Athena

Chapter 16

"Athena?"

"Hmm?" The two young ladies were tucked up into bed, but Eve was still thinking about the card party and her sister's relationship with the duke.

"Do you love Swindon?"

"I don't know." Athena sounded miserable.

"Before today, did you?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Do I have to say? I think it's an exercise in futility at this point."

"No, it isn't." For all her sharp words to the duke, Eve wanted them both to be happy, and they weren't going to be until they were together. "Please, tell me," she begged.

Athena sighed. "If you insist..."

Eve sat up in bed. "I do."

"This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain baronet's marked attentions of late, would it?" her sister teased, sitting up higher on her pillow, as well.

"Perhaps. But it's different for everyone, isn't it? Bea said she had known Hayle and had been watching him for a month before something told her he was it. They are very happy together," she said wistfully.

"They are," Athena softly agreed. "And their love shows in so many ways -- look at how Bea spends so much more time with her children than most ladies we know."

"I should like that..."

"So should I," Athena said. She thought of Swindon's wish for a family and how it seemed to fit her own.

"Swindon would be a good father," Eve shyly suggested. "For all his faults, he has been helpful to us all."

"All his faults?" Athena exclaimed.

"Yes, you know," Eve said airily. "All those things that make him such a terrible person."

"He is not a terrible person!" Athena said on a defensive note.

"But he must be," Eve reasoned, "or you would not have fallen out of love with him."

Athena could suddenly see where Eve's mind was headed.

"I shall amend my earlier statement, then. I am in love with Swindon, but I do not like his actions of late. Men are provoking, selfish creatures!"

Eve chuckled. "You knew that already. Look at Papa!"

"True."

"You never answered my question, either. Why do you love him?"

"Because up until today, he has always been kind to us all; he is generous and he is easy to talk to. He has a good sense of humor, a sense of fairness and he kisses divinely. He would be a good provider and, as you said, an excellent father. He has already shown patience with the younger ones. I've never heard any of the servants grumble about him and I've heard he contributed to his care and feeding while he was here. But..."

"But he is not allowed to make mistakes?"

"No! Not yet! Not ever..."

"You might forgive him more swiftly if you take him off that pedestal," Eve advised. "I found it easier when I did the same with Sir Thomas."

"I'll have to think about it." Athena was not quite ready to forgive, especially as she had not yet been extended an apology. "Get some sleep. You've had a long day." She kissed Eve, slid down on her pillow and rolled away from her sister.

The duke did not have time to think of sleep. He had a bone to pick with his grandmother.

"There is no need to accompany me home, Miles," the countess said stiffly.

"Yes, there is. Where else can I have your undivided attention while I tell you what an evil witch you were today."

"Miles!" she gasped.

"It's true!"

"I was trying to save you from compromising yourself, but I was too late. I suppose now you think you have to marry her. A trollop for a duchess! Your sainted mother is most likely turning up the grass over her grave. At least one of her sisters has pretty manners, though," she added with a sniff. It had not made too much difference in the case of Miss Caldwell, however.

"Trollop?"

"I saw her throwing herself at you."

Swindon sighed. "I had lured her over to me, my lady, but that is beside the point. As soon as I propose, she will become my duchess and you will just have to learn to live with it. And for the record, Mama is interred in the vault at Swindon. If she was turning -- which I sincerely doubt -- it would be in the family crypt."

"I cannot let you ruin the family's good name! If you become betrothed to Miss Caldwell, I shall have to drop a few words in a couple of ears," she threatened.

"That's blackmail," Swindon calmly replied, suddenly sure of what route to take. His grandmother seemed to be aggravating him on purpose and he was determined not to show his distress. Besides, he knew how to play her game.

"I cannot stop you from spreading false tales, my lady. I must remind you, however, that the family name -- both yours and mine -- has never been exactly pristine. I recall once when Grandfather called out one of your lovers ... Once, when I was a boy, I remember seeing you and a certain person, who is now a respected member of Parliament, in the summerhouse at Swindon. I never told anyone, but there is no statute of limitations on scandal, especially when it would show him in a very bad light. Imagine what Thaddy would have to say? He's always been held up by you as an example of how not to act. Imagine what he might say or do if he learned that the apple does not fall far from the tree?"

"I cannot believe you have no respect for your grandmother!" she snapped.

"I do not," he argued, "because you have never earned it. All my life you have been nothing but a nasty old witch." He thought about adding that he hoped she died before she could inflict herself on his children, but that was a bit too much. He just wanted her to stop interfering in his life.

"How dare you say that to me!" She puffed up like a wet hen. "I am a countess!"

"And I am a duke. Neither makes a bit of difference, in my opinion, when it comes to respect."

The coach pulled up in front of the dowager's house and two footmen ran out to assist her.

"I am very displeased with you, Swindon," she said through tight lips.

"I won't sleep a wink tonight, for worry," he said sarcastically. He climbed out of the carriage behind her and said he would take a hackney back to Lady Fitzhugh's. "Remember," he said softly in her ear. "No news is good news."

The dowager scowled at him, but he turned and walked off, whistling.

The next morning, Athena ate breakfast, saw Harry and a footman off across the square for lessons and went upstairs to paint. She was up to her elbows in shades of the duke's hair an hour later when Fran stomped up the garret steps and appeared breathlessly in the doorway.

"Athena ... in the parlor ... flowers ... Swindon!"

"Swindon sent flowers?" she asked absently.

"No! Swindon is in the parlor, with flowers, asking for you."

"Oh."

He's here, most likely to apologize, and you say ‘oh'?"

"Run along, Fran," Eve said from behind her. "Why don't you and Gabby see if His Grace requires anything before Athena comes down?"

Fran grinned and raced down the stairs.

"I suppose I had better see what he wants," Athena said, wiping her hands with an oily rag. "But I am not going to change my gown."

Eve agreed. "If he truly cares for you, it won't matter what you look like. Although you might want to tidy that hair..."

Athena's hands flew to her head. "Is it that bad?"

Eve produced a silver brush from behind her back. "Let me." She brushed out her sister's fair hair and pulled it back into a neat knot at the nape of her neck. "There! You look as if you have been busy, but not harried. Now, don't let him walk all over you."

"Wise words from someone who now has an older baronet dangling after her," Athena teased.

"I know," Eve said smugly. "I learned from the best."

As they walked downstairs, Athena wondered how she and Eve had managed to become so close in such a short period of time. It had always been she and Bea, and then Charlotte, who had run everything, with slothful Daphne and shy Eve allowing them. She supposed if Charlotte had encountered the shared difficulties of herself and Eve, though, this might not have happened.

Charlotte had announced at the end of breakfast, however, that Lord Adrian was to call on their father that afternoon, and everyone knew what that meant...

"Don't forget your own advice," Eve added just before they reached the parlor door.

"And what advice was that?"

"Don't look eager and be at home when he calls to apologize," she said with a grin.

Athena nodded, opened the door and was greeted immediately by Swindon, who paused mid-pace with a bouquet of red roses in his hand.

"For you," he said abruptly, all but shoving them into her hands. She curtsied, set them on a low table and settled herself on the sofa.

"How nice of you to call, Your Grace," she said politely.

"There's nothing nice about it!" he growled. "I hurt you yesterday and I've come to make amends."

"How lovely, Your Grace," Athena said in her ‘company' voice. She could hear Eve telling her not to give in.

"What is this ‘Your Grace' business?" he asked. "You were used to calling me Miles, or at least Swindon."

"But you've reduced us to mere acquaintances now, haven't you?" Her features were schooled in a mask of pure innocence.

"The devil you say!"

"You could have stayed..."

"Yes, well, I apologize for that. It was an error on my part."

Athena stayed silent. He was going to have to do better than that.

"We had a plan, you and I, to settle your family and then settle ourselves, and you were depending on me to keep my word. Then my grandmother sent me into a panic and I knew I had to protect you from her by leaving. I have, since then, cornered the old besom and set her straight. I don't think she will be a problem any longer."

"You confronted your grandmother?"

