Moonlight and the Duke (Cherish and the Duke #2)

Chapter Two

“I find your aggression oddly stimulating,” Connor—the dolt—said as he lay winded and flat on his back, looking up at Eden with brooding eyes the deep blue of a May sky. But this was what he and his friends, Bromleigh and Camborne, were—magnificent specimens of manhood, real men with fully formed musculature and faces of character. They were called Silver Dukes because they were above the age of forty and had hints of gray in their hair. Eden rather liked the way those flecks, more white than gray, salted Connor’s full head of dark hair.

Eden knelt beside him, appalled by what she had just done, and also confused by what he had just said. “I stimulate you?”

He coughed. “No, that came out wrong again.”

She sighed and told him to lie still another moment to catch his breath before attempting to get up. “You toppled rather hard. I’m so sorry. I behaved as badly as my parents. Thank goodness your children were not here to see my outburst. Truly, I cannot apologize enough.”

He took another breath, and then accepted her offered hand as he groaned to a sitting position. “No, this was all my fault. I was in the wrong for speaking out of turn to you, Eden. I never meant it as an insult. I just saw how much my children adore you and selfishly leaped at the possibility you might help me out.”

In truth, she liked his children very much and would not have minded taking them for a day or two. But an entire week seemed too much for her to manage.

“I’ll figure out something else,” he said, absently caressing her hand that he still held. His own was roughened and warm because of his physicality. He was no soft lord with slender fingers who never lifted anything heavier than a quill pen. His hands were big and felt divine. The same could be said for his muscled shoulders.

She tried not to look disappointed when he released her.

“This house party is doomed to be a disaster anyway,” he continued. “What was my mother thinking to invite these ton diamonds? Some of them are barely eighteen years old. How would it ever work when I am over forty? How can I look seriously upon a young lady who is more than twenty years my junior? What could I possibly have in common with her?”

Eden helped him to his feet, feeling surprisingly small beside his large frame as they stood side by side. She was not a short woman, yet he was a full head taller than her. “Since we seem to be speaking rather bluntly to each other, why would you not want someone young and fresh in your bed?” she asked.

He righted his chair, and then turned to her and shook his head. “That is precisely the point. That young and fresh diamond is not going to want to share my bed. Oh, she might do her duty without grimacing too obviously, but I already have my children. Do I really need more? Connor and Alex are the heir and the spare, ensuring the Lynton line of succession. And I also have Priscilla, my little sweetheart. I do not need another marriage such as I had with Mary. In truth, I do not need another marriage at all.”

Eden regarded him thoughtfully. “But you seemed to be a happy family.”

He snorted. “Mary and I were cordial to each other, but that was all. She was kind to the children—I will give her that. But would she ever risk her own life to protect them? I’m not sure. I never saw a spark of courage in her. Nor much in the way of maternal instinct. But who knows? Through all our years of marriage, I never got to know her. And before you say anything, it wasn’t from lack of my trying.”

“I was not going to suggest it.” She waited for him to continue because he seemed eager to get his feelings out, and she did not mind listening.

“She never expressed an opinion. She never felt passionate about anything, not even the children. Nannies took care of them mostly. I was the one who took them on nature walks, who read to them before they went to sleep, and who sat by their side if ever they were ill.”

“And Mary?”

He shrugged. “I have no idea how she spent most of her day. We rarely entertained, which suited me well, since I was usually tired after long days at the Lynton farms, especially if there was physical work to be done. We had maids, a cook, a housekeeper, butlers and footmen, nannies and governesses to take care of the house and children. Mary… She was a leaf detached from a tree and floating upon a stream, just going along with the current. When she died…” He raked a hand through those lovely waves of dark hair. “Well, this is getting too personal. I’ve said too much already.”

“You know that I will keep whatever you say in confidence. The children felt her loss,” Eden said, wondering what his response had been to his wife’s passing. Had he shed a tear? He wasn’t a bad man, but she did not think he missed her very much, because he had never achieved a closeness with his wife that he might have done in a love match.

Not that she wished him to be unhappy and desperately mourn his loss. But was it not better to experience perfect happiness for a short while rather than never have it at all?

Was this not the very thing she was struggling with now?

