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“If such a thing is possible when I am the main reason for the house party,” Sebastian pointed out, but Gregory’s words sprang a tiny bit of hope in his breast. It was certainly closer proximity than London was to the Hall. He’d thought he would have to wait until the end of the Season or at least until after he managed to find a bride—perhaps even until after his wedding—to be able to step away from the social scene long enough to visit his estate and find Mr. Heywood.

“Even if you cannot, surely one or two of us will be able to slip away at some point. It might be easier for those of us who have already secured our brides.” Gregory smirked as Sebastian sent him a dark look. Their friendship was still strong, but Sebastian had not quite forgiven Gregory for ruining his sister. At least, he would certainly not let Gregory forget that was how the marriage had come about.

“I would prefer to go, if possible.” The idea of being left out of the action, especially if it was to take place on his lands, smarted. “The man is in my employ now, after all.”

“I am sure we will be able to find some time. The entire house party cannot revolve around finding you a bride. Perhaps Christian would be willing to take center stage at some point.”

Both of them chuckled. Known as the Adonis of the Ton for his blond good looks, Christian was certainly a favorite of the ladies and often basked in their attention. However, he was finding this Season’s attention a bit of a strain, as the ladies now focused on him were of a very different quality than he was used to—young, virginal debutantes, rather than their married older sisters or mothers. He was struggling as much as Sebastian with making a decision.

If, indeed, he was even really trying to narrow down the pool.

He was going to be utterly mobbed once Sebastian did choose a bride, as the only unmarried duke left in the capital. Unless Sinclair’s heir, who Sebastian still had trouble thinking of as Northumberland, came to London, Christian would be on his own.

“Perhaps Northumberland will come join him. He will need a bride soon, too.” Gregory’s thoughts were apparently mirroring Sebastian’s own, and like Sebastian, he said the duke’s title as if it left a bad taste in his mouth.

“If only Sinclair…” Sebastian’s words trailed off. They both knew what he was going to say. If only Sinclair had not gone on that damn trip. If only he had not been flung overboard during a storm. If only he had been able to wed his fiancée, Isabella, and beget an heir before he’d gone. His death had woken up the rest of them to their own need for wives and heirs, as quickly as possible, for they might not have the time they’d thought they did. Sinclair had died far younger than his father had.

“I know.” Gregory was unusually somber before giving himself a little shake and sending a wry grin Sebastian’s way. “I am doing my best to produce my own heir, to ensure your sister and my estate will be well in hand if something untoward should happen to me.”

“No details, please,” Sebastian growled. He absolutely did not want to think about his sister and his best friend that way, while Gregory delighted in regularly reminding Sebastian of the defilement of his sister. If only Gregory’s half-sisters were not so very young, Sebastian would think about returning the favor. Unfortunately, it would be a very long wait if he wanted one of them for his bride.

“At any rate, it seems too good an opportunity to pass up,” Gregory said, sobering as he returned to the original subject. “We should speak with the others once we know if they are coming. It cannot be too suspicious if all us gentlemen want to go out for a ride together, and if we take an unexpectedly long time to return, that is the privilege of being a duke.”

“There is that, though I doubt it would make your wife happy if the schedule of her first house party is disrupted.”

“Ah, but that’s the beauty of it.” Gregory grinned. “I can blame her brother, in all sincerity.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes, but he did feel his mood lightening as Gregory’s did, which was a relief. His friend might not have said he’d forgiven him, but he had. Neither of them needed the words to know it.

“Let us see who else rides out with us. I’m sure we can find a way to blame one of them.”

“Now you’re thinking,” Gregory said with a chuckle.

Mei

Returning home, Mei relaxed as soon as she stepped inside the small house she and her grandmother had rented for the Season. It was not so very far from Mayfair, though in a much less fashionable area, and the entirety of the house could fit into the Duke of Bolton’s foyer, but it was cozy and comfortable, and she loved it. In these walls, she could let down her guard, which she was never able to do in Society.

She never knew who might be around, who might be a potential client or have the ear of one, so she had to assume the persona of Mei the Matchmaker’s Granddaughter as soon as she stepped onto the front step of the house. It was only within it that she and her grandmother were completely safe to loosen their tongues and expressions.

“Grandmother?” she called. The front room with its small sitting area led into the kitchen, which opened into the back garden. The stairs were to the left of the kitchen and led up to the upper floor, where there were two decently sized bedrooms and a washroom. Since her grandmother was not in the front room, she could only presume that she was either up in her bedroom or out back tending to the garden.

When she heard no answer, Mei made her way through the kitchen and opened the door that led to the back. As she’d thought, her grandmother was there, weeding one of the plant beds. She was wearing a worn gown in the English style, with an apron tied over it, a wide-brimmed hat perched upon her head, and her hands covered with gloves. At her side was a small basket, partially filled with vegetables that had ripened enough to pick.

Tilting her head back, her grandmother looked up as Mei exited the house, and her wrinkles deepened as her lips spread into a smile of greeting. Mei immediately felt lighter and more relaxed as she smiled back.

“I knew you were feeling perfectly fine,” she said, scolding, though she was not truly displeased.

“It is strange; I began to feel much better after your departure, and eventually, I realized I had the energy to get up and work in the garden. The outdoor air is very healing, you know.” Unsurprisingly, Grandmother was entirely unrepentant. Mei had expected nothing less.

“I am sure you did.” Mei went to sit on the bench near her grandmother. She was dressed far too nicely to be digging in the dirt with her, and her grandmother was nearly finished. By the time Mei changed, she would be done. “The meeting with the duke went fairly well until it was interrupted by his mother.”

“His mother?” Grandmother had been about to turn back to work, but now she paused with a frown. “I thought she had been banished.”

They only knew the truth because of Mei’s friendship with the duchesses, and she’d confided in her grandmother, but no one else.

“Sent to rusticate in the countryside for her health,” Mei confirmed. “She returned while I was there and announced that she would be helping the duke find a bride.”

“Ah, so he no longer requires our assistance. That is too bad.” Grandmother sighed. “Landing a duke as a client would have been a boon.”