Page 24 of Her Lion of a Duke
Leonard was pleased that his wife was enjoying herself, but he did not wish to interrupt them.
It was a strange thing to do, and he knew that, for it was not as though the ladies in his drawing room were strangers. Two of them were married to his friends, one was like a sister to him, and the fourth was Cecilia’s cousin, therefore family too.
And yet he spent all his time with the gentlemen. It was easier that way, and he assumed that Cecilia thought the same. She could spend time with her friends, he could spend time with his, and they would both enjoy themselves separately.
But that did not mean he could not look at her.
She was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, more mature than the young little things that used to throw themselves at him before he got married. She was also unlike the other ladies in the way she carried herself, with an air ofconfidence and the faintest hint that she did not wish to waste her time.
That was why he had always respected her. Even so, there was a softness to her. It only came out when she deemed it absolutely necessary, but it was undoubtedly there.
“Well, Pridefield,” Levi drawled as they shared a drink that evening, “I never would have expected you to find a wife, but I would say that is my fault. I should have remembered that Cecilia was in London.”
“Indeed.” Morgan nodded. “We were both surprised to hear of your engagement, but we should not have been. I, for one, have always hoped that the two of you would come to an agreement and marry one another.”
“And why is that?” Leonard asked.
“Well, for a start,” Levi sighed, “there is no other lady in all of England who could have any sort of control over you. I love Cecilia like a sister, but I dare say that it is quite the same the other way around.”
The men laughed into their cups.
Leonard had no intention of ever controlling his wife, but he knew what his friend had meant. He never could have married a lady with no fire within her, and Cecilia had plenty to spare.
“You must not say as much to her. She would never let you hear the end of it!”
“No, and I would not have her any other way. I believe you are of the same opinion, yes?”
Leonard sat back, smiling. It was true that he had never expected to fall for Cecilia, but she was excellent company and one of his greatest friends. There was nothing he would have changed about her.
“You would be correct in such an assumption. Now, how about your wives? I trust that they have already expressed their opinions on their stay thus far?”
Morgan chuckled, and Levi avoided his gaze.
“I knew as much.” Leonard laughed, shaking his head. “What is it?”
“Emma finds it strange that the manor is as it was when we first visited.”
“One might have thought she would like it, given that it is where the two of you fell in love.”
“I expected that, but she seemed to find it rather eerie. Then again, she renovates our home each year. I do not know where she has gotten her tastes from, for she was never so determined to be fashionable. I fear I may be losing my wife to high society.”
Levi sighed dramatically, splaying himself over the settee with his arm perfectly outstretched, holding his empty glass toward the bottle. Leonard chuckled and pouring him another drink.
“I told my wife that she may change whatever she pleases. She knows the estate well, and I trust her decisions, but it does not appear she is inclined to do anything.”
“Well, I would assume that she likes it well enough. Your mother had decorated it, if I recall correctly, and she had wonderful taste.”
“Yes, but her taste was that of ten years ago. I would expect Cecilia to want to make changes. This is, after all, her home.”
“It is your home, too,” Morgan reminded him, “and you have not done anything yourself.”
“No, but that is completely different. I?—”
Leonard paused for a moment. He would sound mad, he knew he would, but they were his friends.
“I never changed anything because it is the last thing my mother ever did. It was the final task she accomplished before her illness, and it pains me to think that it is now looked down on.”
“Who looks down on it?” Morgan asked.
