Page 63 of The Duke's Indecent Match

Nathanial hefted a sigh.It was time to go inside and face his new life.

With his new wife.

23

Kalina

Not long after the trunks of her clothing and things had been delivered to her room, there was a knock at the door.Before Kalina or Margaret could answer, the door burst open and Hereford’s youngest sister came barreling into the room, bright-eyed and eager, followed by the middle sister, who appeared scandalized and apologetic.

“Fiona!I am so sorry, Your Grace, we’ve been trying to teach her manners, but…” Emma’s soft-spoken apology was accompanied by her throwing her hands up in the air in obvious frustration at the inability to control her younger sister.

“Please, call me Kalina,” Kalina said immediately.She almost added on that they were sisters now, but bit her tongue against it, not sure how Hereford’s sisters would feel about her once they knew how she had attained the position.Smiling kindly at Fiona, who beamed back at her, she leaned forward to put her hands on her knees, bringing her closer to Fiona’s height.“Knocking was appreciated, but it is best to wait until you receive an invitation to enter someone’s room.What if I had been changing my clothing?Or taking a bath?You would have interrupted my privacy.”

“Oh.”Fiona thought about that for a moment.“I have seen my sisters changing.”

“Have you seen Miss Milford or Mr.Milford changing?”

“No, they would be upset if I… oh.”Fiona made a face as she realized.

Kalina could not help but smile.

“It sounds as though your sisters would appreciate it if you waited for an invitation to enter as well.”

“We would,” Emma confirmed with a sigh.She walked forward, putting her hand on Fiona’s head and brushing back some of the flyaway hair, tiny tendrils that had worked their way out of Fiona’s plaits.“But it is very hard to tell this imp no in a manner that sticks.”

Fiona frowned.

“I will start waiting,” she said, almost defiantly.Then she looked at Kalina again.“You are very pretty.Are you from Africa?”

“No, India.”Kalina smiled, straightening up again now that she had made her point about privacy.“Though my father is from England.”

“Oh.I wondered.Nathanial said he had to marry a lady.”

“Fiona!”Emma’s scandalized whisper was back, along with a long-aggrieved expression.

Kalina laughed, waving reassuringly at Emma.She did not mind Fiona’s bluntness, and she could only imagine how few people the girl had met at her age, living in this house.House parties were certainly not a thing that had happened here for many years, if there had even been any during Fiona’s lifetime.

“My grandfather is the Marquess of Stilton.”Estranged and did not acknowledge her or anyone else in his family, but blood was blood.It was the reason they had received any invitations at all initially.Mostly due to theton’savid interest in anything of a scandalous nature.

“And your mother is from India?”

“Yes, as am I.”

“What is India like?Are there animals there?”

Smothering a laugh, Kalina gestured to the small chaise on the other side of her bed.The girl’s enthusiasm was infectious, as was the warmth of her welcome, which was far more than Kalina had hoped for.She realized Fiona was too young to understand all the implications behind her and Hereford’s sudden marriage and arrival at the hall, and she was grateful for it.

“Would you like to sit down, and I will tell you all about it?”

Fiona immediately ran to the chaise, Emma following more hesitantly.She clearly felt the need to keep an eye on Fiona but also was unsure of Kalina.

She understood there was something more than a quick marriage.

Kalina only hoped she could at least make a good impression before Emma learned the truth, perhaps keep Nathanial’s sisters from thinking too badly of her.At the very least, she did not want Fiona to take up against her.

She had a feeling the youngest of the Percys could be devilish if she chose to be.

As Margaret unpacked Kalina’s things, she sat on the bed and told Emma and Fiona all about India and the animals there.Fiona was especially fascinated by Kalina’s description of elephants.