"Last night, after I escorted her home from Lady Fitzhugh's card party."

"You went?"

"Didn't Miss Eve tell you that she gave me a dressing down? She also charmed my grandmother, but that is beside the point."

"She scolded you?"

"She did. I pity the children she has one of these days -- who knew such a timid thing could become such a tartar?"

"She didn't..." Athena started to laugh. "That sly puss!" All the while she had been playing devil's advocate with Athena, Eve had already given Miles a blistering set-down! What a wonderful sister she was! Athena was going to have to do something special for her in return. She rose to do just that when the duke stopped her.

"Where are you going? I'm not finished. Don't you want to hear what else I have to say?"

"You may call again tomorrow," she assured him. "I have other things to attend to, and we truly should not be in here so long alone. People will talk."

"Let them. Gads, Athena, don't you think we both have more to say?"

"I don't," was her sweet reply, all her warm feelings for him turning chilly as he attempted -- yet again -- to arrange everything to his satisfaction. She wasn't going to stand for it. "You may come back tomorrow, Your Grace. I will be available for the requisite fifteen minutes call at that time."

"Dash it all, Athena! I came to propose and you won't let me!"

Athena had reached the door, but her hand froze on the knob.

"Propose?"

"Yes, dammit!"

"Why didn't you say so in the first place?"

They smiled at each other and if Swindon didn't notice that Athena's smile never reached her eyes, it was because he was leading her over to a chair by the hearth and kneeling down in front of her.

"Athena -- I confess that I have loved you almost from the moment we met. I certainly fell for you before the day was out and the time spent in this house with you has been heaven. I know I was wrong by ending it too soon, but I don't want it to end at all. Will you marry me?"

Athena had been proposed to before, and by those standards this one was not half bad. He had even gotten in more apology. But to admit now that her heart was touched would be fatal. If she were to accept, he would think all he had to do was snap his fingers and she would run to do his bidding, and that was that. It wasn't going to be that way. She loved Miles with all her heart, but she refused to come to him like a piece of property.

Eve would be proud that she had pushed Swindon off that pedestal. Athena had discovered herself in the process, and what she wanted was to be courted. Properly courted. Was that too much to ask?

"Do you wish to give me an answer now or wait for my fifteen minutes tomorrow?"

"I'll answer now," she said, looking him in the eye. "My answer is no."

"Good. I ... No? You are refusing my suit?" He rose from the carpet and stared at her.

"No, I'm rejecting your proposal, Miles," she calmly replied, using his Christian name for the first time that day. "There is a difference. If I rejected your suit, it means I find there is no room for improvement and I wish you not to attempt to see me again. By only turning down the proposal, I am offering you a chance to improve."

"I don't understand what you want."

"I want to be courted. I want to look back on this time and know you made every attempt to please me, to capture my attention, to get to know who I am. I want to be wooed."

"I fail to see what difference that will make..."

"Then you have already failed," she said sadly. "I had thought you up to the challenge." She stood and curtsied, the interview clearly at an end. "I love you very much, but I will not spend the rest of my life being treated like part of the furniture. Perhaps you will take this time to discover that. Or maybe you will decide we don't suit after all. Maybe I will come to that realization. Who knows? We will not, unless we give it a chance. I hope to see you tomorrow, sir. Good day to you." She left the room before her newfound resolve threatened to crack.

Swindon scowled and walked out, uncertain as to his next move, but knowing someone who could give him some sound advice.

Chapter 17

"You look terrible!" Beatrice said with genuine concern when Swindon stalked into her drawing room. She went swiftly to his side and felt his forehead as if he were a child. "No fever... I understand you are no longer at my aunt's house." She had not had a chance the evening before to discuss that particular piece of news.

"Biggest mistake of my life!" the duke exclaimed.

Beatrice sat him down on the sofa and rang for tea. When a footman answered her summons, though, she had second thoughts and requested something stronger for His Grace.

"Now, tell Bea all about it," she urged when they were alone once more.

"You're her sister..." he mused. "Tell me what I am doing wrong."

Bea was alarmed. "What did you do? Besides leave Athena in the lurch, of course. Eve told me all about it. Why do you think we attended that boring card party last night?"

"I proposed. She turned me down."

"She turned you down?" Beatrice began to laugh.

"I don't find it all that amusing," he said baldly.

The servants came in with a tea tray, Cook's shortbread and a seed cake, and a decanter of whisky.

"I'm sorry, Miles," she apologized after her employees withdrew. "But I'm not surprised." She poured a generous shot of liquor into his cup. "Athena comes across as rather meek at first, but she has a will of iron. What are you going to do to change her mind?"

"Court her," the duke mumbled.

"I beg your pardon, Miles, but did you say you are going to court her?" Bea's grin was wicked.

"It's what she wants."

"And you have no clue how to go about it, do you? You've never had to work for a female in your life."

"I know," he agreed.

"You are smart enough to come to me for advice, at least," she said without a trace of smugness. "Charlotte wouldn't know what to do, Daphne is not original enough and Eve would most likely send you packing."

He could only agree.

"You are going to have to be unique, of course," she mused to herself. "No flowers and odes to her left thumb or anything like that, although I cannot see her refusing a stroll in a moonlit garden."

"Then what do you propose? I am open to all suggestion."

"Just assure me of one thing before I agree to assist you."

"Anything."

"Do you love my sister?"

"More than my own life," was his fervent reply.

"Then I'll help."

Swindon called on Athena the next morning and stayed the requisite fifteen minutes. He discovered she was to attend Almack's the next evening with her family, and solicited a waltz. She agreed and gave him another tidbit of information upon his departure.

"Papa and Mrs. Browne are to be married Friday at St. George's. Ten o'clock. You are welcome to attend the ceremony and the breakfast to follow."

"Thank you. I shall be honored."

Athena sighed once he left and wondered if he planned anything special for this courtship she had requested, or if he was going to stick to the usual flowers, dances and drives sort of wooing. She'd rather thought he had it in him to be a bit more.... interesting. Still, it was only his first day. He needed a chance to prove himself.

At first, Athena thought that next assembly was going to be like Swindon's courtship - rather quiet and mundane. The duke had appeared in time for the first waltz and led her out on the floor with a proprietary air. Athena managed not to groan in frustration, but she was not happy. Now prospective partners would avoid her like the plague and she would be stuck acting like a wallflower until Swindon danced with her once more.

Wasn't there someone willing to brave the duke's wrath? She wondered about that as, well into the evening she had only danced twice - both times with the same partner. Finally, someone did. Lord Fenton.

Athena wasn't going to accept at first. After all, everyone knew Swindon's Angelique had taken up with him after the duke had released her from his protection. But when Swindon caught sight of them conversing and began to descend on them like a hound from Hades, Athena accepted with alacrity.

"How is it..." Lord Fenton asked as they engaged in a harmless country dance, "that you have been to London for several seasons and I am just now meeting you?"

"Perhaps if you spent less time in brothels, taverns and your clubs, my lord, I might have come to notice sooner." She had no real interest in him other than to set Swindon's teeth on edge and was not afraid to speak her mind. Evidently his lordship didn't care either, judging by his laugh, which turned heads and set tongues wagging. Those same tabbies who had chewed over herself and Swindon all evening were now speculating on whether or not she had gained another beau.

"Very well put, Miss Caldwell. Would you care to join me for a ride in the park tomorrow afternoon?"

"With or without the fair Angelique?" she teased, bringing out another laugh in Lord Fenton.

"Without, but if you change your mind, send word and I will bring her along."

"Swindon would have an apoplexy," she said.

"He might anyway," he dryly replied, indicating where the duke stood on the sidelines, watching them dance.

"He's a good man," Athena said softly.

"That he is, but he will never settle on one lady, I fear. He's not the sort to be faithful."

"I suppose you are, then?" she countered.

"Me? Oh, no! I'm even worse. But I would like to get to know you better..."

Athena didn't trust Fenton. Wasn't he the one who had spread those rumors that had brought Lady Chilchester down on them all? She also thought she knew the duke better than his so-called friend.

"Swindon might surprise you," she suggested.

