Page 54 of A Duchess for the Mysterious Duke
“Yes, and Miss Kathrin and her brother.”
“What of Olivia?”
Marina’s smile widened. “I expect not, dear husband. I have not received any letters from her since she was wed. It would appear that the new couple has not returned from their honeymoon trip.”
“A long trip for a honeymoon. What a modern notion. Shall we plan one to Paris, perhaps? After our anniversary?”
“In the peak of the season?” Marina raised an eyebrow. “You gave me your word that we would attend more balls this year. Are you going back on what you said?”
“Not at all. I just think that we could do with a break between dancing and being gossiped about.”
“We are an old married couple who are adept at avoiding scandal. We are seldom gossiped about these days. It is only the single and unmarried or the married and unhappy who are spoken of these days. We are no longer exciting news.”
“I find news about you to be quite thrilling, actually,” Phillip murmured, pulling Marina close to him for a gentle embrace as she giggled. They stuck to each other for the rest of the afternoon making preparations for their homecoming dinner. The season was set to start that evening, and the start of the summer brought Marina’s mind back to the night that she and Phillip first met, as if the same melody of intrigue and chance floated through the air, played just for them by the muses.
The Earl arrived before dinner with Emily, Nicholas, and their governess. Marina took them out to her garden, and she walked with her Papa while her brother and sister picked berries from her bushes and ate them directly.
“You look more like your mother each day that passes,” the Earl sighed.
“Thank you, Papa.”
“Every so often I forget that she is not still here with me when you are near, Marina. Your energy is every bit of hers. Your persistence. Your steadfastness. Even this garden—she would be quite proud of you, my love.”
“I know, Papa.”
They smiled together and watched Emily and Nicholas from a distance. “I was thinking, Marina...”
“Yes, Papa?”
“Emily will be coming out next year.”
“Yes, Papa.”
“I think it might be wise if she spent some time with you this year. I feel you might be better qualified to prepare her than I am.” Marina’s green eyes followed her sister’s movements as she played with her brother. She was every bit still a child, and Marina did not see in her what she had seen in Olivia at the same age.
“I would be happy to have her stay for a few weeks, Papa, but perhaps you should entertain the idea of letting her wait another year until she’s eighteen.”
“Do you really think?”
“I do. Olivia spent five seasons clinging to my every word when I arrived home from the balls before she entered court. She was eager and ready at seventeen, and she had no issues at all catching precisely the husband she wanted. Emily does not yet seem interested in men or marriage. Nicholas is her best friend, after all, and he does not seem inclined toward the same yet. He will start to show more of an interest, soon, and she will be more inclined to grow up then.”
“I shall ask her what she would like to do.”
“A sound plan,” Marina laughed. “And what of you, Papa? What will become of you when all of your grown children have gone?”
“Ah, just as you can see in your sister something that I cannot, allow me to tell you about my boy.”
“Please do.”
“Nicholas will wait many years before he marries—much like your duke here. He will go off to school, but he will return. While he is away, I will merely make it a habit to visit you and your lovely gardens. I came to stay, as you know, while you were in the winter home. I was caught more times than I would like to admit napping under that three there.” The Earl pointed to a tree in the distance that Marina herself was rather fond of, and she gave him a bright smile.
“So I have heard,” she chuckled.
“Not one shred of loyalty these days,” he muttered. “Marina? Before we go inside, there is one more thing I would like to tell you.”
“Of course, Papa.”
“I am incredibly proud of you, my girl.”
