Page 21

" T he guests are expected to arrive at any moment."

The words sounded more like a dream for Alethea, sounded by one of the staff members. Today she would reunite with her dearest friends. Though, it made her nervous to think that so much had changed in the days since she had seen them last.

She stepped closer to the window, pushing aside a sheer curtain to peer out at the drive.

Any moment now, their carriage would arrive.

If only her stomach would settle. Alethea took a breath and exhaled slowly, reminding herself that these ladies were not strangers from the ton she had to impress; they were her sisters in everything but blood.

"Your Grace," came a soft voice from the doorway. It was the housekeeper. "Would you like us to bring in the tea service now, or shall we await your guests' arrival?"

Alethea turned, offering the woman a grateful smile.

"Thank you. I think it best to wait until they've arrived, so everything will be warm. But have the maids on standby, please. My friends might be hungry after the journey."

"Very good, Your Grace." the housekeeper hesitated for a moment. "How wonderful that you will have visitors. We shall ensure they feel quite at home."

Home. Alethea's heart warmed. It was true that this was her home now.

A sudden crunch of carriage wheels on the gravel drive outside sent Alethea rushing back to the window. They were here!

Without a second thought, Alethea lifted her skirts and hurried out to the entrance. The carriage door opened and out leapt Temperance first. The moment her bright eyes met Alethea's, she let out a little cry of joy.

"Alethea!" she exclaimed, striding forward.

Then followed Prudence. She gasped in delight at the sight of Alethea and pressed a gloved hand to her lips.

Maria descended next, mirroring the reactions of the other two.

And then finally, Charity emerged last. Her mannerisms were calmer than the rest but Alethea knew her well enough to know that it was not due to a lack of excitement, merely years of being denied safe ways of showing her feelings.

"Oh, how I've missed you," Alethea leapt forward to greet them.

"Missed me? Look at you," Temperance cried, beaming. "You are a duchess now."

"Duchess or not, I remain the same Alethea you know," she retorted. Never did she want her friends to feel as though she was different now, even though her life had transformed completely.

"We were so worried about you!" Prudence whispered. "Ever since the wedding announcement. I'm so relieved you're all right."

"I'm perfectly all right," Alethea assured, gently stroking Prudence's back. "Happier now that you're here."

Prudence stepped back, hastily dabbing at her wet lashes. "I brought you some biscuits. I baked them myself this morning."

The kind gesture made Alethea's throat tighten. Typical Prudence, expressing love through small acts of care.

"You remembered exactly right what I like. Thank you."

Alethea turned to Charity, who still stood a step away as if uncertain. Alethea held out one hand invitingly.

"Charity."

"I'm glad you haven't been whisked off to some cloud beyond our reach, Your Grace ," Charity murmured.

"Not a chance of that," she whispered. "I'm right here, firmly on earth and yours for as long as you'll have me."

Charity drew back with a swift nod, composing herself.

"Well, at least this Duke of yours keeps you in decent lodgings," she remarked drily. "I approve of the architecture."

Temperance burst out laughing. Trust Charity to hide her emotion under sarcasm.

"Come inside, all of you," Alethea said. "Welcome to my home. And please, don't mind the formalities. You've no idea how wonderful it is just to have you here."

"Lead the way, Your Grace," Temperance said, grinning. "I need to see how a duchess entertains."

"Behave, Temperance, or I shall instruct the footmen to throw you out bodily."

It felt incredible to be joking like this with her friends. Alethea felt a rush of warmth.

"How terrifying," Temperance quipped, unrepentant.

Alethea guided her friends down the hall to the drawing room.

Prudence gravitated toward the fireplace, extending her hands toward it.

"This is lovely," she said softly. "Oh, how cozy it is, Alethea."

"Do sit wherever you like," Alethea encouraged. "Make yourselves completely comfortable."

"You have so many books here," Maria murmured, almost to herself.

"Yes, Oliver's family collected quite a library," Alethea answered. "We shall peruse it later if you wish, Maria. I knew that it would pique your interest. You can even borrow one, if you so please."

"I would never," Maria's cheeks turned pink. "well, perhaps just one."

The ladies all sat down.

How different they all looked from the last time they were together, but still themselves.

"At last, we are reunited," Temperance broke the silence, "And in vastly improved circumstances from our last meeting, I must say."

Alethea thought back to the last time they had met. The bittersweet day of freedom when the nunnery was shut down and they were all finally allowed to return to their families.