"He might," Fenton said doubtfully. "I'll believe he is serious the day he walks down the aisle of St. George's with a bride on his arm."

"So will I," she said as blandly as possible.

Swindon could not stand up with her again without starting a spate of gossip and he was not so far above himself that he thought he was immune to such things. He sat out a dance with Athena instead.

"You would do well to avoid Fenton," he warned.

Athena had every intention of doing so, but she wasn't going to admit that to the duke. "I find him rather amusing," she replied, looking over to where Eve danced with Sir Thomas instead of at her companion.

"He's nothing but trouble," Swindon grumbled.

Athena knew what he thought improper to tell her, but she sought to tease him about it anyway. "Oh? How?"

"I cannot tell you. It would not be proper."

"How honorable of you - you don't wish to sully my ears with the knowledge that Fenton has taken your former mistress under his wing or that he has been bandying your name all over town. I might sound like a jealous cat, but that was probably Angelique's doing and after seeing her, I know why he took up with her."

Swindon stared at her. "You are taking his side?"

"Why not? He did something tonight no other gentleman has even attempted - he asked me to dance despite glaring opposition."

"I just don't..."

"You just don't want to share me, do you?" She fixed her beloved with a steely gaze. "You have no competition, Miles, even if I dance with every man in the room. But you are going to find yourself growing old alone if I have to remind you yet again that I am not your plaything." She rose from her chair and stalked off, not caring whether she danced again for the rest of her life.

"Am I rude, overbearing, demanding and insistent on getting my own way?" Swindon asked Hayle the next afternoon at White's.

"Who wants to know?"

"I do."

Hayle started to laugh.

"It's not amusing, although I can tell your wife did not keep my business to herself."

"I believe I am the only person in whom she confided," Hayle assured him. He signaled to a waiter and a bottle of port and two glasses were set in front of them.

"Speaking of the lovely Beatrice, aren't you going home to her and your children?" Hayle rarely sat over a glass of anything at White's anymore.

His friend shrugged. "Actually, the lovely Beatrice said I am to keep you here for awhile each evening until you outgrow those overbearing ways of yours, even if it takes all Season. She was jesting," Hayle said with a laugh at the alarmed expression on his friend's face. "But I've been instructed to coach you on your first attempt at courtship."

"You?" It was the duke's turn, and his loud laugh caused heads to turn in the quiet hush of the room. The club would not get louder and more boisterous until well into the evening.

"I did win the lovely Beatrice," Hayle reminded him.

"Correction. Beatrice caught you and then allowed you to think you had done all the work. Not that she doesn't have good taste in gentlemen... And she truly loves you, you lucky man."

"You, too, can allow the woman of your dreams to think she has caught you and then allow you to think you have won," Hayle said with a wink. "Now, what is your first attempt at wooing going to entail? Bea is curious - she said she gave you some guidelines, but you insist on making your own plans. Better tell them to me now, so Bea can voice her disapproval, if warranted."

Swindon shook his head. "Bea can be as biting as some of her sisters when she chooses, but I cannot say at the moment what the plan is. She will be pleased, however, to know I've thought long and hard about this."

"That is the point," Hayle said sarcastically.

"Exactly. I asked myself, 'What are the things the lady wants most out of life?'"

"And?"

"I made a list and the top three, as far as I can discern, are a family, a home of her own and time to work on her art. I made a list of my finer points, as well, and, lo and behold, my top three match hers exactly."

"You want a family, a home and time to paint?" Hayle chuckled.

"Something similar. I am, as you well know, an excellent godfather and de facto uncle to your offspring."

Hayle nodded. Miles actually enjoyed visiting the Hayle nursery and spending time with the children.

"I believe I have also shown such attentions to the younger Caldwells. Number two: I have several houses, but none of them is truly a home. The house in town, especially, needs a woman's touch, and I have plenty of the ready. Which puts me in the position to allow her to decorate the place as she sees fit."

"True. The third?"

"Third, I am in a position to not only give her time to paint, but to display it all to the world."

"And if, after all this, she still refuses you?" Hayle shook his head. "What shall I tell Bea?"

"Nothing yet. My ideas are only half formed and I don't know when to put any of them into action."

Swindon's first opportunity came that Friday morning after Sir Edward Caldwell married Mrs. Browne at St. George's, Hanover Square.

The duke appeared at the church in plenty of time for the ceremony and seated himself with Hayle and Beatrice. Also in attendance were Sir Thomas Marlowe and his son, and Lord Adrian, receiving congratulations on the announcement the day before of his own impending nuptials to Miss Charlotte Caldwell. Lord Wexford and his mother shared the pew in front of Swindon with his Uncle Thaddeus.

"Heard you ripped into the old girl the other night," Thaddy said, turning around in his seat.

"How did you-?"

Thaddeus laughed. "The servants are more loyal to me than they ever were to her and she seems to have taken her anger out on her maid."

Swindon was stricken. "Did she sack her?"

"Without a character. Fortunately, Regina, er, Lady Wexford, came to her rescue once I explained the situation. Wexford has hired the girl for his future countess."

The duke was relieved, but he didn't get a further chance to speak. Someone was playing a march and the unmarried Caldwell sisters were coming down the aisle, a bevy of beautiful attendants for their new mother. Each young lady carried a single lily, while Mrs. Browne carried a handful of the same flower, a gift from the duke. The baronet stood up with the rector and young Harry, beaming widely as his daughters gave way to the bride.

Afterwards, when the wedding breakfast had been consumed and the newlyweds sent on their way to Sussex for a week, the duke found Gabby sitting on the stairs, tears streaming down her face.

"Why so sad, Miss Gabrielle?" he asked, sitting one stair below her.

"I'm going to miss them so much!"

"They will only be gone a sennight," he assured her. An idea came to him then, one that fit in perfectly with his plans. "Run get your bonnet and cloak, Miss Gabby, and as many siblings as would like a treat. Athena has to be one of them," he added. Gabby had stood, and she looked down at him with a questioning frown.

"Where are we going?"

"Somewhere very special, but it is a surprise. Are you game?"

"As a pebble!" She ran off to tell everyone that Swindon was taking them on an outing.

Chapter 18

In the end, almost everyone came along for the surprise, and if Athena had protested at first, she gave no indication now, not even when she found herself alone with the duke in his phaeton, leading the way.

"That was a nice ceremony," he said into the silence she maintained. "How does it feel to gain a mother?"

Athena thought about that. She had been so long without one, it seemed almost a novelty. She then recalled that Swindon had neither mother nor father living.

"I think it will be good for the entire family. The younger ones will have someone to look out for them and we older children will not have to worry about Papa when we leave the nest. That was a very nice thing you did for Lord Adrian and Charlotte," she added.

Concerned that Lord Adrian might not be able to support her sister, Athena had asked Charlotte a couple of questions, learning that the betrothal and upcoming marriage had been made possible by the duke.

"It was none of my doing," he modestly replied. "I only advised Adrian on what investments to make and his money did the rest. Actually, he has been able to afford to leave my employ for some time, but there was no reason. Now they are both bent on his running for MP. Your sister will enjoy meeting his family. They are all involved in politics in some form or other."

"It sounds as if she will fit in well," Athena agreed.

They reached their destination, a dusty little shop just off Drury Lane. The sign said "Guiseppe's" and there was a picture of a marionette painted underneath. Intrigued, Athena allowed herself to be escorted inside even before the other carriages were unloaded. Indoors, the shop was larger than she had imagined, with the walls lined with incredible puppets.

"They are beautiful!"

"Bella, no?" a wizened old man asked, appearing from nowhere at her side. The duke was nowhere to be seen.

"Exquisite," she agreed.

"You pick one, signorina, and we play it on the stage." He indicated a raised theater at the far end of the room.

Before she could reply, he had run off to greet the duke, who came in with the rest of her family in tow. She watched as Swindon introduced everyone to the old man and then invited them to look around. Even Lady Wexford was speechless when confronted with the endless array of puppets on display.

Eve, coming in last with Harry, Peter and Sir Thomas, approached her eldest sister.

