Page 34 of Six Nights to Marry a Marquess

“I’ve acquainted myself with some rather interesting friends in the stables, Sir Henry. Might I interest you in making their acquaintance?” George, ever the spirited conversationalist, piped up as the laughter began to ebb, diverting the attention toward himself.

Oh dear!

“Why, our young gentleman appears to have taken quite the interest in horsemanship,” Sir Henry remarked, visibly impressed by George’s apparent enthusiasm.

“Horseman?” George repeated, a touch of confusion in his voice. “No, sir, I meant beetle collector. Though, alas, one cannot precisely ride beetles. They are, regrettably, too diminutive,” he clarified, his initial excitement dampened by this practical realization.

“Oh,” Sir Henry responded, his chuckle carrying a note of bemusement as he cast a glance around the table, seemingly in search of someone to translate this unexpected turn in the conversation.

Caroline was about to interject when Lady Lovell leaned closer to her husband, offering a clarification, “It appears Georgewishes to introduce you to his collection of beetles in the stables, my dear.”

“The beetles in the walls!” George’s face lit up, thrilled at being understood, his earlier dismay at the size limitations of his beetles momentarily set aside.

“I could take you to meet them this instant,” he proposed, his enthusiasm undimmed.

“I believe it’s a tad too late for an excursion to the stables tonight, Georgie,” Caroline interjected, gently curbing her son’s eagerness.

“Then I shall bring them to you at your residence,” George declared with unwavering determination. “Pray tell, where do you reside, Sir Henry?” he inquired, his curiosity unabated.

Frances and Emma, well-acquainted with George’s penchant for collecting all manner of critters, couldn’t contain their laughter at this suggestion.

Preston, observing the scene, raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the lively exchange.

Frances leaned closer to her husband, whispering an explanation into his ear, and a look of comprehension quickly dawned on Preston’s face.

“Keep your insects to yourself, Georgie. Not all of us share your... enthusiasm for them,” Harry chided his younger brother with a mixture of amusement and mild exasperation.

“You simply lack appreciation, Harry. I’ve mentioned it time and again!” George retorted, shaking his head and clicking his tongue as if mourning his brother’s lack of sophistication, which once again sent ripples of laughter through the room.

“Oh, what a delightful family you have, Your Graces,” Lady Lovell exclaimed, her laughter joining the harmonious chorus that filled the drawing room.

The Duke and Duchess, unable to hide their pride, exchanged a glance that spoke volumes of their love and appreciation for their lively household.

“And here I was, under the impression that my sisters’ disagreements were unrivaled in their intensity,” Theodore added, his previous reservations seemingly lightened by the familial banter.

“Brother!” Harriet’s admonition was soft but firm, though her tone couldn’t mask the affection underlying her rebuke.

“Why, it’s merely the truth, dear sister,” he shrugged, his response light-hearted yet sincere.

“The burdens we bear as the elder siblings,” Philip chimed in from his corner, having remained largely silent up to this point.Despite being just thirteen, he often sought to project an air of maturity well beyond his years.

“Quite,” Theodore agreed with a chuckle, finding common ground in Philip’s observation, while Agnes, despite her own inner turmoil, couldn’t help but be swept up in the evening’s joviality.

“As we enjoy port, I must say, gatherings such as this ought to become a more regular occurrence,” the Duke mused, his suggestion met with nods of agreement as Harriet’s skillful fingers coaxed melodious strains from the pianoforte, her performance a display of her elegance and musical prowess.

Preston voiced his concurrence, even proposing that they play host next time, a notion that was met with general approval. George, ever the inquisitor, questioned Frances about the inclusion of his ‘friends’, to which she responded with a heartwarming chuckle, “But of course, Georgie. Any friend of yours is indeed a friend of ours.”

“Be cautious in what liberties you allow him, Frannie. He tends to take them rather expansively,” Agnes softly warned her friend, a hint of jest in her voice as she recounted George’s latest escapades with his critter friends.

“I believe I can endure the company of a caterpillar or two at my table without much ado,” Frances responded with a light-hearted chuckle, her amusement evident.

“Unlike a certain someone we are both acquainted with,” Emma added, the tease in her voice drawing a round of laughter from the Duchess as well.

Agnes had previously regaled her friends with tales of George’s caterpillar incidents, making it a point of mirth among them.

“Would you ladies excuse us for a moment? I would be honored if my fiancée might grant me a turn about the room,” Theodore smoothly interjected, breaking into the women’s light-hearted exchange.

“Oh, the sweet whispers of young affection,” Lady Lovell remarked, her sigh embodying the romantic notions of the moment.

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