Bea arched an eyebrow and lifted a single shoulder in a shrug. “A bit primitive. We’re not cavemen precisely, but that’s about the right of it. Simple biology, yes? Isn’t this your area of expertise?”

Nora shook her head, disliking the notion that they all operated on the same level as instinct-driven cavemen. “We are civilized. With brains in our heads.”

“It’s not far from the truth. It’s fairly simple.”

“I agree that it is simple. We’re here to help the duchess. I am here to help her. This has nothing to do with Mr. Sinclair.”

Bea shrugged and then went back to correcting the bows on Nora’s slippers. “If you say so.”

“I do,” she snapped.

Bea gave an apologetic shrug. “A natural misunderstanding on my part. He is young—”

“Is he?” She wrinkled his nose. “He must be at least a decade older than me.”

“Still young,” she insisted. “I would say about thirty. If you think him old, then that makes you . . . a child. A woman would think him quite young and virile. He is most certainly up to the task.”

Nora stiffened in affront. She had a fairly good notion to what task Bea referred.

Bea smirked and continued, “As I said, young. And handsome and eminently eligible. He’s set to inherit a dukedom. He should very much be the reason you take pains to look your best this evening and every evening you are here. He might be courting this Lady Elise but there have been no official announcements yet. As far as I’m concerned that means he’s fair—”

“What did you say?”

“He’s fair game as far as—”

“No, before that.”

“Oh. He’s courting a Lady Elise, who happens to be the daughter of the late Earl of Drafford. She was the earl’s only child and is a great heiress. Lovely, too, from all accounts. Accomplished. Kind in temperament from all reports and she was betrothed to the Duke of Birchwood’s eldest son. It seems she is determined to be the next Duchess of Birchwood, for she has been quite amenable to Sinclair’s suit since he returned to England.”

Nora shook her head in wonder. “How do you know all of this? We have been here one day only.”

“I said the servants were hoity-toity. I did not say they didn’t gossip. They’ve loose tongues aplenty. They are more than willing to share all the tittle-tattle and a day was plenty of time to do that.”

“Evidently.”

“Now. Let’s ready you for dinner.”

“It’s over an hour from now.”

“We need every moment if I’m to do what I have in mind with your hair.”

Nora released a much-beleaguered sigh and allowed herself to be guided to the dressing table.