Page 1 of Cherish and the Duke
Chapter One
Shoreham Manor
Brighton, England
August 1817
Dear heaven, heis gorgeous.
Lady Cherish Northam stared at Gawain, Duke of Bromleigh, who had just arrived at Shoreham Manor, the Brighton estate of her dearest friend and neighbor, Lady Shoreham. He strode into the parlor with his two friends, also dukes, and all three of them graying at the temples. These men were known throughout thetonas the Silver Dukes, and Cherish now understood what all the fuss surrounding them was about. They weren’t so much silver assilverish, for there were only hints of gray shot through their hair and none of them looked at all feeble.
A buzz of excitement filled the air as others noticed them.
They had arrived fashionably late to Lady Shoreham’s week-long house party, striding into the room with all the arrogance of warriors just returned from battle. Lady Shoreham, who stood beside Cherish, now frowned. “So typical of those beasts to purposely make a grand entrance. Now all the ladies are going to fuss and flutter over them because they are dukes and too handsome to ignore.”
“Is that so terrible, Fiona?” Cherish asked. “Was this not the point of your house party, to match unmarried young ladies to eligible gentlemen?”
“Yes, but these three are confirmed bachelors, and it will take more than a week to wear them down.” She tapped a finger to her lips as she stared at them. “But wouldn’t it be fun if we managed it?”
“We? Oh, no.” Cherish’s eyes rounded in surprise. “Fiona, do not get any silly ideas into your head, especially about me.”
“You are my dearest friend,” Fiona said with a little sniff. “I would never do anything to hurt you.”
Cherish trusted Fiona. In fact, she adored her. But she could also tell that her friend was plotting something.
Dear heaven.
She hoped Fiona was not thinking to match her to one of thosetongods.
“Oh, drat,” Fiona said with a huff. “The ladies are already fluttering around them. What a nuisance. And just look at how those rascals are eating up the attention. They will ruin my party because no lady will pay attention to the other gentlemen while busy swooning over those old dogs. What gall, showing up late. They did this on purpose to rile me, I’m sure. I ought to toss them out on their vaunted backsides.”
Cherish laughed. “Why did you invite them if they were only going to rile you? And especially if they are not of a mind to marry.”
“I had to. Bromleigh is a cousin of mine, and we are on a mission.”
Cherish wanted to ask what sort of mission, but they were interrupted as the three dukes now marched toward them with smiles on their faces. She meant to ease away, but Fiona grabbed her hand. “Stay right here, Cherish. I have need of you.”
“What for? Surely you do not need me to—”
“Gawain!” Fiona cried with abundant cheer, giving her cousin, the stunning, dark-haired one with a hint of silver at his temples and striking green eyes, a kiss on the cheek as he reached their side.
“Sorry we’re late, Fiona.” He bussed her cheek in return. “Camborne’s horse threw a shoe and it took us forever to find a farrier to repair it.”
“I suppose there were serving maids to comfort you while you waited at the nearest tavern,” Fiona muttered. “You had better be on your best behavior here, or I will never forgive you.”
The other two dukes now joined them in time to hear her grumbling.
“Och, no lassies for us,” Malcolm, Duke of Camborne, assured her. “We’ve sworn off them. Well, I have for now. It’ll be off to Scotland and fishing next for me. Alone, I assure ye. I’ll be having no theatrics from a fish.”
Cherish had read in the gossip rags about this duke’s latest fiasco with some actress, but she kept her expression blank. It was not her place to approve or disapprove of his behavior. She disapproved, of course.
Connor, Duke of Lynton, nodded as he stepped forward to give Lady Shoreham a kiss on the cheek. “I have my own theatrics to attend to,” he said with a light groan. “My children are acting up again. I fear I will have to cut short my visit and return to Lynton Grange to see what they have done to their latest nanny. I hope to still find her alive.”
Fiona appeared genuinely concerned. “Oh dear. When will you go, Connor? But yes, you must go to your children. They are most important and you mustn’t neglect them.”
The Duke of Lynton laughed. “Neglect them? I cannot be away from them for more than a week or two before they act out. I suppose it is their way of telling me to come home, which I will do tomorrow. But I wanted to see you first. It has been too longsince…well, since you lost your Albert. I’m sorry I did not visit sooner.”
“You’ve had your own troubles,” she said with genuine sincerity. “How are you managing on the whole?”
