Page 28 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Edmund snorted. “And you think Harry won’t find it?”

“Of course he will. He’s a clever boy,” Winston said.

Edmund raised his voice. “Harry, what do you say?”

“Thank you for my toy!” Harry jumped to his feet. “Can I go and play with it?”

“Yes, you may. But remember that you wanted to visit with your uncle and Lady Daisy, and that’s why we’re having this small gathering.”

“All right, I’ll just go and put the carriage in my chambers, and then I’ll come back,” Harry said.

“Good lad.” Winston clapped the child on the shoulder before following Edmund into the den.

“Now that there’s no one else about, you can tell me what possessed you to host afternoon tea. Is someone blackmailing you?” Winston asked.

Edmund huffed. “No one is blackmailing me into hosting afternoon tea. I did it of my own volition…mostly.”

Winston folded his arms and gazed expectantly at Edmund. “Explain.”

Edmund looked around. “It’s quite simple. I have entered into an agreement with a lady to win my aunt’s sponsorship. She is in dire need of the funds and won’t take a handout.”

“And what do you gain from this?”

“Respite from my aunt’s incessant matchmaking.”

“Hmm. But won’t you have to act as if you are engaged to this woman?”

“And? Are you saying I do not know how to behave around women?”

“I’m saying you have limited experience withladies.It’s not the same thing, you know.”

Edmund barked a quick laugh. “I know. And I am a gentleman despite my aversion to the marriage mart; Idoknow how to go through the motions.”

“Do you?”

Edmund cocked his head to the side. “Oh, ye of little faith.”

Winston threw back his head and laughed heartily. “In all your thirty-two years of living, have you ever courted a single lady?”

Edmund thought about it.

“Mary does not count,” Winston said before Edmund could say a word about his departed wife.

“Of course she does not. Mary was my dear friend,” Edmund said softly.

“May she rest in peace,” Winston replied.

“Amen.”

“But to my point, you did not have to court her.” Winston crossed the room and picked up a hefty book.

He balanced the tome in his hands, then turned an expectant look on Edmund.

“True,” Edmund countered, “but I did marry her.”

“You did not have to make her swoon or convince anyone else that she was in love with you.”

“Nobody expectslove,” Edmund scoffed. “As long as we seem to like each other, that should be sufficient for the purpose of Lady Archworth’s Games.”