She was beginning to think she had made a mistake in rejecting all those offers of marriage during her first few Seasons. Some of the gentlemen were honorable enough, and they might have made a go of it.

But she had been too scared to try because her parents had such a horrible marriage. She did not want to repeat their mistakes.

For this reason, she had shunned entering into that same sort of unholy alliance and suffering their sad fate. Considered a diamond in her day, she had turned down plenty of offers. Most of her suitors were more in love with her dowry than with her.

But was it not possible that a few actually liked her, too?

Well, it did not matter very much, since none of the gentlemen courting her had ever left her breathless or made her heart flutter. None of them would have been a love match.

But so what? Where had all her caution gotten her?

She was now the ripe old age of seven and twenty, and firmly on the shelf. Not that she was miserable about it. She had made a good life for herself here in the town of Lynton. Connor was a good neighbor. He and his mother, Duchess Evelyn, were always welcoming whenever she stopped by. Even his children tended to be on their best behavior whenever she came around to visit, although their best wasn’t always very good. She never minded their antics and enjoyed spending time with them.

She owned her own home, Chestnut Hill, that she had inherited from her grandmother, along with a sizeable trust fund that came under her full control two years ago. Indeed, that inheritance had left her quite wealthy in her own right. For this reason, there were always men willing to step forward in the hope of seducing her into marrying them.

She was too cynical to fall for their obvious ploys.

“Uh oh. I hear the thundering horde,” Connor jested.

Their conversation ended when the children came bounding in. The discussion now shifted to queries about supper, because these growing sprites were starving.

Eden noticed how Lynton’s face lit up when his children swarmed around him.

Yes, this was what she was missing—children of her own. But would she be a good mother? Or was she doomed to become the banshee that her own mother was? Her father was little better, always provoking his wife because the two were like oil and water. Mother was always in a crisis over the smallest problem, and Father was a walking testament to every bad habit invented to date.

How had they ever been a match?

This was why she enjoyed Chestnut Hill so much. Her parents spent most of their time in London while she resided here, well out of their reach. This was her home, her sanctuary, and they rarely bothered to come here because it was so out of the way.

Not that she ever minded their visits. Separately, they were tolerable. Together, they were a disaster.

One would think they might have learned to stay apart by now. But they seemed to love confronting each other, and each got wicked enjoyment out of ruining the other’s day. Eden was tired of their shouting matches and their hurling vases, cushions, and any other objects close at hand at each other. Mostly her mother tossed them at her father, and he usually ducked in time to avoid getting hit.

Neither parent ever cared whether she was present and watching their theatrics. Quite often, they forgot she existed.

Lynton broke away from his children and took her gently by the elbow, his touch shaking her out of her thoughts. “The Mongol horde is too hungry to await my mother’s return.”

Eden regarded him with some surprise. “But will she not be put out? It would be rude of us to proceed without her. What if we merely sat with the children while they ate?”

“And then dined with my mother? I have no idea when she’ll be back.”

At that moment, Brewster strode in. “Your Grace…”

“Yes, Brewster. What is it?”

“Your mother just sent word that she will be dining in town this evening.”

Connor frowned. “Did she provide any explanation?”

Brewster nodded. “Apparently, Sir Nero Arnulfson is giving a lecture at the Lynton Literary Society, and Duchess Evelyn has decided to host an informal supper at the Lynton Hotel for the members afterward.”

“Oh, the society meeting,” Eden muttered, feeling a bit guilty that she had declined the invitation. Sir Nero was a pompous bag of wind, and a lecherous old man to boot. He had twice pinched her bottom, and she was not about to give him the opportunity to do it again.

“Then it is just us and the children,” Connor said with a surprisingly affectionate smile.

They dined on the terrace overlooking the magnificent Lynton gardens and an expansive view of the ocean. The terrace was in shade at this hour, providing a perfect way to enjoy a meal on a hot day like this one. A gentle breeze blew off the water and carried the scent of salt, sand, and waves toward them. As the wind swirled and shifted, it also carried the fragrant scent of garden roses that were presently at their magnificent peak.

Priscilla sat beside her, looking up at her with such happiness on her adorably round face that Eden’s heart gave a lurch.

Would it be so terrible to have these children with her for the week?

