Page 28 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

Chapter Nine

Adalyn’s mother turnedto her. Quietly, she asked, “Why did you not tell me His Grace was coming today for a visit?”

Smiling even as she grit her teeth, Adalyn replied, “Because he had made no arrangements to call.”

She then turned and gave the duke, now striding toward her, a tight smile. “Your Grace. What an unexpected pleasure.”

She hoped he noticed she emphasized the wordunexpected.

“It is so nice again to see you, Lady Adalyn,” Camden said as if he hadn’t a care in the world. He looked to her mother. “And you must be Lady Uxbridge,” he added, capturing her mother’s hand and kissing it. “I must say, Lady Uxbridge, that I would have taken you for Lady Adalyn’s sister and not her mother.”

Mama was all smiles now and coquettishly batted her eyelashes at the duke. “Your Grace, it is so very good of you to call upon us.” Her eyes flicked to the other two visitors and back to him. “Won’t you please have a seat?”

“Thank you, my lady. I believe I will.”

The duke took a seat and Adalyn indicated for her other visitors to follow suit, wondering why the duke had ignored them.

Looking to Camden, she said, “Let me introduce you to our other visitors, Your Grace.”

“Oh, no need to do so. I met Pierce and Bayless at White’s yesterday.”

Adalyn looked at the pair and both nodded, perplexed.

Bayless said, “Yes, His Grace mentioned he was acquainted with you, my lady. That your cousin, Lady Middlefield, is wed to his good friend.”

Pierce looked put out as he said, “We did not realize His Grace would be calling at the same time we were today. He did not mention it.”

“Well, Lord Pierce, you were not scheduled to call upon me this afternoon,” Adalyn noted. “I was only expecting Lord Bayless.”

Lord Pierce shrugged. “We both decided since our visits with you involved the same purpose that it would be appropriate to discuss these delicate matters with us together.” The viscount looked to the duke and back at Adalyn. “However, we would not want to take up His Grace’s time.”

The duke gave them a charming smile and said, “I am happy to sit and visit with Lady Uxbridge, gentlemen. That should give you time in which to discuss your business with her daughter.”

Mama said, “Oh, that is too kind of you, Your Grace.”

Immediately, she launched into a conversation with the duke, which gave Adalyn time to speak with the two viscounts.

The entire time she spent in conversation with Lords Pierce and Bayless, Adalyn sensed the duke listened to everything they said, even as he charmed her mother. When an hour had passed and she deemed she had sufficient information from the two young rogues, she told them she would think about all they had discussed and meet with them just after the Season began in order to share her thoughts.

“Of course, once the Season is in full swing, you will have met many of the girls I will recommend to you,” she said. “It will also give me time to look over the new crop of young ladies on the Marriage Mart and get to know a bit about them myself. That will enable me to help you make the most amiable match.”

Lord Bayless was the first to realize they were being dismissed and he rose. “Thank you, my lady, for your time today,” he said graciously.

Lord Pierce echoed his friend’s sentiments and the two bid her mother and the duke farewell, taking their leave.

Adalyn now turned her full attention to the duke, having no idea why he had come to visit today.

She asked her mother, “Isn’t it time you were to going to Lady Tealing’s for tea?”

Mama’s cheeks pinkened and she explained, “There is no way I would leave His Grace here. He simply must stay for tea with us. I want Uxbridge to have the opportunity to chat with him. You wouldn’t mind staying for tea, Your Grace?”

Camden smiled winningly, which tugged at Adalyn’s heart. She didn’t like the feeling. The duke was much too good-looking for his own good. She was not going to fall under his spell.

Unless she already had.

She watched her mother ring for Rainey and tell the butler to send a footman to Lady Tealing’s residence, sending her regrets regarding their arranged date for tea.

“Merely say that I am unwell,” Mama told the butler. “I do not want Lady Tealing’s feelings to be hurt.”

---