Page 12 of An Inconvenient Duke

He laughed and hugged her. If Claudia was worried about his niece being around soldiers and the cavalry, she’d suffer apoplexy to learn that he’d already bought Pippa her own pony, with delivery set for next week. He’d learned to ride when he was five. There was no reason Pippa couldn’t as well, simply because she was a girl.

He set her down, and she ran upstairs to her nanny who waited on the first-floor landing, galloping the little horse through the air beside her as she ran. Mrs. Davenport took her hand and led her away toward the nursery on the top floor.

“You’re so good with her, Marcus.” Claudia gave a reassuring squeeze to his arm.

He turned his attention to tugging at his gloves. “She should have Anthony and Elise with her.”

“She doesn’t miss them,” she said quietly.

“I know.” But then, why would she? Her father had died in the wars when she was only an infant, without having ever laid eyes on his daughter. Then, when Elise died two years later, Penelope had barely been three.

Missthem? He bit back a pained and bitter laugh. She wouldn’t evenrememberthem.

“But knowing that doesn’t make it any easier for you, does it?”

Hell no.And especially not when Pippa reminded him so much of Elise as a girl that sometimes he felt as if he were seeing a ghost.

“Youarewonderful with her, Marcus. What you’ve done in getting to know her, even in just the short time you’ve been home, it’s remarkable. And even though I give you a hard time about raising her to be a soldier rather than a society lady, you’re going to continue to be a good influence on her.”

“So will you.”

“Less so.” She bit her lip in a moment’s hesitation, then confided, “Adam asked me to marry him, and I agreed.”

His gaze jumped to hers. Not that he was surprised that Trousdale had asked, but the timing of it was sooner than expected.Farsooner. He’d counted on having another six months at least of calm in the house to give Pippa and him more time to adjust to one another before the frenzy of wedding preparations had to begin.

Her face fell. “You’re not happy about it.”

“Of course I’m happy for you.” But damnably sad for himself that he would be losing her from the house right when he needed her help the most, both with Pippa and with the new dukedom. But he would never be selfish enough to prevent her from seeking her own happiness. “He’s a good man with a solid future.” He took her shoulders and placed a kiss on her forehead. “But I expected him to come to me first to declare his intentions.”

“Adam’s a modern man. He believes in asking a lady whatshewants to do with her life rather than her male guardian.” She sparkled with happiness. “But he’s calling on you tomorrow to formally offer, so do try to act surprised, all right?”

With a light laugh, he hugged her. Still holding her tightly in his arms, his chin resting on the top of her head the way he’d done since they were children, he asked, “You love this man?”

“Very much.”

“And he always treats you with respect and kindness?”

She leaned back to beam up at him. “Always.”

“Then I wish you both a lifetime of happiness.”

He released her and turned away, just in time to see two maids carrying the statue of Caesar down the front footpath. He grimaced at the sight. Judging from how far Claudia had gone with the party last night, her wedding portended to be a monstrous extravaganza.

He slid her a hopeful glance. “Any chance that I could talk you into eloping?”

“Not one.” She waved a hand to indicate the party’s aftermath lying all around them. “Last night was simply practice for the wedding breakfast.”

Heaven help him.

She placed her hand on his shoulder, the simple gesture spinning affection through him. “You’re a good brother, Marcus Braddock. You’ve always been my hero. Nothing will ever change that.” She paused for effect, unsuccessfully stifling her grin at his expense. “Even if you are old as Moses.”

He rolled his eyes. “Thank you.”

She rose up on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. Then she was gone, gliding away toward the garden doors.

He stared after her.Sweet Lucifer…Claudia was getting married, and he wasn’t at all prepared for it. He was a soldier, for heaven’s sake! What did he know about wedding ceremonies and breakfasts? Nothing in his life had trained him for this. If only he could rally some help around Claudia’s engagement the way he used to rally troops. If only—

The solution popped into his head. He smiled. Oh, it was perfect!