Page 62 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

“I will but only in private.”

“I believe we are in private right now.”

A full smile adorned Lily’s face. She turned to look at Brandon with an approving look.

“I must say, Your Grace, that the ton has opinions about you.”

Marigold served tea with complete indifference. The ton had had opinions about her ever since she was a teenager.

“I am sure they do have much to say about me.”

“Most of it is nonsense.” Lily waved her hands. “I just had to come and form my own opinion.”

“I believe life would be so much easier if everybody did the same.”

“And if they kept said opinions to themselves, I might add.” Owen grabbed two biscuits.

“You only say that because there is always a rumor circling you,” Lily hissed in an open sibling rivalry. “You see, Marigold, my brother is a bit of a rake.”

“You don’t say!” Marigold pretended to be flabbergasted.

Lily laughed at her genuine reaction.

“If you listen attentively, Lily,” Marigold whispered in a sly way, “you might hear my maids gathering outside. I believe no work will be done while Owen is in the house.”

“Must I apologize for being friendly?”

“After so many years, it still dumbfounds me the way you twist words,” Lily said with that mischievous grin.

“Brandon here,” Owen tried to deflect, “got married after we had all given up on him. Don’t you have anything more interesting to comment?”

Lily glanced at Brandon the same way she did Owen, like an annoying older brother. Brandon tried to look stern but failed, like any good brother did when facing a spoiled little sister.

“Because this was my life until now,” Lily commented. “To have one brother that flirts with anything that moves…”

“I have standards!”

“Of course, you do,” Lily said. “The problem is that your standards appear to include most of the female population of England.”

Marigold nearly choked on her tea.

“Nonsense,” Owen took the insult in stride. “It is at most a quarter.”

“Half.”

“This is not a negotiation!”

Brandon chuckled, obviously quite used to this sibling banter.

“You are encouraging her!” Owen accused.

“I learned a long time ago that opposing your sister is a complete waste of valuable energy.”

Lily turned to Marigold, placing one hand on top of hers.

“See what I had to deal with before you came? One brother that is a complete rake and another that is a certified misanthrope.”

“I am not a misanthrope!”