Page 50 of Duke of Diamonds
Elaine snorted into her sherry. Isaac turned to Samuel with a pleading look. “You see what I must endure, Darlington?”
Samuel raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender.
“That is my daily lot, man. You have my sympathies,” he said, his mouth twitching with barely contained laughter.
Isaac shook his head slowly. “Your choice,” he said, arching a brow. “I, at least, never chose her.”
Elaine gave a triumphant little shrug.
“That’s right, brother. God decided to bless you with me,” she said, her expression maddeningly smug.
The room filled with their laughter once more, warm and easy, broken only by the crackle of the fire.
Isaac tilted his glass toward her in mock salute.
“Bullying must be your second nature,” he observed, setting the glass back down with a soft clink.
Elaine fanned herself dramatically.
“What can I say? A girl must have her hobbies.”
Isaac shook his head, chuckling under his breath.
“And that,” he said, “is precisely how you ooze kindness.”
Elaine leaned forward, a wicked glint in her eye.
“Tea. Tomorrow afternoon. Do not be late, Isaac,” she said, her voice light but her meaning unmistakable.
Isaac gave a long-suffering sigh, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him with the faintest twitch of amusement.
There is no escaping her. There never was.
Fiona smoothed a hand over her skirts as she was ushered into the Marchioness of Darlington’s drawing room, the warmth of the space doing little to ease the anxious fluttering in her chest.
Compose yourself. You are not here to be judged. At least, not openly.
She had never been introduced to Lady Darlington before, and now, here she stood, not merely as a guest—but as a future sister.
Before Fiona could think of what to say, the Marchioness swept forward and enveloped her in a warm embrace, the faint scent of roses clinging to her gown.
“Oh, Fiona dear, it is a pleasure to finally make your acquaintance,” Elaine said, holding her as though greeting an old friend.
Fiona, surprised by the casual familiarity, found her rigid posture softening. Some of her nerves began to unravel, soothed by the easy brightness that seemed to radiate from the woman.
How very different she is from her brother. Night and day, truly.
Gathering herself, Fiona offered a small, genuine smile.
“It is an honor, my lady,” she said, dipping into a polite curtsy.
Elaine waved a hand as though batting away the words.
“Oh, do drop the formalities. Call me Elaine. We are sisters now,” she said, her eyes twinkling with undisguised delight.
Fiona chuckled, the sound bubbling forth before she could restrain it.
Not sisters yet,she thought, but found she did not mind the assumption.