"I've never seen the like, have you? What do you think he's up to?" she wondered, indicating the duke who was taking puppets down to show Peter.

"Cheering up Gabby?" Athena suggested, even as she knew, deep down, it went further than that.

"Oh, look!" Eve cried. "I want this one!" She pointed to a spotted dog that was too high for her to reach. She was immediately aided by Sir Thomas, who approved her choice and brought it down into her hands. They stood there holding the dog together for a moment, looking into each others' eyes.

Athena felt decidedly de trop at that point and moved on to where Fran and Gabby were browsing through marionettes of people.

"We could have a family!" Fran was saying.

"What we need is a puppet theater," Gabby said, nodding in agreement. "Then we could make up a play for when Papa and Mama come home."

"Yes!" Harry and Peter thought that was a bang-up suggestion and they all began plotting out a show.

"We cannot forget children..." Fran said, picking up an infant puppet with a smile. "Look, Your Grace!" She handed it to Swindon.

"A much needed addition," he said, cradling the marionette and excusing himself to confer with Guiseppe and Uncle Thaddeus.

Athena stood back and watched as Swindon gestured toward the theater. Lord Thaddeus, laughing, trotted off to Lady Wexford's side. Guiseppe called something in Italian and several young men came out of a back room.

"Guiseppe and his sons are going to perform for everyone," the duke announced and there was a general exodus toward the stage as chairs were brought out for the audience. He stood next to Athena, still holding the baby marionette.

"How lovely."

"Thank you so much for this treat!" Gabby exclaimed, hugging the duke before heading for a seat. "I am feeling much better!"

The duke laughed and hugged her in return, to Athena's amazement. "Go watch the show," he urged the younger girl. "Afterwards, we are going to buy puppets, and I have arranged to buy a smaller theater in which to give our own shows."

Gabby squealed with delight and ran off to tell Harry, Peter and Fran. A shout of happiness was heard over the tops of the adults' heads.

Athena smiled at the duke, the first one she had given him in several days. "That is a very thoughtful gift and will keep them all entertained for hours, if not days."

"I hope you will allow me to come play," he said.

"Why should I not? My brother and sisters like you and you would be most welcome."

"And would I be able to spend some time with you?"

"Perhaps," Athena coyly replied.

"And would that time be spent somewhere private?"

"Perhaps..."

"If you two are quite finished flirting," Eve said tartly, "the performance is about to begin. I don't want anything marring Peter's enjoyment. Until recently, he rarely left the house, you know." She marched off without waiting for a reply.

"She and Harry have done wonders for that family," the duke whispered as he led Athena to a chair in the back. He'd much rather speak with her than watch the show.

"They have," Athena agreed. "If Sir Thomas makes her an offer - and if she accepts it - Mrs. Browne, er, Lady Caldwell wants to let Harry stay with them most of the year, and send Peter home with him during the summer months."

The duke wisely made no mention of his own offer, only nodded. Ahead of them, young and old were already caught up in the story of Robin Hood, aptly narrated by a pretty Italian girl in slightly-accented English. Athena looked down to where the duke still held the baby puppet and was quiet, but thoughtful, for the rest of the show.

The puppet theater was scheduled to arrive two days later, and all the younger people were wild to use it. Fran, Gabby and Harry practiced for hours with the eight marionettes the duke had purchased. Lord Thaddeus had given them four more, with the stipulation that they write an original play for his entertainment. Peter volunteered to be the playwright and by the time the stage was set up in the Caldwell drawing room, he already had an idea of how everything was going to turn out.

Bea arrived in the middle of one of their writing sessions the day after the stage was installed, her children with her, and was amazed not only with the activity, but the concentration being given to such a thing.

"I thought Gabby was blue-deviled over the wedding," she confessed to Eve and Athena. Charlotte and Daphne had gone shopping for bride clothes with their aunt.

"She was, until Swindon took us to this marvelous shop!" Eve said with shining eyes.

"Oh?" Beatrice's look at Athena spoke volumes. "And so it begins," she said softly. "Well done, Miles..."

As if his name were an incantation, the duke was announced. The children, including Bea's young son, instantly clamored for his attention and he was swept off to inspect the stage, watch them put puppets through their paces and listen to bits and snatches of Peter's play.

Athena did not place too much significance on Swindon's visit. After all, he would be curious as to how his gifts had been received.

"He would make a good father, I think," Bea said casually.

"Definitely," Eve added as the duke allowed her nephew to climb all over him.

"I see that he has the sensibility of a child to get along with them so well," Athena replied.

"All gentlemen are like that!" Bea said with a laugh. "But that doesn't stop us from loving them."

"No, indeed," Eve said, and then blushed. Bea and Athena shared a giggle.

"You should not be too harsh on Miles," Bea said to her sister, patting her hand. "He is just a man, after all, and one used to getting his own way."

Athena wanted to agree, but she looked over to where he played with the children and had to smile. Swindon had managed to keep their high spirits reined in to a manageable volume and yet was allowing them to control their own activity. That meant he could refrain from ordering others around.

"I think he is doing a rather fine job of letting the children have their way now," she said. Bea and Eve watched him for a moment and had to agree.

Later, after a boisterous rehearsal and a noisy tea, Sir Thomas arrived to collect Peter and the duke offered to drive Bea and her children home. Eve and Athena went upstairs to discuss what they would wear to dinner. When they reached their room, Athena opened the door, and gasped.

"What?" Eve wondered, pressing in to see what had alarmed her sister. When she spied what it was, she covered her mouth with her hand and dissolved into giggles.

"It's not funny!" Athena protested, inspecting the ornate cradle set up in front of the hearth.

"It's sweet!"

"Very." Inside the cradle was a small figure wrapped in a soft, knitted blanket. Athena carefully opened the saddling to find the infant marionette. A note with the duke's seal fell out and she opened it carefully, mindful of the puppet still in her arms.

There is not anything more important to you than a family, home and love. I hope to be able to prove they are important to me, too. - Miles

Athena was thinking on that later in the evening as she attended Mrs. Gordon's ball. Gentlemen seemed to have gotten over their terror of the duke, or else he was keeping a low profile, because she had more requests from prospective partners than there were dances. She knew the duke was at the ball - he had danced earlier with Beatrice and had asked Athena to save him the supper dance, but then he had disappeared.

Lord Fenton was the only one, however, who remarked on it.

"I'm surprised at Miles," he said conversationally as they danced. "I thought perhaps he would be out guarding his property once more."

"Fortunately for me, I will never be property," she said confidently.

"By law..."

"I do not intend to wed anyone who considers me as such," was her lofty reply.

"Then Miles is not your man," he advised. "He's definitely the master in any situation and I've no doubt marriage would be the same."

Athena wondered what Fenton's game was. She did not care about the mistress, but she was concerned now that Fenton was saying things directly to her. Was he spurred on by jealousy, perhaps? Regardless, she would prefer not to dance rather than accept the man's invitations.

Swindon had been watching Fenton dance with Athena and could only guess what the man was saying about him. He held his tongue. As ambivalent as Athena appeared toward himself, he doubted she took any of Fenton's words to heart. After all, Athena already knew things about Fenton and he was sure his intelligent darling would keep those in mind.

Still, he was glad when he could approach her for the supper dance at midnight. It was a waltz and there was no way he was going to pass up a chance to hold her in his arms. Or sit with her afterwards, plying her with ham, lobster patties and cherry tarts. He had made a recent study of her favorite foods.

"I believe this is our dance, Miss Caldwell," he said when he came to collect her. She agreed without protest and he led her out onto the dance floor.

"Aren't you going to ask what Lord Fenton said?" she wondered almost immediately.

"Actually, no. Either you believe him, or you do not."

"Quite a different tune than the one you sang at Almack's, Your Grace."

"I did not say I wasn't curious, Miss Caldwell. I'm just not going to enquire."

"Oh!" That option had never occurred to her. "And why is that?"

"Because it is none of my business."

"A change of heart, Your Grace?"

