Page 44 of The Duchess’ Little Miracle

“It is,” William agreed softly. “I know it is because of you. Because of the environment you’ve built here, and the way you’ve given her space. But I was wondering... what more can we do? How do we build on this without frightening her away?”

Seraphina adjusted her posture. “Direct conversation clearly causes her distress, but shared, informal activities allow her to observe us without feeling cornered,” she explained. “I was thinking... perhaps we could organize a family picnic on the estate grounds. Nothing formal. Just a blanket on the grass near the gardens, some light food, and lemonade. It will allow Alice to be near us on her own terms.”

William stared at her for a moment, a smile spreading across his face.

“A picnic,” he repeated. “That is an exceptional idea, Seraphina. Thank you. You are doing so much, and I am deeply grateful.”

Seraphina swallowed hard, suddenly finding it difficult to look directly into his eyes. “You do not need to thank me, William. It is simply my duty to ensure the household functions well.”

“Well, it is more than your duty, and we both know it,” William said gently.

They sat in silence for a fleeting moment, looking at each other across the small space between them.

William broke the silence with a breath, standing up and stepping back from the bed. “Well, I should let you finish with the doctor. We can organize the picnic for tomorrow afternoon if the weather holds.”

“Tomorrow afternoon will suit fine,” Seraphina agreed softly.

“Good,” William said, giving her one last look before stepping out into the corridor.

A second later, Croft popped his head back into the room, carrying his medical bag. “Well, Your Grace, I shall take my leave.”

“Wait,” Seraphina called out before he could reach the door.

Croft stopped, turning back.

Seraphina sat up straighter, gripping the bedsheets. “Let us suppose, purely for the sake of argument... that my physical reactions are indeed linked to a nervous disturbance triggered by proximity. Until I can find a proper scientific explanation for what is occurring, what am I supposed to do about it in the meantime?”

Croft raised an eyebrow. “In the meantime?”

“Yes,” Seraphina said, gesturing to her own face. “I am required to learn to dance with him. We must attend public balls in less than two weeks. I have very pale skin, Doctor Croft! Any sudden flush of blood transforms my face into a bright beacon of embarrassment. How do I prevent him from believing that he is... affecting me?”

“Your Grace, I am afraid that is outside my professional scope.”

“There must be a tonic or a breathing technique to stop it!” Seraphina argued.

“The only prescription I can offer you,” Croft said, his eyes twinkling. “Is to accept that your heart is functioning as nature intended.”

“What?” Seraphina blurted out in frustration.

“I shall take my leave now, Your Grace.” The physician bowed and stepped into the corridor, closing the door behind him.

Seraphina sank back against her pillows with a long groan. She pulled her legs up, sitting cross-legged on her bed, staring down at her hands.

‘Enough,’ she told herself firmly.

She had far more practical matters to attend to. She had a picnic to plan. If Alice was finally taking steps to come out of her shell, then that was what mattered most.

Seraphina swung her legs over the edge of the bed, her feet. She would plan the picnic, coordinate with the cook, and tomorrow, she would sit on the grass with William and Alice. As for the dance lessons... she would simply have to exercise complete mental discipline to keep her heart under control.

CHAPTER NINETEEN

“It is a leaf, Seraphina! It was attached to a living oak branch not twenty minutes ago. You deliberately misled the inquiry.” William scoffed, a laugh bubbling in his chest despite his best efforts to maintain a stern scowl. He crossed his arms over his unbuttoned waistcoat, leaning back against the rough trunk of the oak tree.

“I answered the question as stated,” Seraphina replied. She did not so much as blink. “You asked, and I quote, Is the subject a living, breathing creature? A plucked oak leaf possesses no respiratory system, nor is it currently attached to the tree’s primary vascular trunk. Botanically speaking, the moment it was severed from the branch, cellular death commenced. It is non-living organic matter.”

William threw his hands up, his coat discarded several feet away on the wool blanket, his cravat untied and his linen sleeves rolled up past his forearms. “It is a game. We are sitting on a blanket in the shade, not defending a thesis. You knew precisely what I meant when I asked if it was alive.”

“A lawyer does not guess what an opponent means. He reads the text. A physician does not guess at a symptom. He measures it.” Seraphina offered him a victorious little smile that made his pulse do a strange, erratic jump. “If you wish to defeat me, William, you must frame your inquiries with greater care.”