“Say it for me.”

  “Say what?” he asked.

  “Or tap it out. The drumbeat.”

  “Oh.” He thought a moment and then said, “Ba-da-da-da-da, ba-da-da-da-da, ba-da-da, ba-da-da, ba-da-da-da-da.”

  “Again,” she commanded, sounding like a general demanding his army get on the move.

  Adam repeated the cadence several times and Louise joined their hands. They began moving to the rhythm of the beat he spit out. Suddenly, he began feeling that cadence as they moved around the ballroom floor.

  Then he stumbled and brought them to a halt.

  “I almost had it,” he said eagerly. “It just became too hard to keep the beat coming from my mouth as I tried to remember the steps.”

  “That’s easy to solve,” Aunt Louise declared. “Don’t you have someone here on staff from your military days?”

  “Yes. Martin, my valet, served as my batman. And Raker, one of the groomsmen, was a soldier under my command.”

  “Wait here,” she said and left the ballroom.

  Curiosity caused him to follow, and he heard her tell a footman to send Martin and Raker to the ballroom immediately. Then she disappeared toward the kitchen, and he decided to keep out of its hustle and bustle.

  Returning to the ballroom, he began spitting out the rhythm again, trying to get his feet to match the feel of his repetitive phrases. He stopped when Martin appeared in the doorway.

  “You need me, Your Grace?”

  “Perhaps. It’s the other Your Grace who sent for you.”

  Raker came hurrying toward them. “What can I do for you, Your Grace? Do you need a horse saddled? The message didn’t let me know. It just said to come here.”

  “I needed you,” a voice said, and the three men turned to see the dowager duchess entering, followed by a scullery maid carrying two large pots.

  “Give one to each of them,” the dowager duchess said.

  Martin and Raker accepted the pots, puzzled expressions on their faces as the servant returned to the kitchen.

  Louise reached into one pot and extracted two spoons nestled inside. She placed one in each hand and told Martin, “Flip the pot over.”

  The valet did so, baffled by the order.

  “Again, Your Grace,” his aunt prompted. “The cadence. Say it.”

  Adam decided to humor her. “Ba-da-da-da-da, ba-da-da-da-da, ba-da-da ba-da-da, ba-da-da-da-da.”

  “Repeat,” she said.

  This time, she began using the spoons as drumsticks, striking them against the pot to the beat. He repeated the sequence four times, and Martin and Raker began grinning.

  “You’re both familiar with that, I’m told. I want you to play that as drummers in the army would. You’re to keep it up until I tell you to stop.”

  Raker frowned in confusion. “But how do we drum with both hands when we need to hold the pot?”

  “Sit on the floor,” she said. When both servants hesitated, Louise said, “That wasn’t a suggestion.”

  Both plopped to the ground, Raker claiming the spoons and flipping his pot over and he and Martin placing them on the ground in front of them. Louise returned the pair of silverware to Martin and joined Adam.

  “Your musicians, Your Grace. Shall we try again?”

  “You’re a genius, Aunt,” he complimented.

  She bit back a smile. “I will be if this works.”

  “It will,” Adam promised. He looked to the men. “Begin.”

  They started the cadence and, this time, the rhythm flowed through him as he took his position and he and his aunt went twirling about the room in the manner of a waltz. Once he perfected those steps, they switched to the lively English country dances and Scottish reels she’d tried to teach him. This time, Adam picked up the intricate footwork and innately understood how and where to move. By the time he’d mastered several dances, both he and Louise were out of breath.

  “Enough!” he cried, and Martin and Raker ceased their drumming.

  His aunt’s face was flushed with the exertion, but he also read the pride on her features.

  “You were wonderful, Adam,” she praised. “Your natural ability to move took over. You are very graceful.”

  “I owe you the credit. If you hadn’t thought of the army drummers, I would still be looking down, thinking I possessed two left feet.”

  She went to the two servants. “We’ll need to practice again tomorrow. You may leave your pots and spoons in the corner. Thank you.”

  The men nodded in deference as she and Adam left the ballroom. They were met by Holmes.