"A wise young lady recently pointed out a few of my faults and I am doing my best to reform to her liking."

"A lady surely would not make such a request," Athena said with a gasp. "What if the fickle creature changes her mind?"

"I shall change however my lady wishes," he said.

"Even if you were asked to jump in the Serpentine?"

"I would."

"And if she said to walk backwards down Pall Mall?"

"I would ask how far."

"Why is that, sir? You do not strike me as particularly biddable, especially as it pertains to females."

"I have never been in love before, Miss Caldwell."

"So you are saying love causes you to go against your own principles?"

Minx! "Not principles, Miss Caldwell. Perceptions and prejudices, definitely. It has been an education," he admitted.

"For more than one, I daresay."

"I hope my beloved learns a few things as well." Like when it was best not to push him too far. He did not think she would follow through with her earlier suggestions, but he could not be certain.

"I am sure she will have discovered something about you before this is all over," Athena said softly. "As well as herself."

"I admit I have learned one thing about her," the duke confessed.

"Oh? Would you mind sharing it?"

"Not at all. I have learned that one must not underestimate her."

"Is that all you know?"

"I know she is more than equal to the tasks of duchess, wife and mother."

"Duchess being the most important?"

"Of course not. I did not rank those in descending order. How would you rank them?"

"Wife, mother and then duchess," she promptly replied.

"Then we are in agreement."

"Your sister and Swindon seemed to be getting along," Sir Thomas said casually to Eve at supper. He had seated her at a table for two, fetched her a glass of wine and carefully chosen her a plate of delicacies.

"I hope it is so. She has placed some heavy demands on him. I'm only telling you this, of course, because you have become a friend of the family. You and Peter."

"I'm happy to hear it. Then again..." They were situated in a corner and seated more side by side than across from each other. Sir Thomas picked up one of the hands she kept in her lap and held it in his.

Eve blushed a bit, but she did not push away. "Then again..." she prompted.

"Then again, I should like to become more to the Caldwell family."

Eve was proud of her calm countenance. "You wish my Papa to adopt you as a son?" she teased.

"Minx! Under that shy exterior lies a sharp-tongued vixen! No, I'd much rather be adopted as a son-in-law... brother-in-law... husband..."

"Husband?" Eve whispered. "Did you have a specific Caldwell in mind to take to wife? It's not Athena, is it?" she asked quickly.

"No," he softly replied, squeezing her hand. "I was thinking more along the lines of her sister, Miss Evangeline. If she will have me, of course."

Eve gave him a tremulous smile. "I can't think of a reason why she would not. Not anymore."

Chapter 19

The household was in one of its usual uproars - there were now three weddings to plan, relatives of all the gentlemen to meet and entertain, and a puppet show to perform. The younger Caldwells were ready for their parents to return to town so they could put on their show, but Athena had suggested they wait a few days more for the large dinner party being given for all the brides' new families. They readily agreed.

Athena was a bit suspicious of this, considering how vocally they had been anticipating the arrival of Sir Edward and Lady Caldwell. The children assured her that the delay would give them more time for rehearsal and a larger audience, and she had dropped the subject.

She was suspicious, too, of the time Lord Thaddeus was spending with the younger set. There had been a couple of extra trips to the marionette shop, and a lot of secret meetings with Peter Marlowe concerning the script. Athena was not put off by the secrecy, but she was concerned that Swindon might use this public display for one of his own. How she should hate for him to renew his suit in front of others.

Instead, she and Beatrice received an invitation to come to Swindon House for tea.

"What do you think this is all about?" Athena asked her sister that afternoon as they took Bea's carriage to the duke's mansion.

Bea was a consummate actress. "I have no idea," she said innocently. It wasn't too difficult to dissemble in this instance, anyway. Miles had not confided in her, and she was as curious as Athena. Not only that, but it had been ages since she had been inside Swindon House. At the time, the place had looked rather shabby - rugs and draperies had needed replacing and the elderly housekeeper either had a difficult time keeping skillful housemaids or she was less than efficient at keeping them on task. The house could have used an intense cleaning.

When the sisters were admitted to the mansion, Bea saw the cleaning had improved, but the carpet under her feet was just as threadbare as she remembered.

"I don't know why you haven't called in a decorator, Miles," she said once greetings had been dispensed with and the ladies were installed in the drawing room with tea and cake.

"I don't want this house turned into a modern showplace, Beatrice. I abhor all that Egyptian furniture with crocodile feet and faux sarcophagi. Or tiny gilt furniture that would collapse under my weight."

Bea nodded. "Your house has so many treasures and a decorator would just consign everything to the attics - or the dustbin - and replace it all with snakes and ibises." She shuddered. "You only need new carpets and draperies. It wouldn't hurt to have the sofas recovered and everything rearranged, either."

"I knew you would see it like I do," the duke said with warm approval. "And you, Miss Caldwell?"

Athena had been looking about with interest as soon as she had walked in the door, curious about the duke's home. She was pleased, but not surprised, that he would want to display his family's extensive collections instead of replacing them with the styles currently in vogue. She had seen some truly hideous Oriental and Egyptian themed homes. She had to agree with Bea. Refurbishment was definitely required. Some of the chairs showed horsehair and cotton wool between slits in the embroidered satin on their seats. The main chandelier was missing some of its crystal drops. The velvet drapes had holes and the sun made little pinpoints on one of the worn rugs where it shone through.

"I like it all very much," she said. "You could also take the paintings down and have them cleaned, which could be done while everything is being refurbished."

"That sounds practical."

"It is only logical," Athena said modestly, but surely he did not expect her to help decorate. When he picked up a handful of fabric swatches, she had to assume that he did. She felt a bit self-conscious about being asked her opinion, and deferred him to Bea. She would have liked to have helped, but she was waiting until they were more official. She had every intention of accepting when he tendered his next proposal. So far he was living up to the promise of an unusual courtship.

"Would you like to see more of the house?" he offered. Athena agreed, but Bea said they should go without her.

"I've seen it before and I want to look through these fabrics. I mean to redecorate my own drawing room this season..." She waved them off and Athena noticed Swindon was not slow to take her off to the dining room.

"It seats four and twenty and does not get used much," the duke said of the large table in the middle of that room. "I have a smaller breakfast parlor, which I prefer for all my meals. My mother died when I was eighteen and I still remember the large parties she used to have. After that..."

"After that..." Athena prompted, curious to hear more about his family and his youth.

"After that the light went out of my father's life. He went through the motions of living for a few more years, but he was never the same."

"How sad."

"It was. Here was my father, a man whom I loved, wasting away right before me. He held on until I reached my majority and then he died."

"Oh." Athena was in tears, not for the father, but for the son who had been left behind. "While it is admirable that he loved her so much he no longer wished to live, I think it is rather selfish of him to quit this world as long as he loved others, and was loved. He will never be able to enjoy future generations..."

"I thought you might understand." He took out his handkerchief and held it while she blew her nose.

"My father was not nearly as devoted to my mother as all that, but he did love her. Fortunately, he stayed it out and found love again," Athena said with a sniff. "He has a brood of children and two lovely grandchildren, with the promise of so many more. I would say my Papa, for all his faults, knows what it means to live."

Swindon picked up a silver candlestick from the sideboard and tossed it from one hand to the other. "I admire Sir Edward for that, and envy him his family."

"The Lord willing, you will have one, too," she assured him.

"Will I?" He stopped playing with the silver and looked at her intently. She smiled back at him.

"Yes, Miles, you shall."

"You will accept my offer?"

"I will accept the next one you make to me," she clarified. "I will leave the appropriate romantic setting and the words up to you."

"I see. You want all the trappings now, do you?"

"I expect you to continue in your current, untraditional manner, of course," she said with a laugh and strolled into the next room, which appeared to be the aforementioned breakfast parlor, also in need of a few improvements.

"This courtship is stretching the limits of my imagination," he complained when he caught up with her.

"You are doing wonderfully well so far. Isn't today part of it, after all?"

"Er, yes..."

"Then it has been a success. Shall we see what Bea is doing? You may show me the rest of the house once we are betrothed, and then I shall be more than happy to select sofa fabric with you."

