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Charles walked over to his desk and began looking through papers.

“Yes, it’s fine. I just wasn’t expecting her, that’s all.”

Charles sounded distracted and no longer looked at her, rummaging through papers and cursing when he couldn’t find what he was looking for.

Sarah bit her quivering lip. One moment she was his world and with one knock on the door she ceased to exist to him.

She bit her lip harder hoping to stop the tears that were threatening to fall again.

“Who weren’t you expecting?” She barely managed to get the words out over the lump in her throat.

“Honora.” He stated, ignoring her as he walked past her and back to the study’s door.

“Charles.” Sarah pushed her voice as much as her closing throat would allow her.

He stopped and heaved a sigh before turning.

“She is Eli and my younger sister.”

Relief flooded Sarah’s body. “Your younger sister? I did not know you had a sister.”

“She’s not someone…” His pained eyes glanced over his shoulder to the open door. He lowered his voice. “She likes to keep to herself. Most people do not welcome her presence.”

Sarah’s eyebrows raised. “What? Whomever would scorn a young woman? What could she have possibly have done?”

Charles expression darkened. “Her crime was being born. And to answer your question as to who would scorn an innocent child?” His head nodded towards the window that faced the town. “Those people you dare to defend as kind and loving people took it upon themselves to be judge and jury to an innocent woman and child.”

Charles turned on his heel and disappeared into the hallway.

The Duke’s remark slapped her across her face. She stood stunned. The people she met seemed like such generous people who were discarded by their Duke.

The realization that she was too busy trying to establish dominance with the Duke that she was taken for granted broke her heart. Was the Duke’s original warning about the townspeople correct?

Doubt and confusion began to eat away at her.

She moved towards the door when the state of her dress caused her to misstep. Peeking her head into the hallway she thankfully found it empty.

Sarah needed to get to the parlor where she could hear the light melodic feminine voice drifting into the hallway. She was eager to get there in hopes of finally putting the pieces her mysterious husband together. But first she needed to change out of this ruined dress.

CHAPTER 15

Thankfully Lizzie was upstairs righting Sarah’s room when she busted in needing to change her clothes. Lizzie’s eyes widened at Sarah’s state of undress.

“My goodness, Your Grace! What happened to your dress?” Lizzie averted her eyes out of respect.

Unfortunately for Sarah, her fair complexion did not allow her time to come up with an adequate response. Two red spots blossomed on Sarah’s cheeks before her mind fully comprehended what Lizzie had asked.

Sarah stood holding on to her tattered dress while it dawned on Lizzie the reason for Sarah’s ruined attire.

Lizzie’s own cheeks reddened with the realization. “Oh. I, um, can I help you change into something more… together?”

Sarah didn’t have time for embarrassment. Regardless of her enflamed cheeks, every second she spent in her room was one minute she was not down there. Who knows if his sister would still be there? Was she intending on staying? But more importantly, why was she here?

Sarah rushed further into the room and straight to her closet. “Yes, please. The Duke’s sister is here and I must get down to them right away.”

Sarah was too busy rifling through her hanging dresses she didn’t notice Lizzie had become frozen in place.

“Lady Honora is here?” Lizzie’s voice was hushed.