Duke of Disrepute (Dukes of Distinction #3) - Alexa Aston Page 0,38

Unfortunately, I don’t think Lord and Lady Ruthersby would find it convenient for them.”

“You let me worry about them, my lady. Casting them aside, do you have any further objections?”

“None,” she replied. “If you could make this happen, we both could come out very happy indeed.”

“Very well. I will take this up with Ruthersby next week. When I see you and Lady Claire back to Briarcliff.”

She began shaking her head back and forth. “No, Your Grace. That is why I came to see you this morning. I need to return as soon as possible. My nephews are already very high-spirited boys. With all the excitement of Christmas, they will be almost impossible to control. It is my duty to see that they—”

“Your duty is now to me, Lady Ruthersby. There will be no more of this unpaid position of governess for you. You will need to prepare for the upcoming Season. With my seamstress. Reading the gossip columns. Going back early to London to renew old friendships or at least writing to women you were close to and letting them know you’ll be in attendance this Season. I, too, will return early. We can meet daily to plan our strategy for how I will go about perusing the Marriage Mart.”

He smiled again, wanting to put her at ease and allow her to see he was harmless. “I will also go to my clubs and begin assessing which men might be a good match for you. Any bachelors close to your age that might be worthwhile suitors. Or possibly a widower or two. You wouldn’t be opposed to marrying a man who already has a child?”

“Not at all,” she assured him. “I think a heart has love enough for as many children as are in a household.”

“Very well then. Have we reached an agreement?” He thrust out his hand. “My influence for your guidance?”

Lady Ruthersby smiled, revealing a most delightful dimple in her right cheek. She took his hand. For a moment, her eyes widened slightly and then she inhaled deeply, slowly exhaling.

“You have yourself a bargain, Your Grace. May we both be engaged by the Season’s end.”

Weston smiled broadly. Oh, they would be engaged, all right.

To each other.

Chapter Thirteen

Elise couldn’t believe what she had just agreed to, striking a bargain with the Duke of Disrepute.

“As I begin reacquainting myself with old friends and perusing which young ladies will make their come-outs this year, do you have any particular characteristics in mind, Your Grace?”

He grew thoughtful. “I’ll be very choosy. That’s for certain. First, I need a woman with keen intelligence. I become bored easily and if I’m to spend the next fifty or more years with her she must be clever and interested in a wide variety of topics.”

She frowned. “That doesn’t sound like many women of the ton. What about her family name and dowry?”

“Pish-posh on that, Lady Ruthersby. My name and title are plenty old and I couldn’t care one whit about a dowry—or lack of one. I have estates too numerous to count and untold wealth. No, I want other things.”

His words intrigued her. “Such as?”

“Besides intelligence, I need a woman who can make decisions quickly and without questioning herself. I have a large household for her to run. She will make numerous decisions on a daily basis. She’ll need to be firm with servants but not to the point where they don’t like her or their jobs. She must be an excellent hostess, able to plan soirees and dinner parties and their menus with ease.”

The duke’s list was certainly growing. “Anything else?” she asked, worried that there would be.

“I want her to enjoy the activities I enjoy since we’ll be spending so much time together.”

“Such as?”

“Riding, for one. I’m never happier than when on a horse. Unless it’s walking. I can walk for hours and do so frequently in London. I enjoy the theatre. Playing chess. Of course, I also spend a good deal of my time at Gentleman Jack’s. My duchess won’t have to box, however.”

She snorted. “Well, that’s certainly a relief.”

“She will also need to be kind. Compassionate toward others. A sense of humor would be nice. And naturally, she’ll need to adore children.”

“Your Grace, your list is growing by leaps and bounds. I’m not certain any of the young women making their come-outs would—”

“Oh, it doesn’t have to be some young miss straight from the schoolroom, Lady Ruthersby. In fact, I doubt any of them will do. I don’t mind if my future