Page 8 of A Temporary Bride for the Duke

Harry giggled. “But Great Aunt Regina is a lady, and she doesn’t mind it when I show her.”

“Yes, but she’s accustomed to your mischief, Harry. Other ladies are not.”

“Why is it mischief to capture critters, Papa?”

Edmund sighed tiredly. “Enough questions now. Go and find Mr. Oswalt.”

“But—”

“Harry…” Edmund interrupted, giving him an admonishing look.

Harry pouted but did as he was told and went off to find his tutor without another word.

Edmund watched him go and couldn’t help feeling a little bad that he’d upset the boy.

It’s for his own good.

“As much as you try, you could benefit from having a woman by your side to help you raise him.”

Edmund rolled his eyes as he turned to address Lady Archworth. “Not this again, Aunt.”

“Pray tell, what was wrong with Lady Emily?”

Edmund slid her a sidelong glance. “I cannot abide a woman who would speak to my son in such a way. And who doesn’t like frogs?” He arched his eyebrow at her, and Regina emitted a small laugh.

“Fine.” She waved a hand dismissively between them. “Lady Emily did overreact just now. And, she shouldn’t have spoken to Harry in such a way. But there are plenty of ladies who would be as kind as an angel to the boy. Pick one and marry her.”

Edmund slowly shook his head. “I am not interested in finding a wife.”

“Nonsense. Of course you are. Man was not built to live alone.”

Edmund groaned in frustration. “I do not live alone. I live with my son and a house full of staff.”

“Don’t be facetious, Edmund,” she chided.

“I am not.”

“You are. But I know just the remedy for you. I will be hosting a series of events soon to bring the men and women of thetontogether. Never fear, for I know you will find a bride at one of them.”

Edmund took a step away from his aunt, then said resolutely, “Harry is enough of a handful without saddling myself with a blushing bride.”

Lady Archworth gave him an enigmatic look. “We shall see.”

Edmund expelled a breath as he looked around for Harry and his tutor. He expected that they would have gone back to the pond to find another frog or that they might have begun huddling toward the balloon display. Mr. Oswalt was good at turning these excursions into lessons without losing Harry’s interest.

Edmund’s eyes swept the fairground, a frown marring his forehead as he failed to find them. Then he noticed Mr. Oswalt, looking distraught, turning every which way. The tutor was generally unflappable, but now, he appeared to be rather frantic.

Harry was nowhere near him.

Edmund immediately began to hurry in his direction.

“Edmund?” His aunt called from behind him. “Where are you going?”

He ignored her for the moment, stalking up to the tutor and demanding, “Where is Harry?”

Mr. Oswalt was breathing hard. His face had gone pale. He fussed with the pair of wire spectacles he wore perched lightly on the bridge of his nose. “I-I don’t know. I looked away for just a moment, Your Grace. It was just a moment, and he disappeared.”

Edmund turned away from the tutor, his eyes scanning the crowd as he began to search for his son himself.