Page 58 of The Duke's Indecent Match
Unsure of what to say, Kalina nodded her agreement as she took his arm.Noise from behind her made her glance over her shoulder.The coachman and footman who had accompanied them from Blackstone Manor had gotten to work on the cases that she had brought with her.It was only a small portion of what she’d taken to the manor.The rest of that would arrive tomorrow, but even more would make its way to the hall once her parents returned to London and sent the rest of her things onward.
As they moved to the stairs, the small group at the top came down.The older couple followed behind the three girls.The eldest led the way, her expression carefully blank.Behind her came the next eldest, who did not do nearly as good a job of hiding the suspicion she felt as she narrowed her eyes at Kalina.Only the youngest smiled, though her smile was all for Hereford.
“Nat!”she said joyfully when she reached the bottom of the steps and threw herself at him.Releasing Kalina’s arm, Hereford surged into position to catch her in his arms.
“Fiona!”The resigned exasperation in his tone made it clear this was not the first time he’d had to deal with an impetuous action from her.Sighing, he held her up, gently angling himself so as not to squash the furry creature she was holding, which Kalina now realized was a hare.
Not a fluffy, sweet bunny.No, this was a wild-eyed, long-limbed, rangy brown and white hare… who, despite being along for a rather unsettling ride, lay quietly in the girl’s arm.
“Fiona, you are too old to greet Nathanial that way,” the eldest sister scolded, shaking her head, though there was no real censure in her tone as she reached the bottom of the stairs.Like her brother, she sounded more resigned than anything else.“Besides, you almost crushed Archibald.”
“Archibald is fine,” Fiona replied as Hereford hoisted her up, holding her on his hip.“He likes to jump.”Her long, dangling legs made Kalina think she was nearly too big for him to do so much longer.It reminded her of how her father had done the same, holding her when others said she was too old for it, because he’d known the days when he would not be able to at all were rapidly approaching.
A little ache rose in her chest as she watched Hereford smile and shake his head.
“I am fairly certain Archibald would prefer to jump on his own, rather than with you,” he said gently.
Fiona was no longer paying attention to him, though; she was staring at Kalina with interest.As if her focus directed the others, they looked at her as well.
For the first time since they’d left the altar, Kalina met her husband’s gaze.With her hands folded in front of her, her heart rapidly beating in nervous anticipation in her chest, she awaited what he would say.How he would introduce her.
Taking a deep breath, he hitched Fiona on his hip.
“Ladies, I would like you to meet my new duchess.Ah, Kalina, this is Julianna, Emma, and Fiona.”The brief stumble over her given name was not missed by the elder two, something flashing through both of their eyes before they dipped in curtsies to the proper level, though Fiona grinned widely at her from her spot in Hereford’s arms.
“Your Grace,” Julianna and Emma murmured in unison.
“Please, call me Kalina,” she said immediately.
Despite the circumstances, they were family now.The idea of them using her title rather than her name made her skin crawl.They exchanged another look, then nodded at her but did not seem to know what else to say.
Hereford smoothed over the awkwardness by stepping forward, which forced Kalina to turn slightly.
“This is Miss Milford, who runs the household, and Mr.Milford, her brother, who runs… well, everything else.”
“Your Grace.”Miss Milford dipped into a low curtsy while Mr.Milford bowed.Both of them looked to be in their early fifties by the grey in their hair and the lines on their faces.Both of them had extremely neutral expressions, just like Lady Julianna.
“Welcome to the Hall,” Mr.Milford said.
It was hard to tell if they were naturally reserved or if they were stiff because they knew of the circumstances surrounding the suddenness of her marriage to Hereford.Or perhaps they were embarrassed to be welcoming her to the hall in its current state.
“Down, poppet.I need to help Daniel and the others with our things,” Hereford told his youngest sister before lowering her to the ground.
“I can help!”She frowned, looking down at the hare in her arms, then let out a sigh.“I suppose Archibald has had a good, long visit already, anyway.”
Bending down, she put the hare on the ground, and it took off like a shot, heading into the tall grass on the side of the house and disappearing from sight almost immediately.Fiona waved her hand as if seeing him off.
“Goodbye!I’ll see you tomorrow!Do not get eaten by foxes!”
Utterly bemused, and rather charmed, Kalina could not stop the smile curving her lips at the lighthearted farewell, all of which was said with utter innocent cheerfulness.Her smile quickly faded when faced with the harder gazes of the elder two sisters.
Feeling rather twitchy, she went to assist with the luggage, Margaret following at her heels.Hereford frowned at her, but she ignored him, taking two hatboxes in hand.If he was going to attend, so could she.Of course, she had not reckoned with the fact that she did not know where her room was.She turned and looked up at the house, pausing.Margaret stood silently beside her, holding Kalina’s jewelry box.
“Follow me, Your Grace,” Miss Milford said to her, holding a small trunk that held some of Kalina’s gloves, reticules, and things.“I’ll show you the way to your room.”Something flashed in her eyes before her face blanked again, thought what emotion she was hiding, Kalina could not tell.
Nodding, Kalina followed Miss Milford into the house, aware of the bustle behind her and the way Hereford’s sisters hung back.It only made sense, after all, that they should want to see their brother.Question him.She wished she could hear what he said about her, to help direct her way forward with them… but perhaps it was best she could not.
Her attention was immediately taken by the state of the house, the interior of which was just as shabby as the exterior.More so, perhaps.Though the foyer was very clean, the rug was threadbare, and there were several spindles missing on the staircase.Kalina’s gaze drifted up to where there should have been a chandelier, but the large space above her was empty.
