Page 46 of Blame It on the Earl (The Duke's Estates 3)

“No.”

She frowned. “If he inquires again, you could advise him to ask Sarah what she would like.”

“Ask her?”

“Yes. Who else would know?”

“Indeed.”

A sly smile crossed Cecelia’s lovely features. “It should give him something to think about as well.”

“I suppose it would.” He examined her. “Perhaps you could write out a list of questions for him to use. About what wives want.”

Cecelia laughed, taking it as a joke. “I’m afraid he will have to discover his own.”

“But a sort of…map.”

“Every marriage is different, James.”

“Is it? Yes, of course it is.” Feeling an uncharacteristic tremor of doubt, the duke said, “I believe you are right. I will evade the subject.”

“That seems best.”

She didn’t mean to be patronizing. He was certain of that. But nonetheless he felt set aside as unhelpful. At a task he hadn’t wanted and had complained of. So he ought to be pleased. Once again, Cecelia had gracefully given him just what he’d requested. But was it what he—and she—really wanted?

Her maid entered at this point, as it was time to dress for dinner, and the conversation had to be abandoned. Which he was glad of, the duke thought. Naturally, he was.

Eight

Kenver searched out his mother first thing the next morning, before she could depart on some errand and evade him for the day. He was received in her private parlor with surprise, and he realized that he always felt like an interruption when he came to see her without being summoned. “I want Gwen to wait on Sarah,” he said without preamble.

“Sarah has some complaint against Cranston?”

She wasn’t startled by his request, Kenver noted. He wondered if Cranston had already spoken to her. It occurred to him that Cranston was reporting all she heard in their rooms to his mother. Of course she was. “Ithink Gwen would be a more suitable attendant.”

“We did discuss this, Kenver. Gwen is not a trained lady’s maid.”

“Nonetheless.” He was determined not to lose his temper.

“And Gwen has only been with us a year.”

“So she will be well able to adjust to the way Sarah wishes to do things.” He waited, ready to counter the next argument.

“Sarah might have asked me herself if she is dissatisfied with my household arrangements,” complained his mother.

“I am asking,” said Kenver. He concentrated on not being diverted.

“So you intend to ignore my greater experience? And wiser judgments?” Her tone was cutting.

“Not at all. I am simply making one small request regarding my wife.”

“Yourwifeseems to have made you quite rude.”

Kenver just barely maintained his grip on his temper. “I don’t believe I am being rude, Mama. I am expressing a preference, which I can’t see why you would not fulfill.”

“Well, if you wish ‘your wife’ to be dressed by an inexperienced—”

“I do,” Kenver interrupted.

---