  The butler said, “Mr. Crimley and his assistant have arrived, Your Graces.”

  “Excellent, Holmes,” said Aunt Louise. “Have them bring everything into the drawing room. The light is better there, and it worked well before. I want to see how my suggestions turned out. And Holmes, have tea brought to us. All that dancing has left me with a monstrous thirst.”

  Adam had learned that his aunt had visited Crimley’s shop before they traveled to Essex. She’d told the tailor what was needed and had looked at numerous swatches, selecting everything herself. He trusted her opinion and was also eager to see what Crimley had come up with.

  They went to the drawing room, and soon Crimley directed his assistant and several of the Durbury footmen as they brought in numerous trunks. The tailor had a small wooden platform placed near a large window as he had when he’d first come to measure Adam. Louise took a nearby seat.

  “Don’t worry, Your Grace. I have seen a man’s body before,” she said with a wave of her hand, but she politely looked the other way as he stripped off his cousin’s coat and untied the cravat around his throat, giving both to the assistant.

  He removed his shirt, and Crimley helped him don the first of many shirts. Every single one was made from white muslin and felt like a cloud against his skin. Aunt Louise remarked upon which ones she liked and didn’t and did the same as he tried on waistcoats, made in a variety of dark colors. Most were single-breasted, though a few were double-breasted. Crimley assured them it would be wise for His Grace to have both types in his wardrobe.

  Adam counted over two dozen tailcoats as he tried them on, all with cutaway fronts and tails in the back. About half were single-breasted and the others double-breasted. All were made from wool in the same colors as the waistcoats. Only the blue ones had brass or gold buttons, with the others possessing self-fabric covered buttons. As he tried each on, his aunt made suggestions to Crimley, which his assistant noted. For the most part, no alterations would be needed.

  The trousers were all in dark colors as well, save for half a dozen pairs of buff leather breeches. He preferred these buckskins, which fit similarly to his army trousers. All of the pants fit snuggly and needed no adjustments in length. Crimley layered accessories on, from cravats to braces to stockings, which came in silk, cotton, and wool. During the tailor’s initial visit, he’d had Adam stand and drawn the shape of his foot on parchment, along with measuring the length and circumference of his calves. Now Crimley produced several pairs of boots, from high Hessians to calf boots. Every pair fit Adam well, even better than his current pair of boots he’d worn in the cavalry for several years.

  Next, Crimley produced three greatcoats, one very dressy with an attached cape for evening wear. Adam couldn’t imagine attending the theatre or opera but knew Durham had possessed boxes to both. At least he now had the clothing to go anywhere he chose and feel comfortable among his peers.

  “You’ve done a remarkable job in a short amount of time, Mr. Crimley,” he praised.

  “Thank you, Your Grace. The rest of your wardrobe will be delivered in another fortnight.”

  Adam couldn’t conceive needing more than what had already appeared, but he had given Aunt Louise carte blanche. She moved in society and knew what he would need.

  “You’ll also find other items have already been delivered to your rooms, Your Grace,” the tailor continued. “Including nightshirts and several dressing gowns in satin and silk damask and two banyans.”

  He had no idea what a banyan might be and decided he would figure out what Crimley referred to when he ventured upstairs.

  “I’m very pleased,” Aunt Louise said. “You’ve done well, Crimley. I’ll be sure to recommend you to others. And when the ton sees my nephew in your splendid clothes, it will be recommendation enough.”

  “Thank you, Your Grace. I am honored to work with His Grace. Do you have any further need of me?”

  “No, Crimley. That will do.” She looked across the room to Holmes. “See that Mr. Crimley and his man are given something to eat before they travel back to London.”

  “Yes, Your Grace,” the butler replied. “If you’ll come with me?”

  The assistant had already packed up the platform Adam had stepped down from and the two visitors followed Holmes from the drawing room.

  The dowager duchess turned to Martin, who’d slipped into the room during the fitting. “Martin, have footmen take all of these trunks to His Grace’s chambers. I’m sure you’ll be busy the next several hours as you organize His Grace’s wardrobe.”

  The valet bowed and left the room.

