Chapter 1
Sussex, England
Late February 1812
Grace Armstrong, the youngest daughter of the Earl of Snowdon, rushed away from her brother’s study after walking in on something she understand between her brother, Elias, and his wife, Lydia. She only wished to ask her brother something, but she knew enough to know she would intrude if she interrupted whatever had made them so enamored with each other.
She raced away and found her sister Jenny in their parlor. “Sister, why would Elias enjoy Lydia sitting on his lap so much? Wouldn’t he rather her sit in her own chair?” she asked, not pausing long enough for her sister to respond. “Perhaps it is easier to kiss her if she’s in his lap, but still.”
Jenny responded by laughing so hard her shoulders shook.
“What’s so funny?” Diana, her oldest sister, asked as she glided into the room and sank into her usual spot on the plush settee.
“Grace entered Elias’ study without knocking,” Jenny said, laughing and flashing Diana a knowing look.
Grace was only three-and-ten and understood nothing that occurred between a husband and a wife. Her sisters gave each other that annoying look they reserved for when she was curious about things.
She wasn’t convinced that Jenny, five-and-ten, or Diana, nine-and-ten, knew much more than she did. Girls weren’t told much about what to expect, but as her older sisters, they acted as if they knew more than her on every topic.
“Oh my,” Diana exclaimed. She poured cups of tea for both her and her sisters. “Dare I ask what you saw?”
The sisters were no strangers to stumbling upon Elias and Lydia in compromising positions throughout their sprawling country home. Grace was quite curious about the faint sounds of passion that echoed from behind closed doors from her brother and her sister-in-law. Not that anyone would explain it to her, even if she asked.
“Lydia was sitting on his lap, and they were kissing, so I ran away. He seemed to enjoy it far too much for me to interrupt. Don’t enter any rooms in this house without knocking first,” Grace said, releasing a fit of giggles.
“They are newlyweds. It’s to be expected, I think,” Diana said.
“I can’t wait until I have a husband and get to kiss him all the time,” Grace said dreamily. It was true. She couldn’t wait to experience her first kiss.
“Are there any other qualities you would seek in a husband?” Diana asked. “Besides one that you wish to kiss.”
Grace giggled. “Handsome and a good kisser!”
“Grace! You will want to look deeper than their appearance and kissing abilities,” Diana said. “But you have a good start.” Her sister winked at her.
Jenny set her cup down. “Tell us your list, Diana,” she said. “What are you hoping for in a husband?”
“Well,” she began, “I desire a husband who not only values my opinion but actively involves me in decisions concerning our estates. He must possess unwavering faithfulness and a genuine desire to be a devoted father to our children, just as Papa was to us.”
“You didn’t mention love in your list of requirements. Shouldn’t that also be on your list?” Jenny asked.
Grace mentally added ‘love’ to her list. Handsome, good kisser, love.
“It would be preferable but so rare amongst ton marriages. I must be practical,” Diana said. “And I must find a husband this season.”
Jenny arched her eyebrow. “Right. Isn’t that the point of the season?” she asked. “I don’t understand.”
“But I didn’t find a husband last season,” Diana said.
“You didn’t try to find a husband last season, sister,” Jenny countered.
“How would you know?” Diana asked. “What do you know about finding a husband when you aren’t even out yet?”
Grace looked between her sisters, enjoying the exchange. She wanted to be just like them. Diana would leave for Town for the London season soon, and Grace dreamt of the day she would make her own come out and meet all the handsome, interesting gentlemen. She sighed.
“I wager I know more than you, sister,” Jenny said. “I know one must have prospects and interest in a gentleman if they intend to marry. You never mentioned a single gentleman last season. Did you even discuss any prospects with your friends?”
“Well, no,” Diana replied. “But is it my fault that so many of the gentlemen are dreadful bores?”
Grace found it hard to believe that the men were boring. “There isn’t a single gentleman you have found interesting?” she asked. She would find them all so interesting, especially the handsome ones.
“Not really,” Diana replied. “I guess I didn’t get to know that many gentlemen other than Elias’ friends and they would never suit. Matt and Hudson are like brothers, and Jude is the biggest rake of the ton, even worse than Elias used to be.”
“What is a rake?” Grace asked.
Diana and Jenny burst into whoops.
“What?” she asked. “Tell me!” They always thought she was too young to know things, and it drove her mad. She must prepare herself for the day she would take a husband, too.
Jenny stopped laughing after Grace cast her an annoyed glance. “It’s a gentleman who likes to kiss ladies,” Jenny replied. “And I’ll leave it at that.”
“Oh!” Grace exclaimed, pleased that her sisters gave her any information at all. “Well, that doesn’t sound bad. Perhaps I would like a rake.” She held her chin high. Her sisters must see her as a young lady and not a girl, eventually.
“Grace!” Diana said, glancing towards the door. “Never speak such a thing in front of Elias or Papa, or they will never allow you to attend the season!”
“I heard Lydia telling one of her friends that rakes make the best husbands,” Jenny offered, shrugging her shoulders.
