Page 41

Then, there were his sisters. She was now their guardian and knew even less of them than of their brother. They remained prim and proper, cold and distant, and Catherine felt as though her every reaction was being coolly analyzed. She must try to win their hearts, though.

“You do not need to call meYour Grace,” Catherine said. “I likeCatherine.”

The formality was maybe what bothered her the most. Her family was lively and loving. Formality had never held a place of importance in their household or in their hearts, and she felt now as though she had been thrust into an unfamiliar world of rules and restraint.

“That would be highly informal,” Hannah said, tipping her chin up. “We are to respect you because you are the Duchess of Sarsen.”

Would it not be more respectful to call herCatherinelike she so dearly desired? She bit the inside of her cheek, considering how best to approach this situation. These were only girls, after all.

“While that is true,” Catherine said carefully, “I do hope that we shall become very fond of one another.”

“We are fond of our brother and call himYour Grace,” Hester argued. “How we address a person has no bearing on if we are especially fond of them or not.”

“I suppose that is true to an extent,” Catherine replied.

Her gaze drifted to her own embroidery, a string of tiny pink flowers that were simplyadequate. She had always despised needlework, and from her grimace, Catherine suspected that Hester felt similarly. It was difficult to say with certainty, though, when neither girl smiled very much.

“But I also find that how we address others does indicate something about how we feel towards individuals,” Catherine continued, thinking through her response even as she spoke. “It may denote a certain closeness that is otherwise absent.”

Neither girl looked convinced. Catherine smothered a sigh, refusing to show any evidence of frustration with herself. Dorothy would know what to do in this situation. She would have already charmed these young girls with her good humor and smiles.

“I am beginning to believe that His Grace lives in his study,” Catherine said carefully. “I have scarcely seen him since I married him. Is that his usual manner of doing things?”

Hester wrinkled her nose, andsomethingseemed to spark in her eyes. Whatever fleeting emotion it was vanished so quickly that Catherine had no time, even to identify it.

“Yes,” Hester said. “His Grace’s usual habit is to work in his study, and if he is not there, he is traveling to London or elsewhere.”

“He has much business to attend to as the Duke of Sarsen,” Hannah added, emphasizing her words with a solemn nod.

Perhaps, I ought to be honored he did not miss our wedding night.

Catherine’s face grew warm when she remembered the night. Even though she had been sore the next day, she had found herself wanting to have another experience just like it. She had anticipated seeing him at breakfast and casting sly smiles at one another. She had thought that he might tease her or seek her out later to engage in another amorous encounter, but he had done neither.

“Of course,” Catherine said. “My brother Elias is also a duke, so I know well how much work is involved.”

Elias was never so distant, though. It was true that Catherine’s brother was not the best duke in the world, but he was a fine duke nonetheless. And he had ample time to ensure his family knew he loved them. What excuse could His Grace possibly have for behaving as he was?

“Yet he found the time to chase fairies in the garden with you,” Hester said. “He must not be as busy as ours.”

“But surely, your brother leaves his study sometimes,” Catherine said. “He must also join you on walks through the gardens and riding, I imagine.’

Hannah shook her head. “Sometimes, he will join us for meals.’

“And on holidays,” Hester added.

Catherine considered the girls for a long moment. Had His Grace wanted a guardian for his sisters because he was entirely uninvolved in their lives? She had assumed that hewasa frequent presence in their lives, and she was merely a woman being asked to play the part of guardian when he could not be. From how the girls spoke, though, it seemed as though he wasnotinvolved much at all in their lives.

“I have heard there is a wonderful park nearby,” Catherine said. “We should go tomorrow. Perhaps, we might persuade His Grace to join us.”

“He will not,” Hester said. “We have asked him to join us before, but he insists that he is too busy. I do not foresee this time being any different.”

Hannah nodded in agreement. “It does not matter how much we plea. He will be unable to join us.”

“It is best to say nothing of it,” Hester said. “Otherwise, we will disturb his solitude, and His Grace will be unable to work.”

“But surely, he cannot work all the time,” Catherine said. “It would be enjoyable if he could come with us, would it not?”

Hannah stabbed her needle through her sample with significantly more force than necessary. “Yes. But the point is irrelevant, as he will not come with us. He never has time to spend with us.”