Their chatter was constant and lively. The children told their father about their day. To his credit, Connor listened attentively and made suggestions for activities they might undertake once the onerous week of his house party was over. “But that is a whole week away,” Priscilla grumbled. “What are we to do while you are busy finding us our new mama?”

Connor paused as he was about to take a sip of his wine. “I am not finding you a new mama,” he muttered between clenched teeth. “Who said I was?”

“Grandmama Evelyn said you were going to meet her this week,” Alex said.

“Well, your grandmother is wrong,” he replied. “I am quite content with you three and do not need anyone else.”

“Other than Eden,” Priscilla said, taking her hand with her sticky fingers in a sweet gesture meant to ease any insult in leaving her out of this happy family grouping. “We need Eden, don’t we?”

Connor smiled and raised his glass to her. “Yes, Eden is included.”

“I am honored,” Eden said with a soft laugh, raising her glass of cider in turn.

The children cheered.

Eden was appalled to find herself tearing up. She quickly turned away and masked this unexpected bout of sentimentality by pretending to sneeze. “Oh, do excuse me.”

Connor stared at her. “Are you all right?”

She nodded. “Just something in the air. It tickled my throat.”

“If you say so.” Connor did not take his eyes off her for the remainder of the meal.

The children continued to chatter, and only fell silent upon Connor’s discussion of what tomorrow would bring. “I’m sure we’ll have time for a morning hike and perhaps a walk down to the beach right after luncheon,” he told them. “Guests will start arriving by early afternoon, so I may not be able to take you to the beach. I cannot promise that.”

“Then who will take us?” Priscilla asked. “Eden, would you?”

“I…” Eden stared in dismay at Connor, then sighed and nodded. “I would love to take you. How about we make it a picnic on the beach? This way your father might be able to join us for the picnic, even if it is only for a little while before he must return to greet his guests.”

That brought another round of cheers.

But the two boys quickly sobered, and the eldest asked, “What about the rest of the week? I can take care of myself, but Alex and Priscilla need supervision.”

“I do not need super…super…what you said!” Alex retorted. “Priscilla is the baby.”

“I am not a baby!” Priscilla promptly burst into tears.

Eden took her onto her lap and hugged her. “Want to know a secret?”

The girl nodded, but was still wailing in that fake little cry that children sometimes evoked when they were indignant, and shouldn’t a parent notice? Eden easily spotted the fakery because she had often attempted it herself as a child when hoping to gain parental notice. But it had never worked because her parents cared more for hurting each other than loving her. “Your father is Duchess Evelyn’s baby. Did you know that? And I am the baby in my family, too.”

Priscilla looked up at her, no longer crying. “You are?”

“Yes,” Eden said, although being an only child made her the youngest, eldest, and any other label one wished to put on a child. “So you should take it as a mantle of pride to be the youngest and adored by everyone.”

“Do your parents like you best, Eden?” Priscilla asked.

No, her parents did not care one way or the other about her. She could slip off the face of the earth and they would not notice.

“Each child has their own special qualities, Priscilla,” Connor said, coming to Eden’s rescue when he noticed the perplexed expression on her face. He had been her neighbor for a long time and knew very well how little her parents thought of her.

“What’s mine?” Priscilla asked, forgetting her tears for now.

“Oh, let’s see. There are so many.” Connor frowned and put a hand to his chin as he gave the matter serious contemplation. “But what is your best? I know, it is your kissable cheeks.”

Priscilla was appeased. She scooted off Eden’s lap and clambered back into her chair, then cast everyone a smug look before sticking her tongue out at her brothers. “What is Eden’s best quality?” she asked.

“I know that one,” Alex immediately replied. “Kissable lips!”

Connor coughed. “What?”

“That’s what I heard Sir Nero tell Squire Hartley, and the squire agreed.”

Eden felt her cheeks heat. “They said that about me?” Those dirty old men.

“I think Eden’s best quality is that she is kind,” Connor hastily added. “And fun to be around.”

His eldest agreed. “You always have something interesting to say or show us whenever we go exploring with you, Eden.”

“That is because I enjoy nature. If the weather holds, we can make a daily outing of it. I’ll take you all hiking around the area while your father is off wooing the sweet young things your grandmother has invited for the week. In fact, I am making a journal of my findings, and this is something we can all do. Connor, would you be able to equip your children with binoculars, pencils, and writing pads? A picnic lunch, too.” She grinned at him. “While you are engaging in your matrimonial endeavors, your children and I shall be discovering new birds and plants, and making a scientific record of them.”