  “Are you pleased, my boy?”

  Adam smiled. “How could I not be, Aunt? I feel as though I’ll be dressed as a king from now on.”

  “You are close to a king. A duke must always look his best.” She smiled. “Especially a duke looking for his duchess.”

  He sensed the flush creep up his neck and spill across his cheeks. Not only had he never been prepared for society through dance or comportment lessons, Adam was woefully unprepared in the ways of love. He wouldn’t admit it to anyone, but he’d never made love to a woman. As a schoolboy, he’d stolen the occasional kiss but no more. When other lads his age went to university and received not only their academic education but one regarding the ways of the flesh, Adam was already in the military. The past dozen years he’d been at war, his life endangered hundreds of times. He was too busy fighting to stay alive to learn how to make love to a woman. And though camp doxies had been present during various times of the conflict, Adam had seen the results of men who’d coupled with some of them, exposed to hideous diseases. Because of that, he’d wanted no part of their sexual favors and kept his distance.

  Yet he now was nine and twenty—and still a virgin.

  “By the way,” Louise continued, “I’ve received responses from all of our invited guests. Every invitation was accepted. They’ll be here in just under a week. I think it’s time we sit and discuss who will attend your house party. Shall we go to your study and discuss matters?”

  “Of course.”

  Adam escorted her, eager to learn about the people she’d invited to Durbury.

  And especially glad that Lady Thea de Wolfe would be among them.

  Chapter Five

  Thea looked out the window at the lush, green scenery, excitement building within her. Oliver had just remarked they would reach Durbury within half an hour. She knew it was located adjacent to Trumbull Hall, where they’d gone for Lord Trumbull’s funeral in June. The Essex countryside was beautiful this time of year. She hoped she would enjoy her first house party.

  And getting to know their host.

  “What type of activities do guests partake in at a house party?” she asked.

  Diana laughed. “Don’t ask me. This is my first one as well. At least Rachel was good enough to advise us on what gowns to bring.”

  “Lady Merrick was very helpful,” Thea agreed. “I’m happy to finally wear some of the gowns made up for my come-out. I’m looking forward to wearing the dinner gowns and especially the one for the ball.”

  “It didn’t surprise me to hear guests dress so elaborately for dinner in the country, but I didn’t realize we’d also attend a ball,” Diana added.

  “Many house parties end with a ball on the last evening,” Oliver shared. “Sometimes, the host invites all the tenants who farm his estate and it’s a true country ball, with peers and commoners mixing. Other times, the houseguests are joined by local families of good breeding, who come from ten to twenty miles around.”

  “I wonder which Durham will hold,” mused Thea.

  “It will be up to the Dowager Duchess of Durham, who will be our hostess,” Diana said. “Rachel informed me that Her Grace has returned to Durbury after being gone over two decades. She was the one who sent out the invitations and will have planned all of the activities.”

  “Back to that, Oliver,” Thea said. “What do people do at these things?”

  He shrugged. “I’m partial to the physical activities. Riding. Shooting. Lawn croquet. Boating. Sometimes, the men and women split off. The men might go hunting in the morning while the ladies breakfast and write letters. Then they’ll meet up in the afternoon for a picnic or tea held outdoors.”

  “Tea outdoors? That sounds delightful. What else?”

  “The meals are quite lavish. Especially the desserts. Rich, decadent sweets. After dinner, once the men have smoked their cheroots and drunk their port, all will come together. There’ll be singing and dancing. Word games. Cards. Reading.”

  “I hope there’ll be lots of dancing,” Thea said. “Now that I can move about again, I want to dance through life.”

  The carriage hit a rough spot, causing Diana’s stomach to roil.

  Diana suddenly looked stricken. “Stop the carriage!” she cried. “I must get out.”

  Oliver used his cane to tap on the roof and shouted for the driver to stop. The vehicle came to a halt and he threw open the door and jumped to the ground. Diana moved to the door and her husband grabbed her waist, swinging her from the carriage and away from him. Thea heard an awful retching and hurried to the entryway in time to see her sister leaning over, her hands grasped around her knees, vomit spewing from her. Oliver held her elbow, rubbing her back.

