Page 65 of A Duke for Hire

She stilled as she looked toward Mrs. Purdy, who only tsked her tongue before hurrying away.

“Um,” Seraphina replied, frozen in the woman’s embrace.

The woman with Hugo’s eyes pulled back, shot a glare toward the fleeing Mrs. Purdy, then smiled once more at Seraphina.

“I am Leah, Hugo’s little sister, and now yours too. You must be Seraphina.”

“Oh, yes!” Seraphina replied, her memory clicking. “I have been told of you.”

Suddenly realizing she was still in her nightgown, Seraphina blushed, and wrapped her arms around herself.

“I amsovery sorry I was not there to greet you downstairs. Please, if you’ll allow me a moment to-”

“No moment needed, darling, it is just me,” Leah smiled.

She looped her arm through Seraphina’s and took her back into her quarters.

“Go fetch Her Grace and myself some coffee and biscuits please,” Leah ordered Clara. “A bottle of brandy as well. Peach if we have it.”

“Oh, I think it’s a little early for brandy for me,” Seraphina replied, but Leah laughed gaily as she removed her hat.

“Oh, trust me darling, you deserve it,” Leah replied, taking a seat across from her.

She then looked Seraphina up and down, studying her so intently that it made Seraphina blush and squirm.

“Something tells me my brother and his servants have not been very accommodating to you,” Leah mused, snapping her eyes back to Seraphina’s.

Seraphina drew her bottom lip into her mouth, not sure what she could say freely. Before she could worry more though, Leah leaned forward and clasped her hands.

“It’s all right,” she said comfortingly, “You can tell me. I want us to be friends, and I promise you now I will never do anything to upset you.”

A knock on the door announced that their breakfast arrived, and after Clara sat down the tray, Leah poured them each asmall drink. After some more insistence from her sister-in-law, Seraphina lifted the glass and let the sweet brandy pour down her throat. Immediately the liqueur made her insides warm and the pressure in her head dissolved.

“Much better, yes? One more. For prosperity,” Leah encouraged, pouring them each another drink.

This time Seraphina had no quarrel with the early morning drink, and downed it quickly.

“I do not often drink in the morning,” Leah sighed as they put their glasses down, “I am sure you don’t either. But special occasions call for it. Now. Tell me what life has been like here for you.”

Leah’s eyes were bright and open where Hugo’s were guarded. That and her sincere smile told , Seraphina her new sister-in-law was being genuine, and with a sigh, she began to tell Leah all that had happened. Leah listened intently, her expression drawn in concentration until Seraphina finished.

“Well no wonder you were hiding in your room,” Leah said after Seraphina finished. “Good for you for not running away, I say. That all sounds horrid.”

“I just don’t understand what I am doing wrong,” Seraphina replied.

“Oh it is certainly not you that is the problem, my dear,” Leah responded.

“My brother is…a complicated man.”

He certainly is,Seraphina thought as Leah got up and headed toward the closet. Seraphina followed when she heard her gasp.

“What lovely clothes!” Leah praised. “You have remarkable taste!”

“Thank you,” Seraphina replied, blushing, “But I must confess they are not all my choices. Your brother actually bought most of it without my knowing.”

She paused, then added, “It is strange how kind he can be one moment, then cold and distant the next. I confess it makes him hard to read.”

Leah sighed and shook her head as she reached for a sky blue riding outfit with black trim.

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