The Wolf had shown himself to be a man. But she knew something dangerous still lurked beneath the surface. So, she didn’t want to just ask him questions she knew he might balk against.
“We used to play with snow often,” she began, even as she held her mug, soothed by the heat it gave to her chilly hands.
“You and your siblings?” the Duke asked, looking alert and curious.
“Yes. My sisters and Daniel. You already know that Marianne, Elizabeth, Daniel and I had different mothers. Mine and Victoria’s died. Then, our father married again.”
She could not help but show sadness. She had wondered what the first Lady Grisham was like. She heard she was kinder thanher mother, and her father used to be close to being a good man when she was still alive. The first wife died giving birth to Daniel. It was also the birth of Lord Grisham’s cruelty.
“I have heard of it, yes,” the Duke admitted, nodding slowly.
“Well, Wilhelmina, Victoria, and I followed. We are a big family. As children, we felt the advantage of that. Winters were mostly joyful, as long as our father and mother did not see anything they were disappointed about.”
Her voice trailed off. In her memories, she could still hear their father’s cane, tapping in warning.
“I met your father once or twice.” The Duke’s admission surprised her. Daphne did not know about that. Then again, she was probably still too young, then. “I am sorry that you had to grow up with a man like that in your house.”
His jaw clenched. For some reason, Daphne thought that his reaction was not only for her father’s behavior but for something else. His own? She wanted to know more.
“My siblings more than made up for it. It’s why even though we were happy for our older sisters getting married, we were also getting desperate. We were afraid that our family was starting to fall apart.”
“I can see that they are still there for you,” the Duke said.
“Yes.”
“They do not trust me yet, but Briarwood’s harassment had forced their hand. I want them to know that you are safe here.”
“I am. I know.”
They were quiet for a moment, sipping their hot cocoa while staring into the fire.
“Your Grace,” she broke the silence, using a soft and careful voice. “Tell me about your sister, Lady Cassandra. I—I have seen her portrait.”
It was mere curiosity on her part, but for him it was an intrusion. A violation.
He immediately stiffened. The softened features had vanished and the fire that blazed in the room cast shadows on his face, making his profile look sharper and more unyielding.
He rose from the sofa, taking away his comfortable weight from beside her.
He turned to her and warned, “There are shadows in this family you’d be wiser not to walk into.”
Without waiting for her to say anything, he left her in the room. Her jaw was slack.
This time, it was the Duke who had left her behind, and she knew just how hollow it made her feel.
Chapter Ten
“All your luggage has been secured, Your Grace. We will be leaving precisely as scheduled. In ten minutes,” the Duke’s aging valet Harold announced.
Daphne stood at the bottom of the grand staircase, wearing a heavy cloak over her traveling gown. Her posture was impeccable. After all, she was the most obedient and malleable among her mother’s daughters.
While she spoke with the valet, her husband stood by the doorway, slightly blurred by the bright sunlight streaming in. His silhouette was unmistakable, though. She would know him anywhere.
She had to admit she almost squealed with excitement when the Duke told her, “It’s time we returned to London.” They had been away for about a month, supposedly enjoying their honeymoon. It was not all bad, though. She had enjoyed the time away from theton’s inquisitive eyes.
“It’s definitely a timely departure, Harold. I want to reach London before evening,” the Duke declared, not turning toward her.
“Naturally,” Daphne muttered icily. “Punctuality and secrecy are both critical to the Wolfcrest tradition.”
