“My parents just fired off both of my younger sisters,” Lord Jeremy said, downing half his wine. “The finances will present no difficulties on our end. Hornby said I should approach you directly, but then, Hornby is hardly disinterested.”

Hornby was a popinjay, a flirt, an heir waiting to inherit his papa’s considerable wealth. He was from an old and respected family, but not exactly…

“Hornby is hardly disinterested?”

Lord Jeremy studied a heaping spoonful of trifle. “He gets on rather well with Lady Samantha, wouldn’t you say? Should Lady Rachel accept a proposal, then Ladies Samantha and Kathleen would doubtless follow her up the church aisle in short order.”

The prospect of three sets of solicitors pawing through the ducal books had Rex’s digestion turning queasy.

“One doting hopeful at a time, my lord. I will find a moment to have a private discussion with Lady Rachel. Until I do—and my schedule is quite full—you are to make no assumptions.”

Lord Jeremy slurped up his trifle. “Wouldn’t dream of assuming. Your mama would box my ears from here to Brighton. Rachel will be every bit as formidable, I’m sure.”

That’s Lady Rachel to you, puppy. “I don’t suppose you know of any gentlemen who might have caught Lady Kathleen’s fancy?”

“She’s such a fetching little thing. Half the bachelors still in Town seem happy to stand up with her. The gents are probably waiting for the older sisters to find matches, lest you take exception to their aspirations.”

Half the bachelors in Mayfair…Kathleen was pretty and diminutive, with an impish sense of humor, and ferocious skill with the violin. She was also wickedly accurate with a bow and arrow.

“Get your sisters launched,” Lord Jeremy went on, “and your mama can devote herself to the happy task of finding you a duchess. What more could a duke ask for?”

A man longing for holy matrimony was not a creature in possession of all of his wits, apparently. “I can think of a few things I might enjoy more than having my mother turn her matrimonial gunsights in my direction.”

Hornby rejoined them before Rex could elaborate, as did a pair of footmen, who began clearing the table.

“Her Grace told me that we gentlemen are not to linger overlong in here,” Hornby said. “I do believe the ladies are intent on making some music later on, and I volunteered to turn pages for Lady Samantha.”

He looked more pleased to contemplate that honor than he had been at any point during the previous two hours of good food and witty conversation.

“Splendid,” Lord Jeremy said. “And I will perform the same office for Lady Rachel.”