Page 126 of A Duchess for his Family

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She had spent years looking at Keswick, imagining another life elsewhere. Now the sight of it made something inside her collapse with relief… and grief.

The carriage had scarcely stopped before the front door opened. Her father appeared first. He stood upon the steps in shirtsleeves beneath his morning coat, looking thoroughly confused.

“Sophia?”

She stepped down. “Good morning, Father.”

He stared at her, at the carriage, then behind her, as though Benedict might emerge from it.

“Sophia,” he said instead of a greeting. “What are you doing here?”

Before she could answer, her mother appeared behind him. She was dressed for breakfast and had evidently been informed that a carriage had arrived at an unreasonable hour. Her surprise was considerably less discreet than her husband’s.

“My goodness, Sophia?”

“I hope you do not mind an unexpected visitor.”

“Mind?” Her mother descended the steps at once. “You are our daughter.”

Then she stopped. Her gaze flickered toward the carriage.

“Where is His Grace?”

Sophia’s chest tightened. “Benedict remained at Rivermere.”

Her father’s brows drew together. “Is anything wrong?”

“No.” But she said it too quickly. Sophia softened the answer. “No. Nothing is wrong.”

Her mother examined her face. Sophia knew that look. It had discovered muddy hems, hidden novels, tears after disappointing balls, and every childhood illness Sophia had attempted to conceal.

She looked away.

“Benedict has a great deal of estate business this week,” she explained. “And I realized I have hardly spent any time here since the wedding. I thought I might stay for a few days.”

Her father’s expression eased. “That is all?”

“Yes.”

It was not precisely a lie. Benedict did have estate business. She had hardly spent time at Keswick. And she did wish to stay.

Her mother remained unconvinced. “At dawn?”

Sophia attempted a laugh. “I woke early.”

“You have never voluntarily woken early in your life.”

“That is unkind.”

“It is accurate.”

Her father smiled faintly. Her mother still watched Sophia.

Sophia slipped one arm through her mother’s. “I missed you.”

That, at least, was entirely true. Her mother’s suspicion softened instantly.