Page 25 of Stolen By the Duke of Ice
“Your Grace, it is a pleasure to meet you. Allow me to congratulate you on your betrothal to our niece!” Susan Adison curtsied.
“Thank you. And a very happy birthday to you, My Lady.” Peter bowed.
As more introductions and congratulations followed, Peter was starting to realize that, indeed, most of them were related in some way or form to Dahlia. An aunt, a cousin, a grandparent.
Are the guests all family members?
He turned to her, brows raised in question.
“Are there other guests?”
“You think the number of attendees is too small for a dinner party?” Dahlia raised her eyebrows as well. “There are at least fifty that I can see right now. Perhaps the others are in the other rooms.”
“What I meant was, are all the guests your relatives? Or are some of them friends? For, so far, I have been introduced only to relatives.”
Dahlia pointed at the lady currently talking to her mother.
“The Vicountess Burleton is my godmother, not a blood relation, but she is very much like family.”
“Any other?”
“My cousin’s godfather and his wife are here as well; I think that is it.”
“Do you mean to tell me that aside from those three,allof these people—all sixty or seventy of them—areallmembers of your family?”
The incredulous look on Peter’s face nearly made Dahlia laugh.
“Yes, this is mostly my family,” she looked straight at Peter, “on my father’s side.”
Peter could only blink at the information.
“How many members are there in your family, Your Grace?”
“In my immediate family, there are only three of us.”
“Like mine.”
“Yes, but mine is composed of just us siblings now.”
“Oh. My apologies, Your Grace, I had not meant to stir sad memories.”
“My mothers’ passing has been many years past now; my father’s was not so long after hers.”
Seven years.
He cleared his throat and focused on his hands.
“Now there is just Mary, Claire, and me.”
“Sisters, how lovely.”
Peter barely prevented the frown that marred his forehead when his thoughts went to his sisters lately.
“They are twins.”
“Oh! That must be wonderful.”
Before Peter could react, a group of elderly matrons descended upon them.
