“Mother, you cannot honestly believe that,” Kit said. “Those mamas want money and land for their little angels. Ask yourself how you would feel if Alex came home wanting to marry a butcher. How would the Earl and Countess of Marlborough feel about that for Ella? Or the Marquess of Langford for Vivi?”

All three girls looked up from their plates, surprised to have been dragged into the discussion, and the duchess was saved from speaking by Alex, who had made her way to a seat next to Will. “Oh, no, don’t bring our prospects for marriage into this. We have nothing to do with it.”

“It seems, Scamp,” Will said, “that you have everything to do with it, seeing as the three of you have secured the punishment in question for all of us with your behavior last night.”

“Thank you all for that,” Nick said. “I should tan your hide, Alex…and Freddie’s, too, for his part in it.” Looking at Ella and Vivi, he added, “You two are saved only because you are neither family nor male.”

The duchess spoke, her place at the foot of the table making the statement seem more of a decree. “I am through with the four of you being so cavalier about your prospects for marriage and a future. You will all attend the house party and, more so, you will all enjoy it.”

“You cannot force us to enjoy it, Mother,” Kit said with a smile.

“You forget that I’m a duchess, Christopher. I can do whatever I like.”

She flashed a bright smile as all four Stafford children groaned at her statement, a commonplace proclamation, sending Vivi and Ella into giggles.

“I still don’t understand why we have to be punished for Alex’s ills,” Will said.

Alex looked her eldest brother square in the eye, saying tartly, “I assure you it’s my punishment as well, Will. There is little I want to do less than be trapped in the country with you lot.”

“Exactly why I’m guessing Mother is forcing all of us to attend,” Nick pointed out. “Why not just suffer through the ball?”

Alex smiled sweetly. “Why, to make your collective lives more difficult, of course!” Three sets of male eyes narrowed as Ella went into a coughing fit and Vivi smiled into her teacup.

The sentence still hung in the air as the door to the room swung open, causing all heads to turn toward it. Alex’s stomach dropped and her appetite vanished as Blackmoor stepped into the room. He was clad in traveling clothes—a chestnut topcoat over a crisp white linen shirt and buckskin breeches, tightly fitted to his long legs in a way she couldn’t help but notice. The pants were tucked into tall leather riding boots that were freshly polished. He looked remarkably handsome, if slightly distracted, with his golden hair mussed and his eyes betraying his impatience. He was holding a riding crop and hat in one hand and a pair of lambskin gloves in the other.

Alex’s gaze flew to Vivi, who met her gaze firmly and nodded almost imperceptibly, as if to say, Be strong, and then to Ella, who was looking at Blackmoor with narrowed eyes, making her displeasure with him clear to anyone who was looking. Thankfully, no one was, and Vivi poked her before it became an issue.

“Gavin!” Her Grace said brightly, offering up her hand for Blackmoor to bow low over. “You are a welcome addition to this motley bunch. Perhaps you can bring some calm to our table? There is plenty of food; have you eaten?”

“A pleasure, as always, Your Grace.” Blackmoor’s rich tenor sent a shiver down Alex’s spine. “As much as I would like to stay, I’m afraid I have already eaten and am only here to take the male half of this gathering off your hands.” She noticed that, as he looked around the table, he deliberately avoided her gaze. “We are off to Essex.”

“Indeed.” Will stood up from the table.

“Essex? For what?” Ella asked sharply.

“For an adventure that doesn’t involve meddling females,” Kit joked, then cleared his throat when no one laughed. He stood, moving toward the hallway to call for their topcoats and hats.

Nick stood last. “We had already arranged to use the house for hunting this week. Mother’s party came as a surprise to all of us, but I suspect she chose to host one so quickly because she knew we would have no excuses to avoid it.”

“Indeed,” said the duchess. “Your mother possesses not only beauty, but intelligence as well. Lord Blackmoor, you will be joining us for the house party?” The words, while phrased as a question, were more a dictate.

An almost imperceptible color rose on Blackmoor’s cheeks, something that Alex noticed only because she was so focused on him, waiting for his answer. “I shall endeavor to be there, my lady.”

“Excellent,” said the duchess, moving to exit alongside the young men. “We shall make a room for you and hope for the best.”

The door closed behind the group, leaving the girls in the now quiet dining room. Alex let out a long breath—one she hadn’t known she was holding. Turning sad eyes to her friends, she said, “He didn’t look at me once. Did you notice?”

“I did,” Vivi said softly. “You cannot expect him to get beyond the events of last night so quickly, Alex. It was a great deal for one person to take in.”

“True,” said Ella. “Men are not nearly as evolved as women are, nor as intelligent, evidently.”

Alex offered a half smile but was lost in her disappointment. Vivi was right—she should have expected a cool response from Blackmoor, but his cut hurt just the same. While she understood how difficult this situation must be for him, it didn’t change the fact that she was tired of fighting with him, tired of always having to start over. She wished they could go back to the beginning and just be friends again. That would be enough. Almost.