Page 17 of The Trouble With Her Duke
They all laughed and agreed.
“What about this afternoon? I should have my business concluded. It’ll be good to sit down and catch up.”
“I’m up for that,” Damon said.
“Me too,” Gavin agreed.
“Well, ladies, if the men plan to fish, suppose we go shopping? I still have a few items on my list,” his mother suggested. “I would like to find a couple of items for the baby.”
“Don’t spoil Simon, Mother,” Gavin said dryly.
“Pish! It’s a grandma’s privilege to spoil the second time around! We couldn’t with our children, of course. But now . . .” She grinned and rubbed her hands together. “Besides, he’s still too small. But I cannot wait.”
Everyone laughed. “Well, if what Mother did for Mandy and Michael is any indication, Simon will need a large nursery,” Damon said, giving an appreciative look to his mother.
He was grateful for the change of subject. Fishing was a pleasant diversion. Damon didn’t mind discussing the incident with Mrs. Tartan—or any of the shenanigans the twins had pulled with the governesses—but he grew uncomfortable when his mother insisted on getting more personal. Thank goodness for Gavin. His mother was working her way into her usual queue—where she would suggest a party and the introduction of some young debutantes. Damon was not interested in marriage . . . and didn’t plan to allow his mother to interfere in his life.
As for Lady Withers, he had already ended that but felt no need to share the tidbit. For the last four years, his casual relationships and his need to marry were a constant refrain from his mother. The children need a mother figure in their lives. And really, son, she has a reputation. You must pay attention to these things. His mother’s only concern was filling up the nursery. But doing that had cost him a wife. Damon didn’t plan to go through that again. Besides, he had an heir.
“I should check on the children and make sure Mrs. Nimble has no concerns,” he said, at last. Standing, he walked over to his sister and hugged her. “Make sure I’m not lampooned too badly after I leave,” he said, smiling and touching her chin affectionately.
“What? Us? We all know better than to poke fun at a duke—particularly when said duke is related.” Gavin laughed.
Damon laughed. “Be kind, little brother.”
Walking to the kitchen, he heard familiar laughter. It warmed his heart to hear it. As much as he sometimes found himself irritated with the children, he enjoyed their company immensely.
“Now, children, what is this I hear about you running off another governess?”
He slowed to be certain whom the voice belonged to.
“We didn’t mean to upset her that much,” Michael said.
“Yes, we did,” Mandy retorted. Damon smiled. He knew that was the truth.
“Children, that isn’t the right way to handle anything. Playing a trick on someone is one thing—when it’s meant for fun—but when it’s mean-spirited, that’s wrong.”
It was Mrs. Nimble. He listened.
“Why would you continue to do such a thing?”
“They aren’t nice to us,” Michael piped up.
“All of them? I have a hard time believing that.”
“They aren’t our mother! We don’t have to listen to them,” Mandy said.
“Your father will run out of places to find a governess if you continue to act this way,” Mrs. Nimble said quietly.
Damon leaned in to hear.
“Well, I don’t care that horrid Mrs. Tartan is gone. Maybe he will look for a mother for us instead of a stupid governess. We’ve never had a mother. Even Father has a mother.” It was Michael’s voice.
Damon’s heart seized. Perhaps Mother was right, although I’ll never admit to it. Were his children acting out to force him to marry?
Chapter 6
Lydia had her valise packed and a small trunk already loaded on the dowager’s smaller carriage. She stopped by the parlor, where the Golden Duchesses had gathered for whist and to say goodbye. “I’m off, Your Graces.”
