Page 27 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

“Oh, Adalyn!”

Her mother threw her arms about Adalyn, holding her tightly. When she released her, she saw the tears in her mother’s eyes and, for a moment, felt guilty knowing she had put them there.

“What changed your mind?” Mama asked. Then she looked sagely at Adalyn and said, “It was Analise, wasn’t it?”

She nodded. “Yes, Analise has quite a bit to do with my decision. Every time I hold her, I yearn for a child of my own. I also see how happy Tessa is in her marriage. I only hope I can find someone who will make me half as happy as she is with Spencer.”

A worried look crossed Mama’s face. She took Adalyn’s hand and said, “You have been out many Seasons now. Tessa was fortunate to only have one Season—and to find love.” Mama looked at her in earnest and said, “Do you seek love, Adalyn?”

She didn’t know how to answer the question and merely shrugged. “I cannot answer that, Mama. Not at this time. Since I am open to the idea of marriage, I am also open to the idea of love. Do I want to find it? It would be nice if I did. I cannot expect it, though. I do have a good idea of the traits I am looking for in my future husband. Louisa and I both made lists of what most appealed to us. We have thought of this carefully, Mama. I won’t rush into anything.”

Her mother’s face glowed with happiness. “So, Louisa, too, will seek a husband. It is past time she did so. You know I think the world of your uncle but it is wrong of him to have tied Louisa to him for so long.”

Adalyn did not mention that Uncle Edgar had not planned on allowing Louisa to pursue marriage. At least until she had intervened yesterday with him. Adalyn had found Louisa and told her cousin of the conversation the two had held. Louisa had burst into tears, grateful for Adalyn being her advocate in this matter.

She had also learned from Louisa why she was so distraught after her meeting with the Duke of Camden. It shocked Adalyn to hear that Louisa had boldly asked the duke to kiss her, based upon Tessa’s advice.

Louisa had shared how nothing about the duke’s kiss moved her and that she knew he was not the one for her. She explained to Adalyn that she was grateful knowing this, not having wasted any time on getting to know Camden better in order to evaluate whether he would be a good husband to her or not. Louisa said that while embarrassed about what she had done, she believed she and the duke would always be on friendly terms.

While Louisa had been open and honest, Adalyn had told her cousin nothing of her encounter with His Grace. She could barely admit to herself what had happened, much less tell Louisa what had occurred between her and the duke.

Sleep had taken a long time to come last night, thanks to thoughts of the duke dancing in her head. She even found her body burning at the thought of the intimate kisses they had exchanged. The fact that she wanted more from him was beside the point. He was not for her. Though she did hope he would take her up on her willingness to guide him through Polite Society and find the right bride for him. it would be a kindness to him, something that Tessa and Spencer would appreciate her doing.

Yet the thought of helping the Duke of Camden find his duchess irritated her to no end. She feared she would be jealous of the woman he chose. Not that she wanted to be the duchess herself. Far from it.

Even Adalyn knew she lied to herself. She was besotted with the duke. She would have to do what she could to cleanse her mind of him.

And her body.

She could not keep wanting those kisses. Even though her thoughts had gone far beyond them. She could imagine him kissing her in places besides her mouth. Just the idea of that caused her cheeks to heat.

She turned from her mother and went to a chair, lifting her sewing basket from where it sat on the ground beside the chair. She really didn’t want to embroider but she needed something to keep her mind off the duke.

Fortunately, the butler appeared at the door and said, “Lord Pierce and Lord Bayless are here to call.”

Now, this was an interesting development. She had agreed to see Lord Bayless today and Lord Pierce tomorrow. Knowing, however, the pair was as thick as thieves, she supposed they had both shared with one another their plans to ask her to find them a bride and decided to do this together, as they did everything else.

Adalyn set the sewing basket back on the ground as she and Mama rose and greeted the two viscounts.

“It is lovely to see you again, Lady Uxbridge,” Lord Bayless said smoothly, causing her mother to smile girlishly.

If only Mama knew that the viscount had an affair last Season with a woman more than twice his age.

Before Lord Pierce could also offer a greeting, she noticed Rainey coming through the door again.

“His Grace, the Duke of Camden.”

The duke sauntered in and Adalyn’s entire body caught fire.

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