Page 4 of Empowered By the Earl (Second Sons of London 3)

Chapter Two

Owen arrived atCliffside in his carriage. In the past, he would have ridden over on horseback but he was fresh from his bath and wanted to make a good impression on Ev’s bride.

Exiting the vehicle, he walked to the front door, a bouquet in his hand. Every woman he knew enjoyed receiving flowers. He hoped his gift would put him in Addie’s good graces.

Before he could knock at the door, it opened. A smiling Arthur stood there beaming at him.

“Good afternoon, Arthur,” he said pleasantly. “It has been a good while since I have seen you.”

“Come in, my lord,” the butler said. “It seems right having you back, along with His Grace. You boys were always together.”

“Causing trouble?” he joked.

Arthur grinned. “Perhaps just a bit, my lord. But what boy hasn’t in his youth?”

“How is Mrs. Arthur?”

“She is well and still Cliffside’s housekeeper. Hopefully, she and I will continue in service for several more years. Let me escort you upstairs to the drawing room.”

In the past, that never would have happened. Whenever Owen showed up on Cliffside’s doorstep, he had been admitted and then told where Ev was. He had headed there on his own. Of course, Ev was now a duke and Owen an earl. He supposed not only for Polite Society’s sake—but the servants’—that certain conventions must be observed.

“Wait here one moment, my lord,” Arthur said before he stepped into the drawing room for several seconds.

Owen heard his name being announced. Or rather the Earl of Danbury’s. It still struck him as odd that only a handful of people, close friends, would ever call him Owen again. For the majority, he would be Danbury or my lord.

He sailed through, his eyes immediately drawn to the woman who rose, Ev by her side. The new Duchess of Camden was a striking woman, with honey-blond hair and eyes the blue of a summer’s sky. She was slightly on the thin side, with an average bosom and nice height.

As he moved toward her, though, her eyes lit with excitement. No, mischief. He could see why his friend had been taken with her.

Claiming her hand, he raised it to his lips and kissed it. “I am Danbury, Your Grace.”

“Oh, we’ll have none of that,” she proclaimed. “You are to call me Adalyn and I shall call you Owen. It is only right to do so, seeing as how Ev looks upon you as a brother.”

He kept her hand in his and asked, “Not Addie?”

A low growl came from Ev’s throat and he said, “Give my duchess her hand back.”

Owen released it, chuckling.

“As for informality, I am all for it,” Ev proclaimed. “But she ismyAddie—not yours. Not anyone’s but mine.” His hand slipped possessively about his wife’s waist.

“Don’t be such a grouch,” Adalyn gently chided.

“Well, you are my Addie,” Ev said.

And he kissed her.

Shock rippled through Owen. While Ev had been no stranger as far as the fairer sex went, Owen had never seen him display any kind of public affection in regard to a woman. The kiss wasn’t a light peck, either, but one that lingered for a moment. He worried now that the new duchess had somehow bewitched his friend. The old Ev would never have behaved so outrageously.

It was Adalyn who broke the kiss. Placing a hand lightly on her husband’s chest, she said, “We have a guest, Ev. We will finish this later.”

Turning to Owen, she said, “Won’t you please have a seat?”

Before he took the chair she indicated, he handed her the bouquet, saying, “These are for you. I hope you enjoy flowers.”

Adalyn accepted them, inhaling deeply. “Oh, they are lovely, Owen. Sweat peas are one of my favorite blooms.”

He sat as a maid rolled in a teacart. Adalyn gave the bouquet to the servant, asking that she find a vase for it and set it next to her bedside. For a few minutes, they were busy placing items on their plates as Adalyn poured out for them.

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