  Once Diana stopped, she raised up slowly. Oliver whipped out a handkerchief and dabbed at her mouth, a tender look in his eyes.

  “Is it what I think?” he asked softly.

  Diana nodded and burst into tears. She buried her head against her husband’s chest as his arms went about her.

  Thea stood there puzzled a moment and then realized her sister was with child. She moved back into the coach and sat on the plush seat in order to give the couple a few moments alone. Some minutes passed and then they rejoined her.

  “I’m sorry,” Diana apologized.

  “There’s no need,” Thea assured her. She took Diana’s hand. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “The nausea started a few weeks ago. I wasn’t certain at first but now I am.” She looked to her husband, who placed his arm about her shoulders and drew her to him.

  “Well, I’m delighted a little Merrifield is on the way. I hope it will be a girl with dark hair and the blue-gray eyes of her mother.”

  “And what if she is a he—with your penetrating blue eyes and blond hair?” his wife countered.

  “Boy, girl, it matters not. I hope we will have many of both.” He kissed his wife’s brow reverently.

  Thea’s heart almost burst with love to see her sister so cherished. She wished more than anything that she would find a husband who cared for her as much as Oliver did for Diana.

  Oliver broke the kiss and looked at Thea. “That reminds me. You’re welcome to do things with one or any number of the ladies present at Durbury, as well as participate in all of the activities of the group. But under no circumstances are you to find yourself alone with a gentlemen guest, Thea. I’m stepping in and serving in Reston’s place as your guardian. There’s to be no kissing. I won’t have you compromised on my watch.”

  Her face flamed and she mumbled, “Yes, Oliver,” her gaze dropping to her lap.

  Lady Merrick had talked to her about this very thing. With a much different perspective. The marchioness told Thea that kissing did occur during house parties. She advised not to be reckless about it but shared if Thea had an interest in a man and the opportunity presented itself, she should kiss him to see if they suited. Thea remembered how, after stumbling upon Oliver and Diana kissing endlessly, she had recommended to Amelia to try kissing a few men during the Season. Her friend hadn’t taken her advice and had wed Trumbull without a single kiss between them. The marriage had proved disastrous. Thank goodness fate had intervened and made Trumbull no more. These days, Amelia had written and shared with Thea that she spent endless hours kissing Derek—and enjoyed it very much.

  So Thea knew kissing was an important part of marriage. At least, a successful marriage. She didn’t plan to kiss all of the men who came to Durham. But if the chance presented itself and the new Duke of Durham wished to steal a kiss from her, she’d certainly allow it. Of course, she didn’t know exactly how that would work, especially if Oliver watched her like a hawk and made sure she was never alone with a man.

  The carriage turned from the lane they traveled and she looked out the window. In the distance, she saw an enormous manor house. Anticipation rippled through her.

  They were here.

  Adam sat at his desk, his heels tapping nervously against the floor as he tried to remember everyone’s name and what Aunt Louise had said about each of them. Sixteen guests had been invited for a week’s stay at Durbury, making them a party of eighteen total. Mentally, he went over the guests who’d be arriving in the next hour or two.

  He already had met Lord and Lady Merrifield and Lady Thea at Trumbull’s funeral. Or at least he’d met and spoken with Merrifield. The ladies he would recognize on sight, though. He still wished it could be only Lady Thea invited instead of other single, young women but Aunt Louise said for propriety’s sake that the rules called for a balance of single men and women in attendance. The entire point of a house party was to match guests that would be suited to one another and hope, after spending several days together, that attachments would be formed, at least between some of them.

  Adam hated rules. He’d lived with them his entire life, first at school and then in the army. At least in the army, most of the rules had made sense. Why the ton had to have a massive list of unwritten, unrecorded rules irritated him, though. His aunt had gone over many of them with him during the past three weeks. She’d explained that morning calls were always made in the afternoons. That there were optimal times to ride and walk in Hyde Park in order to be seen. That a gentleman who asked a lady to dance twice in one evening showed his certain interest in her, staking a claim.

 

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