Page 44 of Her Duke Next Door
“A rake! I would beg of your pardon, Duchess.”
“And arrogant,” she added with a lift of her chin. “You are also conceited. You think you can solve everything for everybody.”
“So am I not helpful? Caring? Protective?”
“You are… Insistent about your help being received.”
“Ah.” He shook his head, unable to escape the huff of laughter. “Well, at least I assure you that I amnotdangerous.”
“Will you tell me why people of the Ton think that you are?”
“Soon,” he promised. “I shall tell you it soon. I am not yet ready.”
He was about to ask her if she would divulge the story of her late husband when there was a knock at the door and the two of them turned away from the library window, where they had been watching Lady Angleton.
A butler strode in to announce their guest. “The Marquess of Angleton, Your Graces.”
“More family?” Dominique whispered to Mary, moments before she stood up and a greying-haired Marquess entered the room, his brow furrowed.
“Papa!” Mary cried, immediately going to embrace her father. “Papa, this is His Grace, the Duke of Livingston. Your Grace, this is my father, the Marquess of Angleton.”
Dominique stood dutifully to shake the man’s hand. “My Lord,” he said, nodding.
“Your Grace,” he greeted back. “We were quite shocked to hear the news of Mary remarrying without telling us.” He turned sharply back to Mary. “Where is your mother? She has barely joined me for any meal in the last day or so!”
“Ah, she is rather insistent that she must watch over me, Papa. Youmusttake her back with you!” Mary stood aside from the window to indicate where her mother was gesturing wildly at one of the gardeners. Her voice could be heard through the glass, where she was barking orders as though she owned the house.
Dominique watched as the Marquess watched his wife, a small smile on his face. He turned away, averting his attention.
“Ah, I do miss her,” the Marquess said. “But seeing you brings her joy. I just thought I would follow her and see what mischief she was getting into.”
“A lot, as you can see,” Mary laughed, gesturing to her mother outside.
“Well, Your Grace, I believe you shall be joining us for my grandson’s birthday party. It shall be joyous to have to meet the whole family. Alexander and his son are both quite looking forward to meeting you! As is my own son, of course.”
“And I look forward to meeting them,” Dominique said. “In fact, I was thinking of asking Her Grace if she would host her son’s birthday at Livingston Castle. The Duchess and I were thinking of returning there soon, and I would like to offer the castle to host the party.”
The mere thought of everybody packed into his castle made him feel agitated, as well as Katie and Eloise being present, adding more noise, but he maintained his smile and reminded himself that he had offered to marry Mary. Her family was part of that.
“Oh, that is very generous, Your Grace! I am sure Anne would love to!”
* * *
The following week, the party was in full swing by mid-afternoon. Eloise and Katie were trying to get Matthew to play catch with them, and the baby was stumbling back and forth between them, grumpily disapproving of their teasing.
Mary sat with Anne, watching their children play.
“So,” Anne said. “You and the Duke?”
Mary knew that she could trust her sister with her secret but she still kept it to herself for a while longer so it did not complicate anything. A cake was being brought out by passing maids, and both Alexander and Dominique reached to help steady it. They looked at each other, and Mary and Anne could not help but snigger at the dominating personalities.
“They cannot help themselves,” Mary sighed. “Always needing to help.”
“More like being the center of attention,” Anne snorted, shaking her head. Their brother, Christian, sat further away, chatting with their father. Apparently, he had sampled new tea leaves on his travels and was trying to import them to London to get them into tea shops. He was still unwed, and their father had groused enough about it.
“What does your new husband think of our dear brother?” Anne asked.
Guests milled around, nodding their heads, and greeting one another, and children ran around the Livingston Castle grounds. Mary kept catching Dominique’s eye, noting the strained expression that kept creeping up on his face.
