A Suitable Bride Read Free Page B

possibly think of her as a suitable bride.
    *
    Bennett scrutinised the list of candidates trying to summon up enthusiasm for this project. Restoring the family fortunes was down to him, Beau had more than enough to do running the many estates and being head of the Silchester clan. The twins at two and twenty were far too young to contemplate matrimony; indeed, they appeared to have little interest in anything apart from cards and horses.
    He had no choice in the matter. He must do his duty in the same way he’d served King and Country these past ten years. Although he had a profitable estate no more than twenty miles away he preferred to live here with his siblings. He’d spent so much time apart from them when soldiering on the Continent that he scarcely knew his sisters or his younger brothers. He’d always been close to Beau and thought the world of him. He didn’t envy him one bit being the eldest and having to shoulder the responsibility of the dukedom.
    ‘Seen anyone on your list that you think might be a possible candidate?’ His older brother had wandered into the study to find him and was reading over his shoulder.
    ‘None of the names mean anything to me. I’ve been so long out of society I can’t recall any of the names or titles mentioned here. Why don’t you ask everyone on this list? God knows there’s more than enough room in this vast building to house a hundred extra people and their staff.’
    ‘I recognise most of the names, but there are one or two unknown to me. Peabody? That rings a bell – isn’t he a distant relative of some sort?’ He pointed to the name . Lord and Lady Peabody, Miss Peabody and Miss DuPont . I suppose this other girl’s a niece of some sort – I can’t say I’ve ever heard the name DuPont mentioned anywhere. One must assume the girl’s acceptable if she’s being sponsored by Peabody.’
    ‘I see there are almost as many gentlemen coming as there are young ladies. Is Madeline planning the entertainment? We can shoot, ride and play billiards but what will the ladies do during the day?’
    His brother laughed. ‘I expect they’ll need all day to get ready for the evenings – don’t forget they will all be outdoing each other to impress you.’
    Bennett tossed the paper aside. ‘Don’t forget the twins will be here too and they are equally eligible. I shall be close to slitting my throat if I’m obliged to spend four weeks talking to simpering young ladies and their doting mothers.’
    Madeline had overheard his remark as she arrived in the study. ‘We must have a garden party and invite the neighbours, also a ball and perhaps a musical evening as well.’
    He groaned and covered his face with his hands in mock despair. ‘Heaven help us!’ He recovered as he thought of a way he could make things more bearable. ‘In which case I insist that we have horse races, plus a village event to which all our tenants and workers can come, and a treasure hunt we can all be involved in.’
    His sister clapped her hands. ‘What fun! I’ll leave you to organise your suggestions and Giselle and I will take care of the rest. There’s ample time to send out invitations and get everything prepared before our guests arrive.’ She counted on her fingers. ‘It’s exactly nine weeks to the house party. The lake will have warmed up splendidly by then, the rose garden will be in full bloom…’
    ‘Are you intending we should swim, Madeline?’ Beau asked.
    ‘I expect that some of the gentlemen might wish to do so, but it wouldn’t be acceptable for the ladies to join them in this pastime. No, I was thinking of having a variety of water-related events – we could have rowing, sailing, fishing and even a picnic.’
    ‘What about cricket matches? That’s something ladies and gentlemen can do together.’ Bennett was now becoming enthusiastic. It had been many years since he’d been able to enjoy such frivolity, and if there was so much of interest going on the search for