"But we are together now," Alethea said firmly, "And we shall never lose touch again, I swear it."

"We've been through too much to ever truly be parted." Temperance nodded in agreement.

"Indeed," Charity said briskly, "I rather think the five of us are inextricably stuck with one another, whether we will it or not."

"Like sisters," Maria suggested.

The word hung warmly in the air. Yes, sisters. That was the right word to describe their bond.

"Alethea, we are all positively brimming with curiosity about you," Temperance spoke again. The others nodded in agreement.

"Oh yes, indeed. We've so much to ask," Prudence grinned.

"Your wedding, what an unexpectedly incredible thing. You absolutely must tell us everything," Maria encouraged.

Alethea felt heat rush to her cheeks at their expectant gazes. Of course they were curious. It was only natural.

"Well," she began slowly, twisting her fingers in her lap, "you know that after the nunnery was dissolved, I went to live with my sisters in London."

"Yes, yes, and then the next we hear, you're swept off by a duke! Spare none of the delicious details, please," Temperance said, impatiently.

Alethea bit her lip.

"I suppose one could say that it was all decided so quickly," Alethea said, not giving too many details. "Oliver gave me a choice to marry him."

"And you said yes," Maria leaned forward.

"Yes." Alethea paused, searching for the right words.

"Well, you make it sound rather uneventful," Temperance replied. "I read one of the scandal sheet papers. It said the Duke was so enamored of you that he decided to marry you within the week."

"Well, you know how they exaggerate," Alethea blushed. "The truth will not sell half as many papers, I suppose. At any rate, the result is the same: I became Oliver's wife. We married at once, in a small ceremony with just my family present."

"We would have attended by all means it if we'd known," Temperance said.

"Indeed," Maria added softly, "I would have liked to be there for you."

Alethea looked around at their dear faces and felt a pang of regret.

"I'm sorry I couldn't have you there. It all happened in a blink."

"It must have been overwhelming," Prudence gave her a sympathetic smile.

"Or exciting," Temperance winked.

"I still find it hard to believe that this is my life now," Alethea admitted. "Sometimes I still feel like I'm dreaming and I shall wake up again in the nunnery."

"Are you… content?" Temperance inquired. "Is His Grace treating you well?"

"Oliver is a good man," Alethea answered immediately. "Patient with me and understanding. I couldn't have hoped for better."

"Oh, I'm so glad," Maria sighed. "I prayed you would find happiness even in such unexpected circumstances."

"The real question, my dear, is… how is married life treating you in the private sense?" Temperance said, the teasing tone returning.

"Temperance!" Prudence protested, half-laughing.

It was very characteristic of Temperance to broach such a topic.

"What? We all want to know!" Temperance said, unabashed. "One of us has finally experienced it."

"I will not discuss that," Alethea managed to splutter, giggling now.

"We're embarrassing her," Charity added.

But before the conversation could continue on, they were interrupted by the butler.

"Your Grace," the butler addressed Alethea, "His Grace has come to inquire if he might join you and your guests."

Alethea's heart gave a little jump. Oliver was here? She hadn't realized the time; he'd mentioned at breakfast he would be occupied with estate ledgers in his study this morning. He must have kept track of the time to know when her friends would arrive.

"Of course," she said, rising at once.

The next moment, the duke walked into the room.

"Ladies," he greeted with a warm smile. "Good morning. Forgive the intrusion, but I could not let Alethea's dear friends depart without offering my personal welcome to our home."

As he stepped fully inside, Alethea noticed Temperance and Charity exchange glances. She bit down on her lip.

"Your Grace, allow me to introduce everyone." Alethea gestured gracefully to the group, who were all now standing. "This is Miss Temperance."

"A great pleasure to meet you, Your Grace. We've heard much about you," she replied, smiling ear to ear.

"The pleasure is mine, Miss."

Alethea continued, turning to Prudence. "Miss Prudence."

"Your Grace, thank you for having us here. It is most kind," she noted.

Alethea continued on with making the remainder of the introductions.

"Please, all of you, be at ease." the duke glanced around after introductions were done. "I won't impose long; I merely wished to thank you for being such good friends to my wife."

" We were just catching up on each other's lives," Alethea blushed.

"If I may ask," Oliver continued, "how are you ladies finding society outside of the nunnery? I imagine the transition has been significant."