Page 24 of The Lyon and the Unicorn
“Who’s it from?” he asked.
“The Duchess of Pittchester. She and her daughter have invited us to take tea on Tuesday. She says that she particularly wantsyeto come, Murdo, lad. I wasn’t aware ye were acquainted with the duchess.
“I met her last night at Lady Cholmondeley’s ball.”
“And her daughter?”
“I met Miss Martingale also.”
“I suspect ye did more thanmeether, given the color of yer cheeks. Ye always did turn a bright shade of pink when ye were up to no good.”
“I like her, that’s all,” Murdo said.
His aunt let out a laugh. “Ye more than like her,” she said. “Ye can’t fool yer aunt.”
“Do you know her?”
“I’ve met her once. A strange lass, but not unpleasant. She seemed a little shy. She’s being presented at court next Season.”
Not if I can prevent it.
“I beg pardon?”
“I said, I fear she’d be a little out of place in London.”
“Aye, ye’re right there,” she said. “She’s nothing like her brothers, but I suppose she wouldn’t be, given that she’s not related to them, not even half blood. She seems a little…wild. Henry’s afraid of her—he said she threatened to tie him upside down to a tree when he stayed with the twins last summer.”
“I can’t believe that, Aunt.”
“Ican,” she said, grinning, “but knowing my youngest son as I do—much as I love him—I suspect the lass was provoked, and where most young ladies would have limited their reactions to a disappointing glare, Miss Martingale would have shown her disapproval more openly. She’ll take some taming—I don’t envy the man who takes her on.”
“Ilike her,” Murdo said.
She shook her head. “McTavish men don’tlikewomen—and ye’ve neverlikeda woman in yer life, though ye’ve bedded plenty. What makes this one different?” She tilted her head to one side. “I hear she has a sizeable dowry,” she said. “From her ma’s fortune. Forty thousand—so the gossips say.”
Forty thousand…
What had Simon said last night? Enough to restore his estate, and leave room to purchase a small county.
Enough, in fact, to clear the debts on the ledgers and leave the Strathburn estate with thirty thousand.
Imagine what could be done with thirty thousand! It was almost too good to be true.
His aunt frowned and tucked the letter into her sleeve. “Counting the coins already, lad?”
Murdo’s cheeks warmed under her scrutiny.
“If it’s her fortune ye’re after, I’d tread carefully,” she said. “The duke may be a quiet sort of man, but he’d have yer ballocks if he thought ye intended to hurt the lass. And ifhedoesn’t, the duchess would. There’s naught so fierce as a mother protecting her cub. My sister would have fought to the death to protect ye, lad, but I doubt even she’d have been a match for the duchess.”
A small needle of pain pricked Murdo’s heart at the thought of his own mother—a woman he could barely recall.
“It’s plain to see where the lass got her wild ways from,” his aunt continued. “But if any man can handle her, then it’s ye. She’d be fortunate to have ye, as I know ye’d treat her right. But whether ye can handle her mother is another matter. I suppose ye want me to accept the invitation?”
Murdo opened his mouth to reply, and she laughed. “Of course ye do! But be careful what ye wish for, nephew. A man wishing to court the daughter of the Duchess of Pittchester is, I fear, entering the lioness’s den.”
Chapter Six
“There they are!”Mama said as the carriage came into view.
