Camborne laughed heartily. “Och, no. Dinna tell me ye’ve succumbed to a pair of dark eyes and luscious lips.”
“Well, her eyes are a bright emerald and her lips are soft and pretty.”
“Who’s the lady, if I may ask?” Lynton said.
Bram hesitated a moment, then nodded. “Lady Miranda Lawson.”
“Not sure I know her,” Lynton replied.
Bromleigh frowned. “Nor do I.”
Cambornetskedat his friends. “Of course ye do. She attends the same societies as yer wives do when in London. She’s one of the ladies residing on Duchess Square, am I right?”
Bram nodded. “Aye, she is.”
“Intelligent, too,” Camborne added. “Jocelyn has mentioned her a time or two. What do ye wish to know about her? I’m no’ sure any of us will be of much help in that regard, but we could ask our wives.”
“I dinna need information about her. It’s more that I wish to know how ye wooed yer wives and got them to agree to marry ye.”
That got a guffaw out of all three of them.
“Och, ye’re laughing at me.”
“No,” Camborne hastened to assure him. “We are laughing at ourselves.”
“Why? Ye were obviously successful in yer courtships. How are each of ye faring in yer marriages? Are ye liking married life? Or are ye regretting the changes it has required?”
“It is a commitment, for certain.” Camborne took a sip of his brandy and then set it aside. “In all seriousness, that commitment is heaven with the right woman. Jocelyn and I fight from time to time, of course. She holds her own opinions and is not shy about expressing them. But she loves me fiercely, and I know I will always have her loyalty and her heart.”
Bromleigh nodded. “I don’t think anyone resisted marriage as hard as I did. But one look at Cherish and I knew I was in trouble. The empty dalliances wear on a man, and there comes a time when he is ready to drop his scoundrel ways. I cannot speak for all husbands, but I am happiest when at home with her…and Ialwaysreturn home to her.”
“Same here,” Lynton said, raising his glass in toast. “Eden’s the best thing that’s happened to me and my children. I like to think we three were wise in the women we chose. Although they are all quite different, at their core they share the same important characteristics.”
“And what are those?” Bram asked.
“Ours were love marriages,” Camborne said. “For us and for our wives. When we pledged to honor and love each other, we meant it. I dinna doubt Jocelyn will always be faithful to me and always strive to make a good home for me. I am no’ an easy man to live with, but she seems able to abide with me. In truth, she enjoys being around me, and I feel the same way about her. It’s love and friendship.”
Bromleigh nodded. “Cherish has been a friend, a trusted confidante, and caring wife to me. No man can ask for better.”
“Right,” Lynton added. “Most important, these ladies saw us for who we truly were and not for the status a marriage to a duke would bring them. In truth, our titles might have been animpediment for them. I think I speak for all of us when I say that our wives would not have accepted us unless they respected us. We had toearntheir hearts.”
“Did ye do anything special to win yer wife’s heart, Lynton?” This was where Bram felt lacking, for he was never a rake and rarely indulged in meaningless dalliances, although he was certainly offered such opportunities often enough.
Lynton laughed. “Gad, I was a complete idiot and almost lost her because of it. I’m not the right one to ask.”
“Nor am I,” Bromleigh admitted. “I stupidly tried to match Cherish with my nephew. Fortunately, he was wise enough to see that she was meant forme. I suppose I knew it, too. But I surely was a stubborn fool about it.”
Bram was more confused than ever. How could these notorious Silver Dukes not have had a clue how to win the hands of the women they loved?
He turned to Camborne. “And ye?”
“Och, I dinna think I’ll be much assistance either. Despite all my experience and my glib way with flattering words, none of it helped me with Jocelyn. There was no proper courtship. I met and married her within a matter of days. Only afterward did we truly get to know each other. It could have been disastrous, but my heart seemed to know it was the right thing to do. Ye’re no fool, Solway. If it feels right to ye, then just ask her.”
“That isn’t the problem. I know my feelings. She is the one who needs convincing.”
Camborne frowned. “If she is reluctant, then perhaps she isn’t right for ye, my friend.”
“It isn’t that. I know she cares deeply for me. It is the chains of marriage she fears.”
