Page 25 of Moonlight and the Duke
She might have shouted the loudest. “They need to be outdoors or it will go worse for all of us. Besides, we are going on a bird-watching expedition. Before we head to the cliffs, I think we must stop at the pond so they can apologize to those geese.”
“Apologize to geese?” Connor asked, sounding quite dubious.
Eden nodded. “Yes. And may I suggest a suitable punishment for today’s escapade?”
He nodded. “Go right ahead. I’m all ears.”
“I think they each must write apology letters to Sarah and Millie asking for their forgiveness in putting their positions in the household in jeopardy. They must also write apology letters to you showing an understanding of what they did wrong and what they will do to better themselves in the future.”
His eldest groaned. “Papa, just take us to the woodshed and thrash us.”
“Thrash you?” Connor growled. “When have I ever laid a hand on you?”
“Never,” his eldest admitted. “But I’d rather take a beating than spend the night writing letters.”
Eden turned away so the children would not catch her struggling to hold back her giggles.
She heard Connor’s soft rumble of laughter as he struggled with the same. “Oh, no,” he said, taking a moment to clear his throat. “The suggestion is perfect. You’ll each write your lettersthis evening. No pudding for any of you until all three of you are done.”
“But we still get to go exploring with Eden tomorrow?” Alex asked, no doubt wanting to firm up the terms of their punishment before they put quill to paper.
“Yes, you go with Eden tomorrow as planned.”
The children cheered.
When Eden drew the rig up in the courtyard, the boys leaped off. Priscilla tried to imitate them by leaping off Connor’s lap. Fortunately, Brewster had come out of the house in time to catch her when she lost her footing.
Connor groaned. “Thank you, Brewster.” If not for his reliable butler, she would have tumbled headlong onto the stone.
The little sprite also thanked Brewster for his timely catch. “You are most welcome, Lady Priscilla,” he replied.
She smiled at him, and then ran into the house after Alex and young Connor, shouting at them to wait for her.
“I’ll make certain Millie and Sarah are aware the children have safely returned home,” the kindly Brewster said, and hurried back into the house.
Eden and Connor were left alone in the rig for the moment. He spread his arms across the back of their seat bench, lolled his head back, and emitted a hearty groan. “Are they too young to be married off? Let them be someone else’s problem? Gad, Eden, they were out with you all day and still managed to get up to mischief. Do they never stop?”
“I’ll try to run them around harder tomorrow.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Do you think you can? I fear they will exhaustyou.”
“Perhaps. They seem to be boundless wells of energy. But even the most resilient children can be controlled.” She emitted a soft trill of laughter. “The threat of having them write more apology letters ought to keep them in line.”
Connor chuckled as he climbed down. One of his stable grooms now came running toward them to fetch the horse and rig. Connor strode around to her side and placed his hands at her waist to effortlessly help her down before the lad led the horse and carriage away.
To Eden’s surprise, Connor did not immediately release her. “Eden, I cannot thank you enough for…just everything. You seem to understand my own children better than I do. And the punishment you devised is diabolically brilliant. Writing apology letters. The boys were willing to endure a beating rather than have to compose an essay.”
He still held her about the waist as he smiled at her. She sensed he wanted to kiss her cheek again, but she was wearing her spectacles, so why would he ever be tempted? Indeed, she was probably the opposite of tempting.
But to her surprise, he did give her a tender, lingering kiss on the cheek. “Thank you, Eden,” he whispered, reluctantly releasing her as his groom drove the rig away and they were left standing alone in the courtyard.
She blushed. “I had better get changed for supper.”
He glanced down at himself. “Me too.”
They hurried up the stairs together and parted ways at the landing, since his ducal suite of rooms was off to the right at the very end of the hall and her guest chamber was the first door on the left.
Eden realized Duchess Evelyn must have been watching for them, because she sent Delia minutes after Eden returned to her room. She had taken off her gown because it was one of those designed to easily slip on and off without laborious tapes or lacings, and had just moistened a washcloth to clean her hands and face when the girl entered.
