Page 45 of Debating with the Duke (Second Sons of London 2)

Adalyn waited but he said no more. “Then tell me what you thought of the four,” she ventured. “Before I give you my opinion.”

Ev snorted. “The two young ones are insipid. I could have a better conversation with that wall over there than either of them.”

“They are both quite pretty,” she pointed out.

“Pretty to look at is one thing. Having a woman I can actually talk with is something else.” He paused. “Miss Peterson seemed nice. A bit on the thin side.”

“I thought you didn’t care about looks,” she reminded.

“Well, I need a woman who won’t blow away,” he said. “She seemed to be able to converse well but, then again, we didn’t get much time to talk.”

“What about Lady Minceton?”

“She is nice,” he admitted. “Attractive. Poised. If it were a horse race, I’d say the two young misses were out of the running, Miss Peterson was the dark horse, and Lady Minceton was in the lead. But it’s early, Adalyn. You can’t expect me to know my mind after only a day.”

He glanced about. “And you can’t expect me to know the rules if you haven’t gone over them with me. I had no idea I was to send flower arrangements.”

“Oh, dear,” she fretted. “I am sorry I overlooked that. It is just something I assumed everyone knows.”

He snorted. “I discovered that when I went to call upon Lady Bertha. I made the rounds of all four of them this afternoon. Two lived next door to each other. One around the corner. The other across the street. So I was able to get all four calls in. Unfortunately, they must all think me rude for not having sent flowers to them. What is Polite Society’s unwritten rule regarding that?”

Adalyn sighed. “If you asked to call upon a lady, your bouquet should arrive before you do. Preferably by noon.”

“What if I have called upon them before?”

“You should send something each time you call.”

“The florists must make a tidy bundle this time of year,” he commented.

“They do earn most of their living during the months of the Season.”

Ev raked a hand through his thick hair. “Because I was embarrassed by my faux pas, I only stayed five or ten minutes at each place. That certainly wasn’t enough time to learn anything about them, especially with chaperones hovering about.”

“That is fine,” she assured him. “One, calls need last no longer than fifteen or so minutes. We discussed that before. And two, you are a duke, so you will be forgiven for not having sent them flowers. Especially if you begin to pay special attention to any of them.” She gazed at him, trying to keep from looking at his sensual lips. “Have you decided if you will single any of them out?” she asked lightly.

His eyes seemed to fall to her mouth, causing goosebumps to spring up along her arms.

“Do I have to single any of them out?” he asked huskily.

She swallowed, trying to maintain her composure. “If you want to find a bride, you should. Of course, I am still learning about some of the new girls making their come-outs and may have more suggestions for you. And I have a few thoughts about others who are more mature and might appeal to you.”

“You appeal to me.”

Adalyn felt her cheeks immediately heat and glanced away, no quick retort coming to mind.

Ev took her chin and lifted it until their eyes locked. They stared wordlessly at one another. Her heart beat so fast and hard that she was afraid it might burst from her chest.

Then he lowered his mouth to hers.

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