“My dear, all my London friends have been writing with great excitement because there is to be a Frost Fair on the Thames, and there hasn’t been one since 1740. Obviously, the children couldn’t miss that.”

“I hadn’t heard,” Hugo said.

“And I realized that we couldn’t let you make such a large decision on your own,” his sister said in a lower voice, handing her pelisse to one of the footmen and then kissing Hugo on both cheeks, a habit she picked up on the continent. “I fetched the boys from Eton and Horatius from Oxford and here we are!”

“I shall miss an examination in theology,” Horatius announced.

“Who cares about theology?” Alaric asked. “They’ll give you top marks in absentia for command of supercilious nonsense.”

“Good show of vocabulary,” Louisa said affectionately, ruffling Alaric’s hair. “Horatius, my dear, you know your don promised that you may make up any examinations you wish.”

After North’s and Parth’s raucous laughter at the idea of requesting to make up an examination settled, Hugo said, “I am happy to see all of you. I am considering taking a new duchess, children, and that will, of course, affect your lives as well.”

“I told you that had to be it!” Alaric said to Horatius. “You owe me a shilling.”

Hugo grinned as he watched Horatius, punctilious as he was, instantly pull a coin from his pocket and hand it over.

“Didn’t think I’d marry again, did you?” he asked his heir.

“After a divorce? I hoped not,” Horatius said, doing a pretty good job of looking as stern as a bishop.

Louisa slung her arm around Horatius’s shoulder. At the moment they were precisely the same height, though he would likely continue growing. “You can rest in your grave, Hugo, assured that your heir will mend your ragged reputation.”

Hugo laughed. “Meanwhile, Horatius, your younger siblings are in need of a mother.”

Horatius looked from his father’s face to Joan’s bright golden hair, and Hugo saw the realization strike him. Joan was still sucking her fingers, but thankfully, she hadn’t started sobbing.

“Ah,” Horatius said. He bent over and picked up Betsy. “Young ladies don’t sit on the floor,” he told his little sister, but not unkindly.

The future duke was arrogant and conceited, but his heart was in the right place. He loved his family, no matter how rigid he was.

“I concur with Aunt Knowe that it is advisable that we assist, to the best of our abilities, in choosing the third duchess,” Horatius announced.

“I was there when Aunt Knowe interviewed the new upstairs maid,” Betsy said importantly.

“I don’t think that would be appropriate,” Horatius told her.

Betsy scowled at him. “I can ask questions too!”