Page 36 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

He grinned. “I know,” he admitted. “But I like it for you,” he continued. “Adalyn is a beautiful name but very formal. The work we undertake is important to me and I want to feel comfortable in your presence. Surely, you can throw me a bone and allow me to call you Addie. After all, I am a duke. I have heard dukes always get their way.”

She bristled, pursing her lips a moment, making him want to kiss her even more than previously.

“All right,” she grudgingly said. “You may address me as you wish in private.”

He would take that small victory. And be gracious about it.

“Thank you, Addie,” he said sincerely.

The door opened and Bridget, her lady’s maid, entered, a small book in her hand. She smiled brightly and said, “I’ll just sit in the corner, my lady, and read. You won’t know I’m here at all.”

Bridget retreated to a far corner and immediately opened the book she carried, placing it on her lap and quickly becoming absorbed in it.

“I am glad to see you have a chaperone,” Everett said. “I have been concerned about Miss Goulding and her lack of one. She assured me in the future that she would make certain her lady’s maid was present if I ever called.”

“It won’t be a problem for much longer. My uncle will be traveling to Vienna to meet up with Lord Castlereagh and other diplomats since Bonaparte is soon to be formally deposed. It will be a congress of men gathering from across Europe. Uncle Edgar had thought to take Louisa with him. I changed his mind.”

“Good thinking on your part, Addie,” he praised. “The hours they would have met would have been long ones, with Miss Goulding left alone, with no companionship.”

“Louisa will be coming to stay with us. With the Season at hand, it will be convenient for all. That way, when suitors come to call, Mama or Papa will always be on hand in the drawing room. Even Tessa could serve as our chaperone now that she is a married lady.”

“She could? That’s interesting.”

“It is one of the many rules you have never been exposed to, Everett.”

He did like hearing his name come from her lips. He stared at those lips now, tantalizing as they were. Everett blinked, trying to rid himself of the notion that he wanted Addie and no other as his duchess.

Clearing his throat, he asked, “What are a few of the rules I need to know? Please do not barrage me. I already am learning to dance, thanks to Tessa and Abra. I only have room for so much in my head, especially after all I have learned and am learning about being a duke. I have a myriad of responsibilities as a duke and many estates to keep up with. That does not even include my duties I will take up in the House of Lords. So please, keep the rules to a minimum. Only the most important if you would.”

“I understand Papa brought you home with him today,” she began. “If you plan to see a young lady during the Season, however, you must first arrange to call upon her. The time to do so is to ask her at the previous evening’s engagement. I have a feeling you will be quite choosy, so be circumspect in the invitations you seek. Never ask to call if it is not morning hours.” She smiled. “Morning hours are held in the afternoon.”

“Then why are they called morning hours?”

She shrugged. “Because they always have been. I know it is not much of an explanation. During the Season, females will, what we call, be at home from the hours of one to three. If you asked to call upon them, go between those hours. Those are the appropriate times to visit.”

“You are telling me I should not have called on Miss Goulding at eleven in the morning?”

“That is exactly what I am saying. You have called upon her twice before noon. You tell me you want to be nothing like your brother so do not create a small scandal by not adhering to the proper times to visit someone.”

“I understand now and will arrange my visits at the proper time in the future,” he promised. “When I do arrange to call, is it anytime between one and three?”

“During the Season, yes. You will most likely want to call on more than one young lady in an afternoon so you will keep your visits short. A quarter-hour is perfect. Never longer than half an hour. Though you will be competing with other gentlemen for a lady’s attention—and possible affection—you are a duke and will always take precedence over any other suitor.”

“Finally, an advantage to holding such a lofty title.”

“So be certain you stick to those hours. Today was an exception since Papa invited you home with him but do not try to ingratiate yourself with parents in such an unconventional manner. Once you find a female to your liking, you can curry favor with her parents and the rest of her family in other ways, which we will discuss at a later time.”

Her point made, Adalyn changed subjects. “You mentioned Tessa and Abra teaching you how to dance. How is that going?”

Everett shrugged. “I am not the most graceful dancer but I am beginning to understand the steps and am becoming more comfortable with them as I practice them.” He paused. “I have yet to learn the steps of the waltz, however. Spence indicated to me it will be the most valuable dance to know and participate in.”

“Spencer is correct. It is incredibly hard to hold any type of conversation when dancing a Scotch reel. By the way, has Tessa told you to limit the number of times you ask someone to dance? Once is fine. Twice, and you are showing a good bit of interest in a young lady as far as thetonis concerned. Thrice is forbidden. Don’t even think of doing that, Everett.”

He was pleased that she continued to use his name upon occasion. Ridiculously pleased. He needed to get over that feeling. And he needed to stop looking at her mouth, wanting to discover new things about it and her.

A thought occurred to him. “Perhaps you could help teach me the waltz,” he suggested.

A blush spread across her cheeks, making her look even more appealing than usual.

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