Page 46 of If the Duke Dares
“Would you care to come inside?” the butler asked, giving Acton an expectant look.
“Ah, yes. Thank you. I’m staying for the night. I hope it’s not too much trouble. I should have sent notice before arriving.”
“It’s no trouble at all.”
“Thank you, er—” Acton had no idea of the butler’s name and felt bad about that.
“I am Simmons.” He inclined his head.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Simmons. I do appreciate you accommodating me.”
“It is our pleasure, sir. Your sisters are in the drawing room. I’m afraid dinner has concluded. Shall I have a plate prepared for you?”
His sisters? “No, thank you. I ate, ah, earlier.” He couldn’t even fit a biscuit down his gullet. “You say my sisters are here? Both of them?”
“Indeed.”
“Are their husbands here too?” Acton hadn’t seen his sisters in several years and thought it might be less awkward if their spouses were in attendance.
“They are not.”
So much for that notion.
“Very good. Thank you, Simmons.”
The butler motioned to a footman, who came and took Acton’s valise. “You’ll be staying on the second floor. I regret to inform you that Lady Donovan is using your mother’s room, which is the largest.”
“I am happy to stay wherever you put me,” Acton said with a smile.
“It’s in the southwest corner—the green room. If you don’t mind giving us a few minutes to prepare things…perhaps you could visit with your sisters in the drawing room?”
Heshould. And he supposed he must, especially since he couldn’t go directly to his room. Blast, he definitely should have gone to the White Hart. Was it too late to go?
Probably.
He forced another smile and decided he’d never suffered such difficulty with it before now. “I’ll go up now.”
Simmons nodded, and Acton went straight through the entry hall to the staircase hall at the back of the house. Climbing the stairs, his feet felt leaden. What did one say to sisters one hadn’t seen in, what, six years? They were both married now, and he hadn’t even attended their weddings. His father had gone, of course. He’d said it wasn’t necessary for Acton to be there. Indeed, on both occasions, he’d sent Acton to conduct business at one of his other estates. It was as if he hadn’twantedActon to be there.
Acton hadn’t ever thought of it that way until now.
Taking a deep breath just outside the doorway to what he felt certain was the drawing room, he rolled his shoulders back and summoned his most charming smile. Wait, why hadn’t Simmons announced him?
Ah well, it was too late now.
He stepped into the drawing room. His sisters were sitting together, each in her own chair, in a seating area near the hearth. One was doing needlework and the other was drawing. They were the perfect portrait of feminine domestic bliss.
“Good evening, sisters.” The word “sisters” tasted strange on his tongue.
Their heads snapped up. Francesca, who was older and now Lady Donovan, had dark red hair and a sharp nose. He remembered her being tall and willowy, like their mother. Cecily was two years younger. She’d been an infant when their mother had taken her and Francesca away. Her hair was dark auburn like his, but with more red than he possessed. And her eyes were a stunning hazel, the green nearly overwhelming the brown.
“Loxley?” Cecily said, blinking in disbelief.
“Wellesbourne,” Francesca corrected, her eyes narrowing slightly. “An easy mistake since we haven’t seen him since he inherited the dukedom.”
Cecily lifted a shoulder. “We rarely see him at all.”
Were they speakingtohim? He wasn’t sure.
