unbelievable. He apparently didn’t believe certain rules of civility applied to him.
Why should that shock her yet again?
Unperturbed by her comment, he simply said, “I do have duties other than taking care of my sisters, Miss Swift.”
“I’m sure,” she quipped. “Fencing, shooting, billiards, and maybe an occasional boxing match too.”
He grinned attractively. “You forgot cards, racing my Thoroughbreds, and reading the morning newsprint.”
Esmeralda harrumphed. “You know, Your Grace, I don’t think I will have any trouble at all managing your sisters, but I’m not so sure the same will hold true for you.”
He gave her a satisfied smile. “I would be disappointed in myself if you could manage me, Miss Swift.”
She had no idea where she got the brazen audacity to talk so boldly to the duke, but knew she couldn’t make a habit of it even though he’d given her permission to do so the first time they’d met. He would have limits of what he would tolerate from her.
“True words, I’m sure. Yet if our circumstances were different, I would still try.”
