Page 55 of A Spinster to Heal the Duke
"A hat would give me more of an air of authority," he considered.
But their planning was interrupted by a knock at the door. It was heavy and in rapid succession.
"Are we expecting anyone?" Jeremy asked.
"I do not believe so," replied Anne.
"No," said Charles.
The Duke settled in his seat and said, "Oh no," under his breath, but Anne heard him.
"What is it?" she asked.
"I believe I know who it is," he said.
The knock repeated, louder and faster this time.
"Who?" asked Anne.
"Let us answer it and see for ourselves," suggested the Baron.
By the time they stood, Peggy had already answered the door and a woman's voice came through the house.
Then, the maid entered the room and said, "Lady Diana Campbell, sister of the Duke of Grandon, is here."
The words had hardly left her mouth when a tall slender woman with the same green eyes as Noah entered the room. She had light red hair and exuded an elegance that Anne felt she could only dream of.
"For as long as your absence has been, I expected to arrive and find you bedridden, brother," she observed.
CHAPTER 15
"Surely you are unfit to travel," Lady Diana Campbell said to her brother, ignoring the rest of the people in the room. "One would not stay in this place otherwise. It is so, so poor."
Noah stood and looked frustrated, but Anne couldn't tell if it was his sister's unannounced presence or if her words made him feel some sort of shame. She hoped it was the former and not the latter though this woman's presence raised questions in her mind.
She is his sister? He never talks about her, even when we shared the loss of our parents. Is he going to allow her to speak of my home this way? I want to say something, but coming between them right now does not seem appropriate,Anne thought.
"I mean really, brother, look around you? If you are well enough to at least get about, why not come home or at least to the nearest cousin of peerage with adequate lodging," Dianacontinued, frowning more as she assessed the room and those in it.
"Sister, your manners," Noah chided her gently though Diana only tilted her head in dismissal. "I am improved but not in perfect health yet."
"You appear to be fine," Diana responded, looking her brother up and down. "Perhaps a little thicker."
Noah changed his stance and looked down at his person.
"I think I look very well," he said, glancing at Anne. "A good meal makes a difference."
"You could have written home to say as much, rather than leaving those who care about you to worry without a word since your predicament began," Lady Diana scolded, not acknowledging her brother's response and nearly speaking over him.
"Diana," he said firmly, drawing her attention.
They stared at each other across the room until she relaxed her posture and replied, "Yes, Your Grace?"
"We can continue this conversation privately in a moment if it is necessary, but please pause your rant so that I might have a moment to properly introduce you to the people who reside inthe home in which you stand," Noah said, looking at his sister sternly.
Lady Diana huffed, but made her best effort to smile politely as she could tell her brother wanted. She went further to make a tight-lipped apology.
"I have forgotten my manners in concern for my brother's safety and well-being. Please, forgive me," she apologized.
