Page 23 of Scandalized by My Prince
Epilogue
Aubriella satin her personal solar at the castle. She still couldn’t believe she was going to marry Killian. Her life had taken such a drastic turn she wasn’t entirelycertainhow.
“Pardon me,” a male said. “You have avisitor.”
She snapped out of her own thoughts and turned at the sound of the voice. Killian’s butler stood in the entrance. He was stiff and formal in his address. She’d learned fast that a lot of the servants had conservative ideas about how an English household should be run—even if it bordered Scotland. They were remnants of the old earl’s ideals. Killian kept them on because they were respectful and good at their jobs, but he didn’t care how a house in England as opposed to Scotlandshouldbe.
“I have a visitor?” Who the hell could be coming to see her? “Please showthemin.”
She would find out soon enough. The butler bowed and exited the room. After a few moments he returned and announced, “The Duchess ofBranterberry.”
Ah, yes, that made sense. Serenity would be the only one that it could have been. They hadn’t had much time to visit when they ran into each other in Manchester. She mentioned that she had news she wanted to share with her, but they kept gettinginterrupted.
“Hello, sister,” she said and nearly bounced intotheroom.
Aubriella turned her attention to the butler. “Could you have teasentin?”
“Yes,” he said andexited.
Serenity sat on a nearby chair. “He’s a stuffy oneisn’the?”
Aubriella pursed her lips together. “What are you doing here?” She hated to be rude, but she wasn’t exactly friendly with her stepsister and didn’t plan on doing so now. They had a complicated history. “Whatever you had to tell me could have been sent in aletter.”
She waved her hand dismissively. “What’s the fun in that?” Serenity tapped on the arm of the chair. “Besides do you think it’s wise to put down on paper that both of us are time travelers? This day and age they might think we’re witches orsomething.”
Aubriella rolled her eyes. “They might be a bit superstitious but they are unlikely to burn us at the stake. We’re not living in Puritan England right now.” Serenity had a passing interest in history, but she hadn’t studied it to the extent Aubriella had. She was getting her centuries mixed up. “Am I to assume you’ll be staying awhile?”
“If you don’t mind,” Serenity said. “At least the night. I promised Brandon I wouldn’t be gone long. He’d have come with me, but he had something else toinvestigate.”
“I’ll inform the maid when she brings tea,” Aubriella said. The butler wouldn’t be back unless summoned. “Now tell meyournews.”
“It’s about Genevieve,” she said. “You were concernedabouther.”
Aubriella sat up. What did Serenity know about her cousin? “Do you know what happenedtoher?”
A maid came into the room pushing a tea cart. She stopped in front of Aubriella and asked, “Do you wish metopour?”
Aubriella shook her head. “We can manage onourown.”
The maid curtsied and left the room. Once Aubriella was sure she was gone she turned her attention back to Serenity. “Pleasecontinue.”
Serenity smiled. “It’s not bad. She’s back where shebelongs.”
How could she possibly know any of that? “Then why are youstalling?”
“I’m not,” she replied. “I never told you why I’m here. Not at Kingsbridge, but inthepast.”
To be fair Aubriella hadn’t actually given her the time to explain. “Why don’t you dosonow.”
Serenity nodded and explained how she followed Trenton Quinn back in time to find Genevieve and how she came to work with the Duke ofBranterberry.
“Eve was working as a governess for theduke’sson?”
“Yes,” Serenity said. Then stood up and walked over to the tea cart. She poured tea into a cup and handed it to Aubriella, then poured herself a cup. “But that’s not everything. There is much youdon’tknow.”
Serenity took a sip of her tea and stared down into it. “Peyton is sick and we had to find Genevieve to save her life. It took a lot of convincing but she finally agreed to go home with Trenton. I’m not sure if they have reconciled but I suspect if they haven’t they willintime.”
Trenton and Genevieve loved each other a great deal. Aubriella expected that they worked through their issues. Her interest was in why they believed Eve could save Peyton. “What does my cousin have to do with yoursister?”