“Well, I should think one would want their husband to enjoy kissing them,” Grace said. “I know I would.”
“What do you know about kissing, Grace?” Diana asked.
She sipped her tea before answering, annoyed that her sister assumed she knew nothing at all. “Only what I read in my romance novels, which leaves me quite frustrated at how little they explain.”
“I quite agree, sister,” Jenny said. “I don’t understand why no one will tell us about what one does when they are married. How will we be any good at it if we don’t know what it is?”
“Perhaps Lydia will tell us,” Diana said.
“Do you think Mama would have told us if she were here?” Grace asked. She didn’t remember their mama, since she had been only a baby when she passed. She always enjoyed hearing the memories Elias and Diana could recall, even if she longed to recall stories of her own.
“I think she would before we married, as most mamas do,” Diana said.
“If rakes make the best husbands, then Mama would tell us to marry a rake, right?” Grace asked.
Jenny burst into whoops again. “I’m not sure if she would use those exact words, sister.”
“Why not?” Grace asked. “It sounds to me like what I need to look for in my husband.” She pondered that for a moment and then nodded, deciding. “I shall set my cap on a handsome rake.”
A voice bellowed from the doorway, “What did you just say?”
All three sisters turned their heads to see their brother and their sister-in-law standing there. Elias’ expression bordered on murderous, while Lydia covered her mouth to hide her laughter.
Elias scowled at Jenny and Diana. “What have you two been telling your sister?”
Grace raised her chin. “I believe I am old enough to know such things, brother, and I know that when I marry, I want a handsome man who enjoys kissing, just like a rake.”
Their brother choked and stepped further into the room. “I don’t want to hear any more about rakes from any of you.” He stared them down with the ‘intimidating older brother’ look he’d given them for years, which, unfortunately for him, had lost its effectiveness.
“My love, why don’t you join your father and allow me to handle this?” Lydia patted his arm.
Grace scooted to the edge of her seat, hopeful Lydia might share more of the information she sought.
He shook his head before glancing at each of his sisters. “All right. But please put an end to all this rake talk.”
“Do you not want us to speak of rakes because you are one, brother?” Grace asked, tilting her head to the side as she assessed her brother. Lydia certainly seemed to enjoy his kissing.
If Elias’ eyes widened any further, they might have popped. “Who said I was a rake?”
Grace looked at Diana but said nothing. Elias shot a warning glance at Diana, but she hid her laughter behind her hand. He opened and closed his mouth, trying to find his words.
“Aren’t you going to find your father now, my love?” Lydia asked. “I have this well in hand.” She offered him a small smile, nodding towards the door and urging him to leave.
He sighed. “Very well. I hope when I see you all later, we have moved on to acceptable topics of conversation.” He placed a kiss on Lydia’s temple and exited the room. Grace smiled at them, thinking about what it might be like to have a man who adored her as much as her brother adored his wife. From the stories she had been told, her parents were quite the love match, too.
Lydia closed the door behind him before joining Diana on the settee. She nodded towards the tea, and Diana poured a cup for her.
“Now, sisters,” Lydia started. “Some of what you say is true. Your brother was considered quite the rake in the scandal sheets before we were married.”
“He must still be a rake if he enjoys kissing you so much,” Grace said. Lydia eyed her curiously, but Grace continued, “Jenny said a rake is a gentleman who likes to kiss ladies, and Elias certainly seems to like it a lot.”
The blush rose to Lydia’s neck. “Well, that is true, and he does. A rake is a bit more than that, Grace. It is a man who is known for their experience with women.”
“Is that why you said that rakes make the best husbands?” Grace asked.
Lydia choked but recovered. “Well, the experience they have is desirable for a husband.”
Grace furrowed her brow. “What kind of experience?”
Each of the sisters leaned closer, eagerly awaiting Lydia’s response.
“Well, experience that is important for marital relations. It’s something husbands and wives do to make a baby.” Lydia looked at her teacup, her expression tense.
“Is that what you were doing on Elias’ lap in his study? Making our new niece or nephew?” Grace asked. The couple told them all at dinner last night that they were expecting a babe.
The whoops poured from Diana and Jenny, and Lydia turned the deepest shade of pink. Grace wasn’t sure why it was so funny. How would she know how a baby was made if she didn’t ask?
“We made our precious babe before then, Grace,” Lydia said, placing a hand on her stomach. “I shan’t tell you exactly what occurs until closer to your wedding, but I will tell you more about it when that time comes.” Lydia took a sip of her tea before continuing, “And please, do your best not to speak of such things where your brother or father can hear. Just come to me with your questions.”
The sisters nodded their agreement.
Lydia set her cup on the table and stood. “I shall see to your brother.”
“Are you going to sit on his lap again?” Grace asked. Lydia just shook her head and hurried away, laughing. It seemed like a fair question to her.
At least she learnt more about what her list of requirements for her future husband would be. Handsome, good kisser, love, rake.