"Yes, ma'am," he said meekly and escorted her back to the drawing room, where her sister was pouring out fresh tea.

By the time the newlyweds had returned from a sennight in Sussex, preparations were well under way for a large family gathering.

Aunt Florence and Athena had invited Bea and Hayle, Lord Adrian and his parents, Lord and Lady Basingstoke, Lord Wexford, Lady Wexford and Lord Thaddeus, Sir Thomas Marlowe and Peter, and the Duke of Swindon, to dinner, with the children to provide entertainment. Even Gabby and Harry were to be allowed to dine with everyone, Athena having deemed the party to be of only family or near family.

She had consulted Charlotte first, however -- Lord Adrian's parents were the only ones who had yet to meet the younger members of the family and therefore the ones who might object to them attending the dinner. Charlotte assured her that Lord and Lady Basingstoke were not high in the instep and were looking forward to dining with all the Caldwells.

"They have no idea what they are in for then," Athena said with a laugh. Charlotte had to agree.

Most of the day was spent preparing for the dinner, and everyone except the performers had been barred from the music room, where the play was to take place. The only other person admitted had been Lord Thaddeus, who appeared on edge. Athena tried to speak to him, but he stuttered and ran off to see the children, a package under one arm.

She didn't have time to worry over him, and forgot all about his involvement with the program until after dinner, when everyone took seats in front of the puppet stage. Lord Thaddeus, who was the usher, had seated the newlyweds, Lady Wexford and the marquess and his wife in the front row. He settled the countess in her chair with shaking hands and Athena, who had been relegated to the back with the duke, looked at him in some confusion.

"Do you know why he is so skittish this evening?"

"I have no clue," Swindon sincerely replied and she had to be content with that.

The play began innocuously enough. Peter was the narrator of the show, which seemed to be a retelling of their season so far. There was the eldest daughter, who had come to London with only one other sister, but was quickly joined by her brothers and sisters. They had not gone so far as to make a parody of the duke's fall, but they did show a Daphne-like puppet being reunited with her fiancé. An Eve marionette met another gentleman and fell in love, and a Charlotte character found a gentleman of her own.

Everyone seemed to enjoy watching the courtships of these three couples and no one was surprised when an older pair appeared on stage. They all thought them to be Sir Edward and Mrs. Browne. They were all surprised, then, when Peter referred to them as Thaddy and Regina.

"Did you know about this?" Swindon asked Athena in a low voice.

She was much amused by the tone of his voice and the way the two puppets on stage were billing and cooing. When they broke into a love song, everyone either laughed or sighed. Athena broke out into a fit of the giggles. After all, she had seen the two of them bickering at that gaming hell.

"I had nothing to do with this," she confessed, "but your uncle has been consulting with our young players -- perhaps he is going to..." She giggled once more. "You don't think he plans to..."

"No!" the duke exclaimed. "He wouldn't!"

"Is that such a terrible thing?" Athena asked.

"Oh, no -- I think they would deal wonderfully well together. They would lead each other a merry chase and be very happy. I own I am surprised Thaddy is even considering marriage, however. He is a confirmed bachelor."

"Shhh!" Aunt Florence turned around to admonish them. "They are just getting to the best part!"

On stage, the Thaddy puppet was kneeling rather expertly in front of his ladylove in the audience. Everyone held their breath.

"My dearest Regina," the marionette said with Lord Thaddeus' voice, although Harry had been playing him before this. "I know I am just a puppet, willing to do your bidding, but I have always loved you. Will you marry me?"

Before the countess could respond, the Regina puppet sauntered forward.

"He's mine!" she insisted. "If you want the real thing, help yourself, but the wooden one belongs to me!"

"Fran!" A few worried voices carried over the top of the stage, but the real Lady Wexford tittered like a schoolgirl.

"You may have him, if the real Thaddy will come out for my answer."

"Told you!" Fran's smug voice rang through the room. The audience laughed.

When Lord Thaddeus came around the stage a bit shyly, the countess threw herself at him and kissed him soundly. "The answer is yes!"

Applause rang out and Pritchard and two of the footmen brought in champagne and glasses on cue.

"Someone likes to be prepared," Athena said with a laugh.

"Thaddy always did hedge his bets," the duke agreed.

Chapter 20

Lord Thaddeus and Lady Wexford decided not to wait overly long to get married, but they had not counted on his mother's interference. Lady Chichester called on Lady Wexford the day the betrothal announcement appeared in the newspapers.

Lady Wexford was having a morning coze with Daphne, who had been invited to discuss wedding arrangements with her future mother-in-law. Lady Wexford not only wished to ensure herself that her son's nuptials would be remarkable, but she had come to like Wexford's pretty fiancée and rely on her good fashion sense. She was not going to have time to order a new gown before she and Thaddy wished to be wed, and she wanted Daphne to help her choose something from her existing wardrobe.

While they were still in the drawing room, however, they were interrupted by Lady Chichester, who strode into the room demanding to know what Lady Wexford thought she was doing, marrying Thaddeus without permission.

"I hardly think Thaddy is a green lad whose mother should be consulted first." Lady Wexford conveniently forgot that she had been of that exact opinion when her own son became betrothed. She was not afraid of Lady Chichester, though. The woman had no real ammunition, and Lady Wexford could not respect such a tactical error.

"Just because my son is an aged Lothario does not mean he is capable of making such decisions on his own."

Daphne winced, but Lady Wexford merely grinned and settled back on the sofa. "Where are my manners? Won't you have a seat, Lady Chichester? Or shall I call you Mother Fletcher?"

The countess sniffed and took a chair. At a nod from Lady Wexford, Daphne poured some tea. An offer of cake was refused.

"I have no desire to become as large as one of the cows on my estate," Lady Chichester said.

Lady Wexford, who was on the plump side, only rolled her eyes, as if daring the woman to do better than that. "Your elder son's estate, of course," she reminded the older lady. She was not above a few well-placed barbs herself. That one hit its mark, too, if Lady Chichester's scowl was any indication. It was followed almost immediately by an angelic smile.

"An estate Thaddeus will never inherit. My son the earl has three boys of his own."

"How blessed he must be. Fortunately for him, we will not have to live off his largesse. Wexford has bought us a house as a wedding gift, and Thaddy and I have enough private income between us to live comfortably."

"Until you start losing it at the tables..."

"I have not played cards for several weeks now, and neither has Thaddy. We shall be too occupied, I think, to seek our entertainment at the green baize tables."

Lady Chichester actually blushed. So did Daphne. There was no mistaking Lady Wexford's meaning.

"Some people do resort to the baser things in life when they have no refinement," the older countess said with a sniff.

"And a number of people resort to propriety when they lack imagination or appreciation of the baser things in life."

"How dare you?"

Lady Wexford shrugged. "You are the one who came in here flinging insults, my lady. If you cannot stand the sting, stay away from the beehive."

"I must get Thaddeus to cry off -- he must know how he is nursing a pit viper at his bosom!"

"I wouldn't worry about the pit viper," Lady Wexford said sweetly. "He'll be off her leading strings once he marries me."

"Why, you ... you ... doxy!"

"Perhaps," Lady Wexford readily admitted, "but your son is rather partial to Haymarket ware, and I want to make him happy. If that is how, then so be it. You look like you could use a bit of a tupping yourself. I beg your pardon, Miss Daphne. Fortunately, this cleaver was just leaving."

Lord Thaddeus came in just as his beloved called his mother a wanton woman. He wished he had been there sooner.

"Thaddeus! I demand that you end this engagement at once! I will not have a daughter who calls me horrid names!" Lady Chichester ordered.

Thaddy took a cup of tea from an anxious-looking Daphne and gave her a wink.

"That's pretty harsh, Regina," he noted in a calm voice. "And surely you can do better than that."

His mother gasped. "This ... this she-devil has turned you against me already!"

"No, Mother. You did that ages ago. Go on, Regina. I should like to hear what else you would call her."

Lady Wexford shook her head. "I will not say another word, Thaddy. She is your mother, after all."