The children cheered.

Connor’s eyes were alight, and he cast her a surprisingly soft smile. “Thank you, Eden. That sounds perfect. But are you certain?”

She nodded, now feeling quite remorseful for kicking his chair out from under him earlier. Spending time with his children was a nice idea. “Yes, I am looking forward to it.”

“Then the motion passes,” he said, casting her another soft smile. “All in favor, say ‘aye.’”

“Aye!” his three children exclaimed with enthusiasm.

“Motion has passed.” He turned to her, his expression noticeably wistful. “In truth, I wish I could ignore all my guests and join you for the entire day.”

*

Later that evening, once they had put the children to bed, she and Connor returned downstairs. He ordered her rig brought around. “I’ll drive you home and then walk back here. It’s a nice night, and I’ll have enough of the fading light to see my way home.”

The sun never set before ten o’clock in the evening at this time of year. Eden knew there would be little danger in his walking back to Lynton Grange, since their homes were not far from each other. There were several shortcuts available either through the woodlands or down along the beach. In the wintertime, she could see the Lynton Grange chimneys and the upper part of the magnificent manor house from her bedchamber. But the trees were lush in summer and obscured her view.

Once her rig was brought around, Connor assisted her in before climbing into the driver’s seat beside her. He gave the reins a light flick to get her sprightly roan to a trot, and then waited until they were out of hearing distance of his staff before he turned to her. “Eden, did you mean it about taking my children on daily expeditions? I feel as though I have coerced you.”

“No, it is my pleasure,” she said with a firm shake of her head. “I wouldn’t have offered otherwise. Truly, I am looking forward to spending time with them. I think it will be fun for all of us, and it will keep them out of your hair for much of each day. Assign a maid or two to assist them in getting ready in the morning and preparing them for bed in the evenings.”

He nodded. “That is easily arranged.”

“Being outdoors all day ought to wear them out. More important, it will keep them out of mischief. I shudder to think what dirty tricks they might play on your guests if they are stuck at home, bored and restless.”

Connor threw his head back and laughed. “Well, that is one way to scare away the peahens and their matchmaking mothers. Honestly, the week you have planned for the children sounds wonderful. I’ll join you as often as I can. It seems much more fun than what is in store for me.”

“Ah, poor Connor. All those beautiful women tossing themselves at you,” she said with mock sympathy. “How will you ever endure it?”

“Do not tease me, Eden. Being accosted at every turn is not fun at all. I am nothing more than a target for their own selfish advancement. Everyone lies to me in the hope of gaining my favor. If I crack a stupid joke, they will all declare it is hilarious and I am a wit for the ages. I could spout the most inane drivel imaginable and still be proclaimed brilliant. The only reason women toss themselves at me is because I am a duke. It is the title they love… That is all I am to them. That is all I ever was to Mary, too. The best that can be said is that she did her duty and gave me sons.”

She regarded him thoughtfully, surprised that his late wife had not been more devoted to him, because he truly was a good man who valued his family life.

Not to mention he was handsome as sin. But it was his strength of character that made him worthy husband material.

That and courage. He had been away from home for long stretches at a time while fighting Napoleon on the Continent. Even while he was in England, his duties often kept him in London for sessions of Parliament. For years this had been his routine. War. Parliament. Home.

Mary and his children would only have him for a month or two before the cycle started again and he returned to the Continent.

“Ah, I am doing it again,” he said, sounding apologetic. “I don’t know why I find it so easy to talk to you.” He turned to study her again as her horse trotted along the familiar path between their homes, requiring little prompting. “Perhaps it is because you actually listen and care. You would be amazed how few people ever do.”

“In many ways, we are in a similar position. It is easy to understand and sympathize.” The fact that he was handsome, wealthy, and titled added to his allure, but Eden could not see herself marrying someone for those qualities alone. She was an heiress and did not need to secure a man with deep pockets for her survival.

Her problem was similar because of her own wealth. How could she be sure a man would love her for herself? It was easier to assume they all wanted her dowry and simply trust none of them.

