Page 5 of If Not for the Duke

Lady Bernice seemed different—unique in a pleasant way. Her lack of artifice and love of books were endearing. The fascination she had with Oak Island made Lena curious if uncomfortable. If only Norah or Ella was joining her, Lena would feel more at ease.

As for His Grumpiness, Lena didn’t care for the way he stared at her with suspicion in his dark eyes. Then again, he seemed to look at everyone that way, so perhaps she shouldn’t take offense. Surely, the duke wouldn’t join them for tea. He would have other, more important duties that took his time.

Reassured, Lena climbed the stairs to the three-story sandstone townhome with its tall, white pillars and black door. Why was it that the color of the door felt like some sort of dour warning, practically shouting,enter at your own peril?

She gave herself a mental shake at the ridiculous notion. And here she’d always thought Norah the dramatic sister.

Before James could lift the polished brass lion door knocker, the door swung open to reveal an impeccably dressed butler in a fine black suit. His hooked nose and thin lips made him look far from welcoming. Not so different from her first impression of Davies, her grandfather’s butler. The imposing servant glanced at her card, then gestured for them to enter.

The house’s entrance hall was more welcoming than she expected, with white marble, touches of pink and gold, and beautiful floral bouquets scenting the air.

In short order, she was shown upstairs to what she guessed was Lady Bernice’s sitting room as it was smaller and more intimate than a drawing room. Soft shades of more pink tempered by accents of wood made it a restful space.

The butler announced her, and Lady Bernice rose from a settee placed before the cheerfully burning fire and hurried forward. “Miss Wright, I’m so pleased you could come.”

Lena curtsied before drawing closer. “Thank you for inviting me, my lady.”

“Please, have a seat.” Lady Bernice gestured toward the settee and joined her. Her pale blue gown was simple yet elegant with narrow pleats and white ribbon stitched into the bodice. Tiny white embroidered flowers embellished the neckline. “Aunt Edith will be joining us shortly.”

“How nice.” Lena held back the urge to ask if her brother would as well.

“From what I understand, you’ve only been in London a few years. Is that right?” the lady asked after they’d settled on the rose-colored cushions.

“Yes. Three years now. Have you lived in England all your life?”

“I recently returned from a year in Switzerland where I attended finishing school. But otherwise, England has always been home.”

“Switzerland? That must’ve been exciting.” Lena had seen pictures of the Alps but couldn’t quite imagine living near the sharp, snow-capped peaks.

“At times it was, though I missed home terribly. The air in Switzerland is so crisp and clear. Much different from London. Better for the lungs, you know.”

Her comment made Lena wonder if health issues were one of the reasons she’d chosen Switzerland.

The conversation continued, and soon the lady’s aunt, Mrs. Easton, joined them. After visiting with them briefly, she settled in a chair near the window to do some needlework.

With a cautious look at her aunt, Lady Bernice leaned forward. “Forgive me for being curious, but would you share what it was like to live on Oak Island?”

The mention of the place Lena’s family had called home for so long was bittersweet. While many of their years there had been wonderful, the loss of her mother and father shaded her memories with grief.

“It is a remote place. Rather wild and rugged with many trees and few people. We had a small cabin.” She glanced around the richly appointed if cozy room. “Quite different from this, of course.”

“It sounds romantic.”

Lena smiled. “I wouldn’t call it that. Life was both simpler and more difficult than in London. We spent a small portion of most winters in Montreal, so we weren’t completely isolated. But Oak Island was lonely at times.”

“Your mother passed away?”

“Yes, she died of smallpox eight years ago. Her death was a blow to us all, though my eldest sister did her best to take her place.”

“My mother died giving birth to me, so I never knew her.” The lady’s expression dimmed, suggesting how deeply the loss had affected her. “It must be lovely to have sisters.”

“It is. We are quite close.” Lena held back from saying how much Norah and Ella meant to her. She didn’t want Lady Bernice to feel worse than she already seemed to.

“I love my brother dearly, of course. I don’t know what I’d do without Sterling.”

That was one thing Lena admired about His Grumpiness—his obvious love for Lady Bernice. His attractiveness couldn’t be denied either. She just wished he didn’t watch her as if expecting her to try to pick his pockets or the like.

“And your father?” Lady Bernice asked.

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