Find Me a Wife 2

" Pardon me Lady Saoirse, but I don't believe you've had a season at London yet,"
Saoirse opened her mouth to reply to Matthew's question, but Lady Ellen got there first, "Of course not, the girl turned 16 last month, her parents are determined not to hold her debut till she's seventeen or at least 18."
Cedric scowled at Saoirse's beautiful profile as he flt self contempt for having had any armourous ideas about a school girl.
Saoirse, at that moment looked up at him and gave him a puzzled look as if trying to figure out his cause for anger.
"But I suppose Lady Saoirse made this trip to Dunnely with hopes of finding a groom before her formal debut?"
Occupants of the room flinched at the direct insult. Lady Ellen looked appalled at her nephew's boorishness while Matthew stared and wondered as to why his brother was being so particularly insulting to a person who'd done no harm.
Saoirse alone recovered enough to reply serenly, " You've guessed rightly You Grace. My purpose might just have been to bag a groom as you put it. I've heard many tales about how truly wonderful the stable boys of your estate are. And one of my schoolmates told me that the footmen are particularly dashing,"
Thwarted by the unexpected reply, Cedric sneered back with contempt, " Do young ladies stoop to such a level these days? Make merry with people beneath them?"
Smiling calmly was becoming harder by the minute under the cavalcade of contmpt, but Saoirse held it in place, " Oh yes, Your Grace. You see, relations with the aristocracy has weakened the bloodlines. It's time to inject some fresh blood so we don't churn out any more ill-tempered, ill-mannered, rude, arrogant swines."
They were interrupted by laughter and looked up to see Martha's skirts disappearing from the door as her back shook with laughter.
Lady Ellen too looked as if she were trying to hold back laughter.
Saoirse had had enough, consious of Cedric's gaze, she stood and asked politely if she could be shown to her room.
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Saoirse was walking to her room with Martha when a sudden shrill wail pierced the silence.
"The Duke has children?"
Martha shook her head and proceeded to explain how the Duke had come to the girls.
Saoirse interrupted as the wails intensified, " Oh the poor dears, may I see them please?"
Martha smiled and turned right into the nursery.
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Three pairs of leaf green, tear wet eyes, looked up at Saoirse and the crying ceased as they stared at the new face. Reaching into the crib, Saoirse, picked up the baby in the middle, who appeared to be the most troubled and proceeded to change her with supreme efficiency.
Martha worked along with her and soon the three babies were ensconced back into their beds with their bottles clutched in their dimpled hands.
" where did you learn to work with children Milady?"
Saoirse smiled, " I used to volunteer at the orphanage Father runs, so I got used to helping ith the smaller babies."
Martha excused herself to go put the dirty linen in the laundry room, while Saoirse picked up the whimpering baby she now knew to be Audray and cradled her as she swayed near an open window.
"What the hell do you think you're doing here?"
Saoirse turned to see the Duke looming near the doorway, his face as angry as a thunder cloud.
"Yoour Grace, I was just helping Martha with the babies........
Saoirse wasn't allowed to finish as Cedric continued, " So noe you're accusing me of not handling my duty towards the girls!"
Saoirse blanched under all the shouting, " please Your Grace, I meant no such thing, I just like babies and .........."
Hearing Cedric mutter profanities under his breath, Saoirse's poise crumbled under one too many lashes, she deposited the baby into a very surprised cedric's arms and ran out of the room, but not before Cedric had seen the glimmer of tears in her emerald green eyes, so similar to those of the babies and her rosy mouth quivering under the strain of his anger.

A soft voice drifted to him from the door, " That wasn't done well Cedric."
Cedric bit back a curse as his aunt drifted into the room with a foreboding expression on her face.