When she turned silent, Connor continued. “Will any of these peahens be any different from Mary? They’ll pretend to like me in the hope of gaining an offer from me. The smarter, more calculating ones will also pretend to like my children because they’ll understand that no one will get that marriage proposal out of me unless my children approve of them too. Connor, Alex, and Priscilla come as part of the package. I will not compromise on that.”

“Nor should you. They are wonderful children.”

“Even if they are scheming devils?” He laughed affectionately, but his mirth did not last very long, and he sobered. “How soon after the wedding will the fakery cease? Care to place bets on when my new wife will demand that my children be sent off to boarding school?”

Eden’s heart lurched at the mere thought of poor Priscilla being sent away. No, the sweet child so desperately needed to remain at home and be surrounded with love. Eden’s parents had sent her off to boarding school when she was quite young, and she still felt anguished just thinking about it.

Perhaps it would have been different if her parents loved her and had come to visit her, or welcomed her home with gushing displays of joy and love. But no, it had never happened. She was the product of benign neglect.

“I understand how one can feel so cynical about finding the right match,” she said in commiseration. “I was an awkward girl of nineteen when I made my London debut, all skinny arms and legs at the time. But you would think I was as renowned a beauty as Helen of Troy by the way these bachelors flocked to me.”

He frowned. “But Eden, you are beautiful.”

“Maybe, back then. I had a line of gentlemen callers outside our townhouse on the days we were at home to visitors. Of course, my parents took turns chaperoning me because they could not stand to be in the same room together. They could not look at each other without breaking into a fight. But they called a truce and set up an attendance schedule in the hope that prospective suitors would not be scared off by the tavern brawl that was their marriage.”

“I know you had many offers. Was there no one who caught your fancy?”

She shrugged. “Some were decent men, I’m sure. But back then, I did not know whom to trust. So I trusted no one.”

He glanced at her as the rig continued along the familiar path between their homes. “Do you now regret refusing all offers?”

She nodded. “I am twenty-seven years old and my parents are still fighting. Is this how I am to face my old age? Once they are gone, as imperfect as they are, I’ll be all alone and have nothing to show for my time on earth other than chairing a few ladies’ societies and occasionally giving alms to those in need.” She paused and let out a wistful sigh. “I think I may have made a wrong choice in discouraging every suitor.”

Connor tugged on the reins to slow the horse in order to prolong their conversation. “You were young and scared… Not scared exactly, but inexperienced. And you had no one wise to counsel you. In that situation, you might have made the wrong decision in a spouse. That would have been disastrous.”

“Yes, that is true. My husband would have had the power to burn through my funds, and I would have been helpless to stop him. I know you were not content in your marriage, but you did not face this same risk. Men do not give up control of their assets. Mary might not have been the wife you wished for, but you have three beautiful children to show for your union.”

“Three heathens,” he said with a laughing groan. “I do love them. They are my pride and joy, although I dare not let on just how much I love them or they will run roughshod over me.”

“Oh, they already do. You are soft as pudding when it comes to them.” She wished her parents would have shown her some affection…just once. Even the smallest recognition of pride in her accomplishments. A smile. A pat on the head. A kiss on the cheek. “But Connor, no. You must always tell them how you feel. It is a horrible thing to wonder whether anything you do will ever make a parent love you.”

He reached for her hand. “Eden, I’m so sorry. Here I am spouting off about my children and not thinking at all about how you must be hurting.”

She liked the solid warmth of his hand wrapped around hers. “Don’t ever be sorry about talking about them. In truth, I love how good you are with them. It gives me hope that the world will not fall to pieces because some people are not the vain, indulgent, inconsiderate…” She groaned. “My parents should never have had children. But here I am, unfortunately.”

He gave her hand a light squeeze. “Not unfortunate at all. I could not ask for a nicer neighbor. My children certainly adore you.”

She nodded. “Because I am still much of a child, and they see this in me.”

Connor cast her a wicked grin. “No, Eden. You are very much an attractive woman. But I’m sorry those arses, Sir Nero and Squire Hartley, spoke that way about you. You’ve done nothing to merit such disrespect. They ought to have kept their thoughts to themselves.”

