Page 74 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
“He won’t be.” Tilly pouted, determined not to share.
“But he will be eating dinner with us.”
Tilly’s eyes widened. “He will?” she whispered.
Edith nodded.
Tilly’s face scrunched up in thought. “All right. If His Grace stays and eatsallhis dinner with us without running away, I suppose he can be allowed one lemon drop.”
“Are you sure he might not be allowed two?” Edith asked, suppressing a giggle.
“Only if he’s nice all night,” Tilly declared. “I don’t want Luke or Anthony to think he’s mean. Or worse.”
“Worse?” Edith asked as concern flooded through her veins.
“Yes. What if little Anthony believes it’s appropriate to be grumpy like His Grace? Then the Duke and Duchess of Richmond will have a grumpy baby!”
Edith covered her mouth and did her best to restrain her mirth, but her shoulders shook. “I do not think you need to be worried about that.”
“I think I do,” Tilly insisted. “He can already talk! I don’t want him to learn to talk badly!”
Edith couldn’t hold it in anymore; the laughter burst out of her.
“The Duke and Duchess of Richmond will make sure that their son learns to speak with proper decorum,” Edith said, patting Tilly’s shoulder.
“I hope so.”
Edith led Tilly downstairs to the dining room. Servants were busy laying out the appropriate cutlery and cups for drinks. Laurence was overseeing everything.
He looked up as they entered. “There you both are! I was wondering what was taking you so long,” he said with a smile.
“We just had to finish adjusting Tilly’s dress.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re both here. Lord Mallowby should arrive at any moment, and I can’t have you both being late for our own dinner.” He chuckled.
“We could never be late for our own dinner because we’re already here,” Tilly said, looking a little confused.
“But if we did not go downstairs in time, then we could have been late,” Edith explained.
Tilly frowned as she thought about it. “But…”
“Well, either way, you’re both on time,” James’s voice came from behind them.
Edith gasped in surprise, turned to see his grinning face, and shook her head. “Lord Mallowby, welcome,” she said with a smile.
“It is lovely to be here, Your Grace,” he returned. “Ah, and this must be Miss Tilly.”
“Good afternoon, Lord Mallowby,” Tilly greeted, bobbing a little curtsy.
“My, my! What a charming young lady!” James praised, before crouching to her eye level. “Now, Tilly, I have something for you. Can you close your eyes and hold out your hands?”
Tilly looked confused but nodded and did as she was told.
James grinned and pulled out a small box with a bow on it. Edith raised an eyebrow as she watched, unsure what he was up to.
“And… open!” he intoned.
Tilly opened her eyes and frowned. She looked up at Edith, silently asking if she could open the box. Edith nodded.
