Love Match by Maggie MacKeever Page A

ain’t going to like staying in a bachelor establishment. My valet will probably quit again. And the cook. I’ll become a bedlamite. Much good her fortune will do me then.”
    Magda and Lady Augusta had been listening openly to this catalog of woes. “Poor Nigel,” said Augusta. “We’ll all come to see you in that dreadful place. Maybe we’ll make a party of it. We’ll go into the city, and visit the lions in the Tower, and Nigel in Bedlam Hospital for the Insane.”
    “Don’t think of it!” begged Nigel. “The lions might eat you and I’d be held to blame. Saint, I beg you to keep Birdie with you a while longer. Aunt Syb can’t abide her in the same house. Although she’ll probably descend upon you to make sure I haven’t done away with the fowl. Daresay she’d want to come and visit anyway. See what she can do about your household. Don’t disturb yourself, Duchess! You’re probably the only one of us Aunt Syb won’t turn upside down and shake out.”
    “Ah,” murmured Elizabeth. “Because I am such a pattern-card.”
    Nigel smiled. “You are, you know. And yes, I’m a humbug. You won’t mind having Birdie a little longer. You like her and she likes you. Here, let me show you how to take off the top of the cage. There, now it’s become a roost. She can’t go far. Her wings are clipped.”
    Birdie didn’t have to go far to cause trouble, as Justin well remembered. However, he also remembered the sight of his bride laughing in her damp nightgown. Therefore, he remained silent as Nigel explained parrot care to Elizabeth, and told her how Birdie liked to have her head scratched, and that one foot lifted signified a desire to be picked up. Strutting and fanning were courtship displays, however, in which case the bird was best left alone, or given a mirror in which to admire herself.
    Justin recalled a certain strutting and fanning episode involving one of his boots. Thornaby, unfortunately present at the time, had nigh swooned from the shock. Elizabeth was smiling as she scratched the parrot’s head. He envisioned her scratching his.
    At this rate, he would soon be joining his old friend in Bedlam. “Very well! The bird can stay.”
    Magda offered their visitor a cup of tea. Justin suggested port. Nigel declined both. “Must be off! Preparations to make.”
    The men walked into the hallway, where Chislett was waiting to present Nigel with his coat and hat and cane. “I’ll try to keep Aunt Syb busy,” said Nigel, “but you know how she is.”
    Justin had faint hope that the indomitable Lady Ysabella could be kept from meddling in his household. Ah well, he consoled himself, matters could hardly grow worse. “As for Birdie,” Nigel added, “I am in your debt.”
    Justin glanced back into the drawing room, where Magda and Augusta had resumed their conversation, Magda pondering the question of how London was to be defended if Bonaparte led his army to England, Gus more concerned with croquettes de game aux champagne. Elizabeth was coaxing Birdie to sit on her shoulder. “You are in debt to me for the rest of your life, at least.”
    Nigel settled his curly-brimmed beaver hat on his tousled golden curls. “My life is bound to be longer than yours!” he said cheerfully. “I only have Aunt Syb to contend with.”
     

Chapter 9
     
    “It is our duty as gentlewomen to make sure we
    never succumb to desire and suffer its disastrous consequences. “ —Lady Ratchett
     
    Restlessly, Elizabeth paced the bedroom floor, to the annoyance of her abigail, who was helping her disrobe. Or attempting to help her. Daphne had a vested interest in the wager placed belowstairs as to whether the duke and duchess would share a bed this night. “Whatever is the matter, Your Grace?”
    “I told you not to call me that.” Elizabeth paused long enough to allow Daphne access to the buttons of her dress. “I don’t suppose you were aware that Charnwood is divorced.”
    Daphne gaped. “Divorced? His