Page 32 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

Mama looked blankly at her a moment. “Louisa? Your cousin?”

“Yes. Remember, Tessa invited the two of us to dinner with the duke so that he could begin to meet a few people in Polite Society. He seemed quite taken with Louisa and indicated he would offer for her.”

“But he didn’t?” Mama asked, hope in her eyes.

“Louisa is a bit intimidated by his size,” Adalyn shared. “The two of them talked about it and they both decided they didn’t suit.”

“They . . . talked about it?” her mother asked in wonder. “My, that wasn’t done in my day, I will tell you that.”

“He thought Louisa mature and beautiful. A perfect woman to be his duchess.”

“You would make for a perfect duchess, Adalyn.”

Exasperated, she said, “Mama, you love me. Of course, you would think that. I don’t want to be a duchess, though. Especially not Camden’s duchess.”

“Whyever not? He is a lovely man.” Mama sighed. “The two of you would have such beautiful children.”

“We seem to rub each other the wrong way,” she revealed. “It is as if we are oil and water and simply don’t mix well together.”

“That is absurd. He is a duke, Adalyn,” Mama said firmly. “You must learn to do whatever it takes to please him. To make him want you as his duchess.”

Wanting wasn’t the problem. She still believed the duke desired her. She certainly desired him. But a marriage couldn’t be built upon the notion of kisses that ignited her like wildfire. She tried to remember what she didn’t like about him—and couldn’t remember a single thing.

“Let him come visit you whenever he wishes, Adalyn,” her mother recommended. “Eventually, he will share with you what his true intentions are.” She looked at her daughter with a critical eye. “It is a good thing you are wearing blue. It suits your coloring well and draws out the color of your eyes. When will His Grace arrive?”

“Two o’clock again.”

“I will stay for a little while and then have Bridget come and sit in the corner to chaperone you. Do what you can to encourage his suit, Adalyn.”

It was hopeless. Mama was convinced Camden was only interested in her. She would not be able to disavow her of that notion and would stop trying. It would take the duke announcing his betrothal to someone else before her mother would believe he intended someone other than her precious daughter to serve as his duchess.

“Have him stay again for tea,” Mama suggested.

“I do not think he will be here as long today.”

“Then make certain he stays,” Mama said, brokering no argument.

“I cannot tell a duke what to do,” she complained.

“No, but you are a force to be reckoned with yourself, Adalyn. Your father and I have always said so.”

Adalyn left and decided to stop in to see Louisa. Usually, she would turn to Tessa with a problem of this nature but with Tessa now wed—especially to Camden’s closest friend—she worried where her cousin’s loyalties might lie. Discussing her ambivalence toward the duke was better done with Louisa.

She summoned Bridget and the two women stepped outside, walking the two houses down to the Goulding townhouse. Jeffers, the butler, admitted them, with Bridget heading back to the kitchens where she usually waited.

“Miss Goulding is in the library, my lady,” Jeffers told her. “You may go up if you wish.”

“Thank you, Jeffers.”

Entering the library, she found Louisa poring over sketches. Her cousin looked up and smiled.

“I am so glad to see you,” she told Adalyn. “Come look at these.”

Flipping through, Adalyn saw they were sketches for gowns. “Where did these come from? Madame Chevalier?”

“Naturally. I sent word to her that I will need an entire wardrobe for this Season, unlike the few gowns I have had her make up in the past. She has been saving these sketches for me. At least, that is what her note said. I am to see her this afternoon and select fabrics. While I already have the few gowns she has made up for me to start the Season, she will complete these—and more—once I have approved them.”

“That was kind of her to keep these sketches with you in mind. Madame Chevalier is not only a talented modiste but a good woman.”

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