"Besides," Daphne piped up. "Lady Chichester called Lady Wexford most of the scandalous names."

"All the more reason to let the matter drop," Lady Wexford insisted of her betrothed. "She's an old woman and they must be indulged to some extent," she added in a louder voice to Daphne.

"I have never been so rudely treated in all my life," the older countess insisted. "I am going to make certain Chichester cuts off your annuity."

"Too late. I just came from there and we've increased it and made provisions for Regina for the rest of her life. It's much like your own agreement with my brother."

The countess flushed. "Perhaps I will go now. I fully expect to receive an invitation to the wedding," she told her son, fixing him with a steely glare.

"Yes, Mama. I'm sorry you had to witness that, Miss Daphne," he said once Lady Chichester was gone.

"That is all right," Daphne murmured. That could easily have been her and Lady Wexford a few weeks before, if it had not been for Athena, the duke and this gentleman who was soon to be Wexford's stepfather. She had much to be thankful for.

"I don't hear you apologizing to me," Lady Wexford said indignantly.

"Because you are infinitely capable of fighting dragons, my love."

Lady Wexford was quite satisfied with that answer.

Bea was using the family's betrothals as an excuse to throw a ball. Not only did she want to introduce her family to her many friends and acquaintances, but she hoped a certain older sister and friend would take a hint and get on with becoming engaged.

"Miles and Athena will become betrothed when they are ready," Hayle assured his wife that evening as they dressed for the event.

"They are not moving fast enough! I should give them a little push, don't you think?"

"No, I do not. Neither one of them would thank you, and there is the possibility of something going awry."

"My plans to not go awry," Beatrice said with supreme confidence.

"No, they do not. But do you truly want to go down on the books as having a plan go awry, ruining their lives in the process?

"No," she sheepishly replied.

"Then no meddling."

Unfortunately for Athena and Swindon, other people decided to meddle instead, and not for the good. Bea had politely invited Lady Chichester, but only because the countess was Lord Thaddeus' mother and Miles' grandmother. She was surprised when the countess brought Lord Fenton with her as escort. Bea had not invited him because of the rumors, and she thought a young man escorting a woman old enough to be his grandmother could only be up to no good.

Being in the receiving line, however, she could only send a footman off to find Swindon and warn him to be on the alert.

"Aren't you glad you didn't attempt any nefarious schemes?" her husband softly teased.

"Will you be serious?" she begged between clenched teeth as she attempted to greet guests at the same time.

"I am serious. I also shall be keeping an eye on her ladyship, Lord Fenton and the Caldwells."

Bea would have sagged against him in relief, but she had to stay upright and play the perfect hostess.

Francesca had been allowed to attend the ball and was about to enter the first dance, under the watchful eye of the new Lady Caldwell, with a young man in uniform. Eve, Daphne and Charlotte were all being catered to by their gentlemen, and Gabby was upstairs spending the evening with her small cousins. She had been promised a peek at the guests and a plate of food from the midnight supper if she could manage to stay up that late. Harry was at Marlowe House with Peter.

With no one to please but herself, Athena cheekily wrote Swindon in for two waltzes, including the supper dance. She had not yet seen him, but she was confident he would make an appearance soon enough. However, if she was going to accept dance partners the rest of the evening, she had to agree to stand up with the gentleman now soliciting her hand at the moment. Lord Fenton.

With a nod and a prayer that Swindon would show up soon, she took to the floor with Fenton for a country dance.

"I do not see your devoted swain this evening," the gentleman said as they went through the figures in the set. "Could it be he has found amusement elsewhere? I told you he would not make you an offer."

"I am not concerned about His Grace's attentions wandering," Athena loftily replied. She had seen Lord Fenton enter the ballroom with Miles' grandmother. "And at least he has chosen a lady closer to his age."

"Point taken, Miss Caldwell," he replied, unperturbed. "I employ whatever means are at my disposal to get what I want." He did not tell her that the countess had approached him first.

"And what would that be?"

"To have anything Miles covets. Do you think I have any interest in Angelique beyond what power she has to hurt Swindon?" No power at all, as it turned out, and he had already found her another protector.

"I could see why you would," she said, recalling the tart's low-cut gown. "But if your interest in that female was only due to His Grace, I can only surmise that your interest in me stems from that same motivation."

"Perhaps. Swindon always had everything handed to him on a silver platter. Including the perfect wife. Or perhaps I have found a lady that I could easily fall in love with."

"I am flattered, my lord, I am afraid my feelings must be considered in all this. I don't love you. To be honest, I don't even like you. I refuse to be a pawn in your game." The music had not ended, but she was finished dancing with him and moved to the edge of the dance floor. He quickly followed.

"Please take me back to my family," she said with as much hauteur as she could muster. She wasn't thinking straight and she wasn't paying attention to where he was escorting her until she felt cool air in her face. They were on the terrace. She turned to walk back inside, but he blocked her path.

"If you truly love me, as you profess, my lord, you will allow me to pass."

"Not just yet..."

Swindon was late, and the receiving line had already disbanded when he entered the ballroom. He spent a few moments searching for Athena, and he had finally spied her on the dance floor with Fenton, so he waited anxiously on the sidelines for the music to end. But before the dance was over, he saw Athena go somewhere with Fenton. He made to follow when his grandmother tapped him imperiously on the arm.

"I am extremely pleased not to have seen any announcements in the paper concerning you," she said without greeting. "You are showing better judgment than I gave you credit for."

"Just because there has been no announcement does not mean there will not be one," he stiffly replied. Where the devil had Athena and Fenton disappeared to?

"I doubt there will be one with the lady you have in mind, at any rate. I hear she has found herself another gentleman."

Swindon laughed. He knew Athena, and despite the hoops she was forcing him through, she would never switch her allegiance. "I should like to see that," was all he said.

"That can be arranged," the countess replied with an evil grin and led him off toward the terrace.

"I said, let me pass!" Athena stomped down hard on Fenton's dancing shoe and he howled with pain. She took that moment to punch him in the jaw and he fell to his knees like a pole-axed cow.

"See?" the countess said triumphantly, throwing open the terrace doors with a flourish.

"I see," the duke wryly replied as Athena kicked Fenton and he rolled onto his side.

Athena heard his voice and ran to him, much gratified by his appearance. "Miles! I'm so glad you are here! This idiot tried to keep me from returning to the ballroom!"

"I'm sure I cannot figure out why," he said to his grandmother. She had turned an interesting shade of red, but instead of replying to her grandson, she approached Lord Fenton and hit him squarely on the head with her reticule.

"Imbecile! I can't even trust you to do one simple task for me! You were supposed to compromise the chit and I come out to find you searching for four leaf clovers in the grass!" Lady Chichester gave him a kick for good measure and stomped back into the ballroom.

"I'm sorry, Miles, but I must strongly advise you not to invite her to our wedding," Athena said softly.

"Our ...We're getting married? No new proposal? No repeat of your refusal? Your answer is now yes?"

"No, no and yes," she said happily.

The duke wrapped his arms around her and kissed her soundly. But when it appeared as if he had no intention of stopping, Athena gently pulled away and indicated where Lord Fenton was still on the ground, moaning. "Maybe you should say something?"

"Right. Consider yourself lucky, Fenton, that I won't call you out. Fortunately, I shall be on my honeymoon, which interferes with the thrashing you so richly deserve. I have some family weddings after I return, so if you are out of town by then, I might forget all about tracking you down. Oh, and don't worry about the countess. Once my uncle learns of all this, her activities will be seriously curtailed." He turned back to Athena. "Now, where were we?"

She ignored Bea's footmen, who came out to escort Lord Fenton from the premises and stepped into Swindon's arms once more. "Right here..."

Epilogue

The night before Athena's wedding, when everyone should have been exhausted (Swindon had given Athena and her family three days after her acceptance of his earlier proposal in which to prepare for their nuptials), she and Eve were disturbed from their evening ablutions.

"Surprise!" Fran shouted as she bounced into the room without invitation. She brought with her a box of sweetmeats, which she tossed on the dresser in front of her eldest sister before hopping onto the bed.

