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Although still apprehensive, Seraphina accepted the hand he offered her, and he dipped down to place a chaste kiss across her knuckles.

“Seraphina Kin- Fenwick,” she corrected quickly, still getting used to her new name, “Duchess of Merrivale.”

“Duncan Banfield, Duke of Baxter,” the masked man replied.

Though the mask covered half of his face, she still made out a handsome smile and sparkle in his deep blue eyes.

“I hope I am not interrupting anything too romantic,” he went on, “But Fenwick and I have some business to discuss.”

Seraphina felt a swell of disappointment.

“No, you are not interrupting anything,” she replied. “Though His Grace is very busy, he may not have time to see you.”

Duncan seemed to study her a moment, a look of compassion in his eyes.

“You should not take it personally,” he advised. “My wife was not used to being married to man with such responsibility either at first, but now she is quite supportive. In fact, she is the reason why I am able to do many things now.”

Seraphina smiled, immediately liking him.

“She sounds like an amazing woman. I should like to meet her sometime,” she replied. “Perhaps she can give me some much needed insight.”

“And so you shall,” Duncan replied quickly, letting her go. “In the meantime, why don’t you and I have some lunch? Seeing as I know that Hugo won’t tell me the story, I would love to know how the two of you came to be wed.”

Seraphina immediately like the idea but she still asked, “What about your meeting with my husband?”

“He does not even know I have arrived yet,” Duncan chuckled. “Either way, I shall just barge in and demand his attention. Sometimes you have to do that with men like us.”

He then winked at Seraphina as he smiled, and she could not help but laugh.

“Mrs. Purdy,” Duncan stated, turning to the housekeeper. “I shall show the new Duchess to the dining room. Would you fetch us some lunch, please?”

Mrs. Purdy looked displeased by this new twist, but she forced on a smile and bowed her head to the Duke before taking off.

“I do not think she likes me very much,” Seraphina whispered to Duncan as he led her to the expansive dining room.

“Pay her discontent no mind, my lady,” Duncan told her, pulling a chair out for her. “Things in this estate have never been…easy.”

“Tell me what you know about it?” Seraphina asked, her curiosity piqued. She had tried, in vain, to get Hugo to tell her ofthe place during their carriage ride, but all she could get out of him was talk of trade.

Duncan frowned as he took a seat beside her, clasping his hands together atop the table.

“Not to keep you in mystery, but it is not my story to tell,” he replied. “Though I will say that Hugo and I and have some things in common with the Dastardly Dukes.”

Seraphina laughed.

“The what?”

“It is what we call ourselves,” Duncan chuckled, “My three other friends and myself. More like brothers, really. You’ll meet them all and their wives, I’m sure. Lovely ladies such as yourself who were able to tame us foul beasts.”

“And my husband,” Seraphina ventured, “Is he also one of these… ‘foul beasts’?”

“Society certainly thinks so,” Duncan said with a shrug as serving platters of food arrived, “But seeing as you are here, it would seem you do not.”

“No,” she agreed quickly, “I do not. But his temper sometimes unnerves me.”

The one brow not hidden by Duncan’s mask rose.

“And has he taken this temper out on you?”