The Daring Exploits of a Runaway Heiress Read Free Page B

in the most unusual manner.” His gaze lingered on his wife and true affection shone in his eyes.
    None of the Effington offspring knew the exact details of Mother and Father’s courtship save that Mother’s cousin was one of Father’s oldest friends. Cam had long suspected there was more to it than that as it was obvious theirs had been a love match and just as obvious that it still was. Father cleared his throat. “Your mother is right. The efforts of your grandmother and her cronies should not be dismissed without due consideration, even if you view those efforts as meddling and manipulative.”
    Grandmother, the dowager duchess and matriarch of the Effington family, had recently passed her ninetieth birthday. Whereas before reaching that milestone she had often said how she looked forward to joining her beloved husband, Thomas, in the next life, now she was determined to cling to this life until she reached one hundred years or had seen all her grandchildren happily wed, whichever came first. Judging by the way her daughter-in-law was enthusiastically engaged in the same pursuit, one would have thought Mother was eager to see the old lady go.
    Unfortunately, as most of Cam’s cousins were older and already wed, and Grandmother resided with her only son and his wife, her matchmaking efforts focused almost exclusively on those grandchildren now seated around the table.
    It wasn’t as if they hadn’t tried. Spencer had been engaged to the lovely Eleanora Matthew, the daughter of an earl and eminently suitable to be a future duchess. But Eleanora had succumbed to measles five years ago and it had taken Spencer some time to move on with his life. Cam was fairly certain no one else in the family, except perhaps Simon, knew that Thad had been in love with the young woman as well. Both brothers’ hearts had broken when she died, although Spencer could mourn publicly and Thad’s sorrow was private. This was what love did to a man.
    In spite of the example set by his parents, Cam was glad he had never succumbed to that fickle emotion. Nor did he wish to. And no matter how many prospective brides Grandmother and her friends herded in his direction, marriage held no particular appeal. Fortunately, Grandmother concentrated most of her efforts on his older brothers and sister, but Cam was under no illusion that she did not have him in her sights as well.
    Grace had dutifully married Henry, Lord Watersfeld, a nice enough sort, who was liked and approved by the family and most importantly the dowager duchess, who was notoriously hard to please about prospective matches regardless of how much she wanted her grandchildren to wed. While Grace did appear to care for him, it also seemed to Cam that she relished being a widow far more than she had being a wife. Grace avoided most attempts to find her a new match by declaring, as it had only been three years since Henry’s death, she was still mourning, when in truth she used the freedom accorded her as a widow of independent means to pursue her own interests. Interests of an artistic nature. Something Mother knew and Father did not. Father was not overly fond of artistic endeavors.
    â€œBeing manipulative and meddling is one of the few joys left to me.” Grandmother’s voice rang from the doorway.
    â€œMother.” The duke and his sons jumped to their feet. “Fiona said you had retired.”
    â€œI had but I changed my mind. I’m allowed to do that, you know.” In spite of her age, her voice was strong and determined, but she leaned heavily on a carved, ivory-headed cane. She frequently complained that her mind was as sharp as ever but the rest of her was falling apart. “After a most refreshing nap I found I would rather be in the bosom of my family than in my bed. Besides, I was hungry and I hate eating alone in my rooms. It makes me feel even older than I am.” Her brows drew together. “Now, are you