The Duke Dilemma Read Free Page A

reason to complain. The furniture and the surroundings were more than satisfactorily comfortable.
    “Every day it’s another argument, or two or ten, for repealing the Corn Laws,” the Viscount continued. “Then half as many more for its retention.”
    “I beg that you do not speak of it.” Edward raised his hand to stay further commentary. “That is a topic which, I am sorry to say, I desperately wish to avoid. However, when I am out and about Town, I cannot escape its inevitable effects.”
    “Lawks! The poor are getting poorer. It’s enough to give anyone an apoplexy.” Rutherford’s eyes widened upon the entrance of a footman with a tray laden with a bottle and two glasses. “Ah! Our salvation arrives just in time.” He motioned for the servant to approach. “Bring it here, lad. Lower, James.”
    The footman dropped to one knee and held the tray in the space between the two chairs, and the gentlemen took possession of their port glasses.
    “I had a surprise just before I came.” Edward gazed at his host over the rim of his glass before sampling the port. “My son’s arrived.”
    “Gad! That means my sons are in Town as well. They haven’t made their presence known to me yet. The lads are always up to some sort of mischief. I would never think to blame your boy, Duke. Is Brent staying with you? My boys don’t darken my door. They’d rather spend my money lodging in Clarendon or Limmer’s. They’re an ungrateful lot!”
    “How can you say such a thing about your own sons?”
    “Bah! Not a decent one among them, I say.” Rutherford took a long drink. “So tell me, how goes Brent?”
    “He is coming along remarkably well. Canceled his Grand Tour and plans to remain in Town.” There was no ill news to be had when it came to Edward’s son. “We have the whole of Worth House at our disposal without his sisters or Mrs. Parker. It’s the first time, you know.”
    “Ah, the blessings of the female-free residence.” Rutherford held up his glass, toasting the sentiment. “My sons find the confines of the familial pile…restricting.”
    “I welcome all my family. We get along quite well.” Again, there was no disagreeable news to impart.
    Rutherford’s gaze slid sideways to regard his friend. “I do not hold the odd notions of your family against you.”
    Edward laughed. “I must admit my children and I have an unconventional relationship, but I find it most amicable.”
    “Gad, Faraday, you’re a duke—the tykes should fear you!” Rutherford commented with gusto, then softened his discourse. “But they don’t, do they? I suppose that’s what happens when you don’t have their mother around to keep them at bay. You all have become far too familiar for my comfort.”
    “They had their aunt Penny.” His wife’s younger sister provided a female influence, but she was not, in any way, their mother.
    “Ah, yes, the affable Mrs. Parker, and she’s done an admirable job in raising them.”
    Edward had to agree. Their aunt had been an excellent influence in the absence of their mother, Sarah. There had been some concern as to her age when Mrs. Penelope Parker first arrived, as she was not much older than Augusta. But she had been recently widowed with no household to manage and Edward had lost the mother of his children. The relatives needed to draw nearer, to help one another and to become a whole family.
    “Well, what’s Brent up to? Playing the horses? Frequenting Jackson’s? Chasing the opera singers? I’ll be dashed if he can’t get exactly what he wants, whatever it is—heir to a dukedom, you know. It makes people sit up and take notice of him.”
    “Yes, I do know,” Edward remarked, and that was exactly what concerned him over the years. Frederick could easily tumble into trouble because of his future prospects. “Actually he dropped in on me this morning and informed me that he is ready to marry.”
    Rutherford choked on his port and sputtered to catch his breath.
    “Are