She shrugged. “It is better than not being thought of at all, I suppose. Hartley hides his leering better. Sir Nero is a nuisance, though. He is always trying to pinch my bottom.”

Connor drew up on the reins. “He does what? Are you serious? I’ll lay him low if he tries it again. Eden, just come to me and I’ll—”

“You’ll what? Protect me?” Warmth curled in her belly, for it did feel nice to know someone was looking out for her.

He muttered under his breath and cast her a remarkably determined look. “Yes, I will protect you. Is this not part of my duties as Duke of Lynton? There is a reason the town of Lynton is named after my family. All who live here are under my protection, most of all you.”

“Why most of all me?”

He took her hand again. “Because if I do not look after you, then who will?”

Her expression turned pained. “Well, I have looked after myself for most of my life. I think I can manage.”

“A moment ago, you were expressing your regret about not having married.” He turned in his seat to fully face her. “Eden, why don’t you stay with us for the week? I know my mother has invited you to all the entertainments she has planned.”

“I politely declined.”

“And yet you are now willing to care for my children? You were right to kick the chair out from under me. I had no right to ask such a thing of you. However, if you are serious about finding a husband, why not join us for the entire week? Do not worry about occupying the children. I’ll put a rotation of maids and footmen to guard them, if I must. The little scamps will survive the week, and who cares if they get up to mischief?”

“I couldn’t disappoint them, not now that we have started making plans for each day.”

“They are resilient. Aren’t all children? It is more important that you look out for yourself. I will not be the only eligible gentleman present. Join us, why don’t you? I’ll let you know which ones are bounders and which ones to trust.”

She would have agreed without hesitation if not for the fact he would be searching for a wife as well. She did not think she could endure watching as the fresh young things flocked around him.

Was it wrong of her to be glad he was a Silver Duke and determined never to marry? No wife of his would ever allow their friendship and easy rapport to continue. Then who would she have to confide in? The wife would probably bar her from seeing the children, too.

Eden silently chided herself for being too softhearted. If she were more calculating, she would sabotage Duchess Evelyn’s plans to see Connor married.

But she could never do such a heinous thing. She wanted him to find true love and be happy.

As for herself, did he really think anyone other than fortune hunters were going to flock around an aging spinster? No, she had lost her opportunity for love and marriage. “Connor, do not worry about me. I’ll take your children, although I cannot promise it will be every day, since I am not going to take them out in the pouring rain. Nor am I going to stay over at Lynton Grange when my own home is only twenty minutes away.”

“Eden, why are you being so stubborn about this?”

Because she was old and on the shelf. Did he not see what she was?

“There is only one thing that will change my opinion,” she declared. “Well, probably two things.”

He arched an eyebrow. “And what might those be?”

“First, my house burning down. But as you can see, Chestnut Hill is still standing proudly.” She pointed into the distance and the rooftop of her stately home that was now in view.

He smiled. “And what is the second thing?”

“Both of my parents arriving here to plague me with their idiotic tantrums. But they are in London, as far as I know. I hope they stay there and leave me in peace while they continue on their quest to make each other miserable.”

But as they turned up the drive to her charming manor house—this home where she found comfort and solace—she noticed two carriages in the courtyard. “Oh, no,” she said in a broken whisper, and clutched Connor’s arm. “How could they? No, it cannot be.”

The front door was open.

She and Connor would have had to be deaf as posts not to hear her parents screaming at each other. Obviously, they had chosen to get out of London at the same time. Well, it was not a surprise, because the unpleasant odors and overbearing heat in that city chased everyone away. And now they were here and already fighting over who was to remain with her.

Her stomach tightened painfully. She did not want either parent staying with her. To have both was completely intolerable.

She heard the sound of glass shattering, soon followed by her father’s bellowing.

Connor covered her hand with his. “Eden…”

More glass shattered.

“Dear heaven,” he muttered. “Care to reconsider my offer?”

Eden swallowed hard, trying not to cry. “Will you wait for me while I pack a few of my gowns?”

“Yes,” he said with aching tenderness before hopping down and then coming around to assist her off the rig.

His gaze on her was intense and fiery as he kept hold of her for a moment longer than necessary. “I’ll always be here for you, Eden. Whatever you need. Whatever I can do for you.”

She cast him a wan smile.

Did she dare believe his words?