He searched for Eleanor but couldn’t find her. “I imagine it allows the children to spend more time together as well.”

“Yes. It’s important to all of us that they have close ties.”

Eleanor appeared by his side. “I was running a bit late. Grace wrote to the architect and the decorationist. The decorationist’s letter came while I was dressing. I wrote her back asking if we could meet tomorrow afternoon.”

“That was quick.” She was giving up her sister’s at home for him. “Do you not have morning visits?”

She placed her hand on his arm. “I do, but there will be plenty of time. She arrives at four o’clock. It is slow for her with the Season in full swing.”

He hadn’t thought of that. “This is the perfect time to start making the changes we discussed.”

“It is.” Eleanor’s smile was different somehow. It was more comfortable and warmer. “Here come Theo and Mary.”

Theo was a replica of her older sisters the duchess and Lady Phinn, and Mary looked strongly like Eleanor and her other sisters.

“We realized we had not had a chance to speak with you,” Mary said. He had a feeling she meant “interrogate him.”

“Indeed.” Theo nodded. “You are shortly to be a member of our family and we would like to know you better.”

He spent the next several minutes explaining the size of all his estates and where they were located. He was surprised they had not asked what he grew.

“You like dogs,.” Mary commented. “Posy licked you and you did not mind.” She narrowed her eyes. “Did you?”

“No, not at all.” Beside him, Eleanor seemed hard-pressed not to burst out laughing.

“Will Eleanor have her own carriage?” Theo asked. “All my other sisters have their own carriages.”

John supposed Eleanor would like at least a landau or a barouche, and maybe a sporting carriage. “That is her decision. If she would like a carriage or two, she may have them.”

“And horses as well?” Mary asked.

“That is quite enough.” Eleanor gave them “the look.”

“Very well.” Mary raised her chin as if she had been insulted.

“In any event, Thorton is here.” Eleanor tucked her arm in the crook of his elbow. “I would have stopped them before, but they would only have got you alone for their questioning.”

They joined the line moving toward the dining room. “Do they do this with everyone?”

“Phinn was not around, but they did it with Con and Rothwell. Madeline, Alice, and I were Theo’s age, and we joined in too.”

“I knew you had an early start.”

Eleanor grinned. “We were all precocious.”

John did not doubt that at all. He had already noticed it with the younger children. “It must be a family trait.”

He wanted children with her, and the sooner he could get started, the sooner they would come. Tomorrow seemed like a fine time to begin.