Dukes By the Dozen

“The point is, you deserve more in life. You deserve all the happiness in the world. And a husband who loves you. You deserve children. I’ve seen you with the boys. You are magnificent.”

Meg focused on a pleat in her bombazine skirt. “I would love to have children…someday.”

“Of course you would. And this party is a wonderful opportunity to scan the opportunities, as it were.”

Yes. It would be. “Thanks to you.” She gave her friend another hug, then pulled back. “Do you know any of the men who are coming?”

Susana’s brow furrowed. “I peeked at the guest list. Jonathan invited Richard Manning and Aiden St. Clare. They’re both very respectable.”

Respectable? Not what she’d been thinking. She’d been thinking tall, dark, and just a trifle grumpy with a dazzling array of dimples when he smiled…

“I’ve met Manning at the opera more than once,” Susana continued, unaware of Meg’s momentary mooning over an unreachable duke. “Do you like the opera?”

“I’ve only been once,” Meg said. “It seemed…tedious. But I was young.”

“Oh, it is tedious, but it’s fun to watch the crowd during the boring parts. If you and Manning go, Christian and I will go with you.”

“That would be fun.”

“Just think of it. If we both lived in London, we’d be in each other’s pockets again, just like when we were children.”

“Oh, how I’d like that.” She’d sorely missed Susana—any female friendship. Well, female friendship her own age. She and the dowager rarely had similar tastes.

“Me too. So here is the plan. This week, we will assess the possibilities and then go in for the kill. Yes?”

How could she say no? “Of course, yes!”

“Excellent!”

AFTER SHE LEFT Susana’s spacious quarters, Meg headed up to the nursery to tuck the girls in. Not because she had to—Susana’s governess was excellent—but because she wanted to. She loved Lizzie and Vicca and had missed their antics because she’d been so busy for the past few days.

They were in bed, but far from asleep, and they both leaped up with a hurrah!

as she pushed into the room. She gave them each a hug and a kiss and asked what they’d been up to. What followed was a raucous recounting of their adventures with William and Christopher, Susana’s twins. As they shared the details, it occurred to Meg that she might want to have a chat with Susana’s governess. Surely she wasn’t aware of all of this. She certainly couldn’t have known that the four hooligans had built a fortress in the library. With books. Or that they’d figured out a way to snitch cakes and pies from cook’s pantry without being seen. Or the bit about the fire in the greenhouse.

Honestly, the girls were becoming a bit too fascinated with fire for her liking. Perhaps Jonathan should be informed as well…

And then, as though she’d conjured him with her thoughts, he was there in the doorway.

“Papa!” Lizzie cried. “Come help Meg tuck us in.”

He did. She watched, breathless, as he loped across the darkened room, as perfect in form as a man could be. She tried to still her thudding heart and reminded herself to breathe. Oh, and force a casual smile.

“I thought you were already tucked in,” he said in a deep raspy voice, lit with humor.

Vicca made a face. “Not by you.”

“It’s better if it’s you and Meg.”

“Miss Ainsley doesn’t do it right.”

“Doesn’t she?” The powerful duke went down on his knees between their beds and kissed them both, one after the other.

“Exactly right,” Vicca said somberly.

“Young girls need to be tucked in properly,” her twin added.

“Good to know. Now, both of you, under the covers. Close your eyes. Time to sleep.”

“We’re too excited to sleep,” Lizzie said.

Vicca nodded. “The party starts tomorrow!”

“That it does. So you both need your sleep. And…” He fixed them both with a dark scowl, which made them giggle. “I expect you both to be on your best behavior. All the mavens of society will be there.”

“I thought Grandmamma was the maven of society.”

Lizzie nodded. “That’s what she told us.”

Jonathan chuckled. “She is. But all her maven friends will be there. And you need to understand that your behavior reflects on the entire Pembroke family. That is a great weight to bear.”

The girls sobered and nodded, apparently listening to their father…for once.

“It’s possible that I might even find you a new mama.”

Oooh. Perhaps he shouldn’t have said that, on account of the fact they were listening and all. They both made faces.

“What if we don’t want a new mama?” Vicca asked.

“Of course you do.”

Lizzie shrugged. “I like Meg. Why don’t you just marry Meg?”

A mortifying silence settled. Meg and Jonathan exchanged chagrined glances. Before Jonathan could answer, Meg forced a laugh. “Nonsense. Your papa needs a young wife.” She ignored his sharp glance. “She has to be able to keep up with you, after all.”

Vicca pursed her lips and then nodded. “You are awfully old,” she told Meg.

It was difficult to hold back a laugh. “Thank you.”

“All right. Enough of this.” Jonathan pulled up their covers and tucked each one in with another kiss. “Go to sleep.”