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and Stephanie inside the well-appointed townhouse where her Aunt Lydia invited the men to remain for tea. Delighted they would not have to part immediately, Eden decided if Raven continued to be an obnoxious bore, she would simply pretend he was not even there. She was having far too marvelous a time with Alex to allow anything, or anyone, to spoil it.
     
     
    “Lady Lawton and Eden’s mother are sisters?” Raven asked soon after they had bid the young ladies goodbye, hoping his interest in Eden wasn’t too painfully obvious.
    “Yes, but they are nothing alike,” Alex responded. He hesitated a moment, gathering his thoughts before continuing, “It must have been twenty years since I last saw Sarah. She was as lovely as her daughter, enormously popular, and created quite a stir when she chose to wed an American. Sinclair not only owned ships, but built them too as I recall, or at least his family did. It wasn’t as though Sarah had eloped with a ship’s captain, but she might as well have for all the gossip their wedding caused.”
    “That explains why Eden is so unlike Stephanie then.”
    Alex smiled, “They are like night and day, aren’t they?”
    Raven nodded. “Fair and dark, charming and cloying. I can’t abide another minute of Stephanie’s company, but your interest in Eden astonishes me. I had no idea you planned to find yourself a bride on this trip.”
    Alex tried not to react angrily to the sarcasm in Raven’s tone, but failed. “If you were not so lost in yourself, you would have noticed Eden has no suitors despite her beauty and charm. I’m sure there are those who recall her mother with other than fond memories, but the real problem is the uncertainty of her family’s future. She may be a lovely American heiress today, but who can say how she’ll be categorized a year from now? It’s obvious too many think the Confederate cause already lost and regard her as impoverished.”
    “You are avoiding the issue,” Raven pointed out with his customary passion for the truth. “Is it merely pity that prompted you to call on Eden, or a desire for something more?” Unable to declare his own admiration for Eden, Raven held his breath as he awaited his uncle’s reply.
    That impertinent question conjured up a mental image of the delectable Eden Sinclair lying nude upon his bed, and Alex hastily cleared his throat to force such an erotic vision from his mind. “I’m not dead yet, Raven, but I might as well be when it comes to pursuing a beauty like Eden. I have nothing to offer her but the innocent pleasure of an afternoon of sightseeing and polite conversation.”
    Raven could see Alex was far from content with that, but what choice did he have? Knowing the man had none, Raven was filled with shame for forcing him to say so aloud. “You’re right, I’ve been very selfish. If you enjoy Eden’s company, and she is not refusing the attentions of others to see you, then what is the harm in your calling on her? Until I find someone who excites me as Eden obviously does you, then I’ll not complain about providing an escort for Stephanie so the four of us can spend our time together.”
    A slow smile raised the corner of Alex’s mouth. Even if it was for completely the wrong reason, Raven had just agreed to continue seeing Stephanie Lawton, and that was too generous an offer to refuse. If nothing else, Raven would surely benefit from the practice of pleasing a cultured young woman even if it was one whose company he did not particularly enjoy. “Perhaps you will find one of Stephanie’s close friends more to your liking.”
    Raven shook his head. “I doubt it, but as long as one of us is enjoying himself, our trip won’t be a total waste.” He turned away to hide his smile, but he was also looking forward to enjoying more of Eden’s company.
    In the following two weeks, the foursome spent five more afternoons together. Raven also went to the effort of dancing with both Eden and Stephanie more