Page 14 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

Chapter Five

Everett showed upat the Middlefields’ doorstep in time for breakfast the next morning. He had done so the last few days since Spence and Tessa had come to town. Marsh took him into the breakfast room and his friends greeted him enthusiastically.

“I suppose this is becoming a habit,” Spence said with a twinkle in his eyes.

“Don’t listen to him,” Tessa told Everett. “He is delighted to see you, as always.” She looked at him hopefully. “Are you here to discuss last night?”

“I did want to thank you for having me to dinner and introducing me to your cousins,” he began. “I also got the impression that I need to learn more about these unwritten rules of theton.”

Tessa laughed. “There are a plethora of them,” she admitted. “The best person to walk you through those would be Adalyn. She knows everyone and everything about Polite Society. I am certain she would be happy to fill you in.” Tessa paused, her eyes widening. “Oh, dear. I had not thought to ask you this but do you dance, Everett?”

“No. What of it?”

“You simply must learn to dance,” Spence advised. “You will be attending many a ball and balls mean dancing.”

Tessa fretted. “It may be too late to hire a dance master. Do you mind if I teach you the basics? Just a few of the country dances that are typically danced at balls. And the waltz, of course.”

“The waltz?” he asked.

“It is the most important dance,” Spence told him. “It is one of the few times in which you can engage a young lady in conversation for any length without being interrupted.” He smiled. “The waltz is also what I would term an intimate dance.”

Everett felt himself flush. Immediately, his thoughts went to Lady Adalyn and holding her close in a dance, inhaling the vanilla that seemed to cling to her skin. He tried to erase the ridiculous image from his mind. He was not interested in her, he told himself.

“We should start today if you can spare the time, Everett,” Tessa suggested. “I do know that you are calling upon Louisa this morning at eleven. She was kind to agree to see you at that hour but if you get with Adalyn, she will explain to you the hours in which it is appropriate to call upon young women.”

“There is no reason to meet with Lady Adalyn,” he said stiffly. “I merely wanted to know a little more about these rules of Polite Society. I am certain you or Spence can clue me in.”

A shadow crossed Tessa’s face. “You don’t like Adalyn,” she stated. “I understand she can be a bit much, especially for someone as quiet as you are. She has a good heart, though, and she can introduce you to many people in Polite Society. But what of Louisa?” Tessa asked. “Obviously, you asked to call upon her because you wish to know her better. Is that correct?”

“Your cousin is a most intelligent woman,” he said. “She also has a quiet beauty about her and a maturity which I appreciate. Although I have not met any other ladies of theton, I believe Miss Goulding to be a prime candidate to be my duchess.”

There. He’d said it. Aloud.

Everett looked to Tessa, seeing the pleased look on her face.

“You don’t have to make up your mind so quickly,” she told him. “Although I adore Louisa and would be thrilled if the two of you suited one another. I do think it wise, though, that you attend a good number oftonevents and meet other young ladies, as well.”

“You think it too soon for me to offer for her?”

Tessa looked at him intently. “I will say two things to you, Everett. One, Louisa has only attended a handful of society events each Season since she came out. She is ready, however, to seek a husband this year and I want her to enjoy a full slate oftonevents since she hasn’t been able to in the past.”

“If that is the first, what is the second?”

“You barely know Louisa,” Tessa pointed out. “She is not going to accept an offer of marriage from you after one meeting. It would not be fair to her—or you. Marriage should never be undertaken lightly,” she explained. “I think you would do both of you a disservice if you did not get to know her better before deciding to extend an offer of marriage.”

Spence cleared his throat. “Tessa has yet to ask you what I believe is the most important question, Ev.”

“And what would that be?”

“What is your reaction to Louisa?”

“What an odd question to ask, Spence,” Everett noted, feeling uncomfortable. “I am not certain I even understand what you mean.”

Spence and Tessa exchanged a look that said volumes between them. Everett supposed a couple as close as they were—especially a married couple—would have ways to communicate between them without having to use words.

Spence’s gaze was direct as he said, “Are you physically attracted to Louisa Goulding?”

Everett frowned at the question. “I have told you I admire Miss Goulding’s intelligence and find her quite beautiful,” he said stiffly. “I wish to call upon her today in order to get to know her a little better, as Tessa has suggested. I don’t see what a physical reaction has to do with offering marriage to a woman.”

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