“Jack is only a nickname for John—which was your father’s name and is more suitable for a future duke,” the duchess said. She looked around to see if the rest of the party was following into the room. “And may I present the family solicitor, Mr. Henry Camden-Smythe.”

“How do you do?” I said in what I hoped was a steady voice. We shook hands.

The duchess now turned her attention to Darcy. “And I’m afraid I don’t know your name, young man, but I’d like you to meet Lady Georgiana.”

“Darcy O’Mara,” Darcy said. “Lady Georgiana and I are already acquainted.” He took my hand and held it, his eyes smiling into mine.

“O’Mara? Lord Kilhenny’s son. Of course. Your father had a fine racing stable, I remember.”

“Not anymore, I’m afraid,” Darcy said.

The duchess sighed. “I heard. How my husband loved to go to Ascot. Nothing is the same anymore.”

Darcy was now deemed to be acceptable, which was more than could be said for the Australian heir.

“Do sit down,” the duchess said. “Tea will be served shortly. I expect you’re hungry.”

“Too right,” the boy said. “I haven’t had a decent-size meal since I left home.”

He sank into one of the armchairs, not looking at all intimidated by his surroundings. I took a seat on the sofa and Darcy slid into place beside me. I glanced at Darcy and he winked. He didn’t seem as shocked to see me as I was him.

“Are you expecting rain, John?” the dowager duchess asked.

“Rain? No. Looks quite fine to me.”

“I wondered, because you are wearing your hat in the house, so I thought you might be afraid the roof would leak.”

“Oh, no. Looks all right to me,” he said easily.

Edwina rang the bell and the butler appeared. “Huxstep, would you please find His Grace and tell him that our guests have arrived, and would he please come to welcome them.” She turned back to Jack, who still hadn’t taken his hat off. “So you have come from the Australian countryside. Quite different from this, I’d imagine.”

“Too right,” he said. “Where I come from, we run one sheep per acre. No rain, see. And the bloody rabbits and roos eat what grass there is.”

I saw the duchess stiffen at the swear word but she kept quiet. A trolley was wheeled in, and tea was placed on the table in front of us.

“Please do help yourself,” the duchess said.

Jack looked at the tiny sandwiches and cakes. “Is this all you have for tea here?”

“It seems quite adequate to me,” Edwina said. “What do you have at home?”

“Oh, usually a roast and two veg. Sometimes it’s a meat pie.”

“That would be what we eat for dinner,” Edwina said stiffly.

“You have another meal after this then?”

“We most certainly do. At eight o’clock. And we dress for it, John.”

“Well, I wouldn’t expect you to sit down in your underwear.” He grinned.