"I brought wine," Charlotte added, coming into the room with three bottles, followed closely by Gabby juggling a handful of glasses.

"Seven?" Athena counted them as they were arranged on her bedside table.

"You cannot have a party without me!" Beatrice cried, escorted into the room by a beaming Daphne.

"But the children!"

Bea waved away that consideration. "The gentlemen are at my house this evening and if the children need attention, the nurserymaid can bother Hayle," she airily replied. "Daphne?"

Daphne brought out a bag of sweets and Gabby dug into her dressing gown pockets and produced sugar biscuits wrapped in napkins. Bea opened a bottle of wine and poured a round for everyone. Gabby's glass was only half full in deference to her age.

"To Athena!" Fran suggested, raising her glass. "The best eldest sister we've ever had!"

"I'm the only eldest sister you've ever had," Athena protested, but she blushingly allowed them all to drink to her name.

"I heard there was to be a party in here," Lady Caldwell said brightly, poking her head into the room.

"With wine from my cellar," Aunt Florence dryly added, although she was smiling.

The older ladies were ushered into the room and Gabby was sent for more glasses. Aunt Florence was settled in a chair and Lady Caldwell was placed upon the bed next to Eve.

"A party would not be complete without cake," Aunt Florence said when a knock was heard.

"Come in," everyone happily chorused and they were rewarded with two of the maids bringing in teacakes and more biscuits. Gabby, with extra glasses, brought up the rear.

"Be sure to pass the rest of the baking around to the staff," Aunt Florence instructed her servants, and they curtsied and left with smiles.

"Where were you before we interrupted?" Lady Caldwell asked.

"Toasts!" Fran shouted. She picked up one of the trays and began passing it about. Everyone took a handful of biscuits or a couple of cakes, and more toasts were made to the happy couple. And the other happy couples. Soon enough, everyone felt rather happy, whether they were one of the couples or not.

Around midnight, Lady Caldwell and Aunt Florence excused themselves and sought their beds. Athena, Beatrice and Charlotte had migrated to the hearth rug after the other girls had appropriated the bed, and sat sipping their wine instead of tossing it back as they had done earlier.

"I should have introduced you to Miles ages ago," Bea said. "I always thought the two of you would be perfect for each other."

"When did you have time?" Athena had to ask. "In between being a wife and a mother and staying in the country..." She had never given it a thought. Evidently Bea had, because she continued beating herself up about it verbally. Athena looked at Charlotte and shrugged.

"I'd rather hear what to expect on my wedding night," she whispered to Charlotte, who nodded in agreement. But it was not to be. Bea, who had finished her mumbled monologue, toppled over, her head landing in Charlotte's lap.

"Oh, lord," Charlotte moaned. "How am I going to ... Fran!" she called. "Throw me down a pillow!"

Francesca, who was almost asleep herself, opened one eye and tossed a pillow, hitting Athena on the head. A giggle was heard from above them and then Athena and Charlotte were bombarded with pillows.

Athena picked one up and stalked over to the bed, giving no quarter as she lay about with her weapon of feathery destruction. Not to be outdone, Charlotte tucked one up under Bea's head and ran over, swinging a pillow in each hand. Shrieks and laughs and exclamations were heard from everyone, and they all laughed when Fran pulled the pillow out from under Bea's head and jumped back into the fray. Bea continued to sleep and a snort from her at one point had them dissolving into more giggles until they collapsed together on the bed.

"I hope I shall find a husband to suit me as everyone else has," Fran said with a sigh.

"Me, too," Gabby added.

"Just think of the connections you shall have in order to find one," Charlotte said without a trace of snobbery. "Your sisters shall be a duchess, a marchioness, a countess and a politician's wife. Your stepmother is a baronet's lady and your aunt seems to know absolutely everyone."

"I hope he is handsome, like Swindon," Gabby said dreamily. She had fairly worshipped the duke since the day of their father's wedding.

"There are very few men as handsome as Swindon," Eve agreed, much amused by her sister's admiration for their future brother.

"I hope he is wealthy," Fran said, half hanging off the bed.

"Is that all you care about?" Charlotte wondered.

"Of course! Beauty fades - no offense meant, Athena - and companionship goes only so far, you know. But as long as I can be kept in comfort, I daresay I shall find plenty to keep me occupied."

"Charity work?" Charlotte suggested.

"Heavens, no!"

"Shopping?" Daphne asked.

"Some, but even that gets boring. I shall be a great hostess, however, and everyone will enjoy my parties."

Eve and Charlotte rolled their eyes. They knew such a philosophy could not last long in the light of reality, but Fran was young yet, and she would either learn before it was too late, or regret her decision in the end.

Miles and Athena had a beautiful wedding, and with seven sisters assisting in its preparation, it came off without a hitch. Athena could still not believe the duke had given them only three days, though.

"Because you deserve to be married before the rest of your sisters, save Beatrice, and will be far too busy being wed to me to take charge of the rest of the ceremonies," he had told her.

It had taken less than a day to procure the license and secure St. George's for the event, after which there was a wedding breakfast given by Lord and Lady Hayle. Miles had arranged all that, leaving his bride to plan only her wardrobe and flowers. She had teased him about becoming high-handed once more, now that his suit had been accepted, but she was pleased that he had not placed the entire responsibility of the wedding on her shoulders. As promised long before, he was taking care of her.

Well into that night, once their marriage had been lovingly and thoroughly consummated, Athena found herself lying wide-awake thinking of the future.

"A penny for your thoughts," Miles whispered in the darkness.

"How did you know I am awake?"

"I am quite aware of you at all times," he said.

"All times?" she asked with a smile.

"All times, dearest love. What is on your mind?"

"You. Me. Our future. Who you know that has this little house just outside of town," she teased. They were to stay for a week and do whatever they wished without being disturbed. Miles had been quite secretive about its location when questioned earlier at the breakfast.

"Feel free to look at the initials on the backs of the brushes on the dressing table. You'll find they belong to the Marchioness of Hayle."

"Imagine Bea and Hayle having a love nest!" she said with a laugh.

"It is not a bad idea. We should consider one..."

"Once we have a family to escape, even though you now have a family worth escaping, at least once in awhile. Mine!"

"I like your family members very much. They are definitely better than some of mine." He had not yet forgiven his grandmother for her scheming, but Athena knew he would eventually. He was that sort of person.

Two and a half years later, they had that love nest they discussed on their wedding night. The fact that they had set up a nursery in it did not seem to bother them overly much. After all, they could not bear to leave Michael, 18 months, and Daniel, three months old, behind.

As for escaping the rest of the family...

The dowager countess suffered an apoplexy not long after Michael was born. Some say it was the announcement that Lady Thaddeus was increasing, but that had been a false rumor. She never had another child, but she and Thaddy were content playing doting grandparents to Aurelia, Wexford and Daphne's little girl. That child was eventually joined in the Wexford nursery by Bartholomew, William and Olivia.

Charlotte and Lord Adrian never had any children, but between his career and hers as a philanthropist and political hostess, they brought about better laws to protect as many children as they could.

Eve and Sir Thomas presented Peter with a sister, Melissa, and no more, but they were a happy family, and Peter eventually went to Cambridge with Harry, graduating with top honors.

Gabby met and married her handsome gentleman, who also happened to be the vicar who owed his living to her father, and she raised a brood of nine children, who happily grew up running in and out of the vicarage and their grandparents' home.

When it came time to step into his father's title, Harry had already been steward for the estate for a number of years, but had yet to marry. Perhaps that will be the basis of another story, but Fran has not been forgotten.

Fortunately, by the time she met Lord Wimpole, who had neither face nor fortune to recommend him, she could not recall any of her requirements for a husband. She only knew that his lordship made her laugh, and that her dowry (made hefty by contributions from her sisters' husbands) was more than enough to get the baron's estates, left destitute by a previous generation, up and running once more. They raised horses and children in almost equal amounts and led happy and healthy lives.

The end

Back

Back to Novel Idea