Page 70 of No Duke of Mine

The carriage turned, and there was Ravenswood Palace, but it seemed smaller than Maggie remembered. Its facade was dulled by age and the late duke’s neglect.

But then again, the last time she’d been here, she was a mere girl of ten and overwhelmed by the opulence around her father’s latest employer.

In the years between her last visit and today, Maggie had gained more experience of the world of the aristocracy and wealthy landowners. She’d seen wonders and places she’d never dreamed existed, and suffered terrible losses, so she took nothing for granted anymore.

Especially not coming home to Ravenswood.

Algernon helped her from the carriage when it stopped before the front doors, grinning like the loon she adored with all her heart.

He held out his hand and drew her inside, speaking with the butler, whose face had wrinkled even more in the intervening years. Algernon asked for his brothers to be informed of his return, and his desire to speak with them immediately in his chambers.

Then he tugged Maggie directly toward the main staircase to take her upstairs with him.

Maggie rested her hand lightly on the mahogany stair rail as she ascended and allowed her fingers to glide upward, caressing the wood lightly like a lady should. However, the last time she’d been here, Maggie had slid down the banister on a dare. She’d been eager to keep up with her new friends, all the boys who had lived here, and it had been fun playing their games for a while—until it suddenly wasn’t anymore.

She reached the upper floor, and they turned to walk along a hushed, carpet-lined hall.

Finally, he showed her into a large chamber.

“The master suite, I assume,” she said, as she looked around.

“Indeed. Make yourself at home,” he promised, before disappearing into what she further assumed to be his dressing closet.

Maggie wandered about, drinking in the contents of Algernon’s private domain and the huge bed standing between two tall windows. The chamber was large and airy, full of light, with wonderful views down towards the distant lake. She went to look out the window and spotted groups of people clustered out on the grounds. They were too far away to identify, but they appeared to be picnicking.

She turned to ask Algernon about them when the door burst open, admitting a trio of men.

“About time you dragged yourself home,” one yelled, and then disappeared into the dressing room.

None of them noticed her immediately.

“Well, where is she?”

“She is behind you,” Algernon answered, and then reappeared with a man who could only be one of his brothers hanging off him.

The three men, three Sweet brothers she’d once known as children, turned as one and finally spotted her.

She dipped a curtsy.

The youngest of them rushed over. “Maggie!”

She was swept up into his embrace and twirled around and around.

“I thought I would never see you again,” he complained.

“Stratford, put her down,” Algernon ordered.

“But it’s Maggie, Algernon!” Stratford argued even as he obeyed.

“Yes, I am aware of that,” he said, his lips twisted in a smug smile.

The one with the most serious face peered at her. “Why is Maggie Black in your bedchamber again, brother?”

Maggie lifted her chin. “You would be Nash.”

He inclined his head but turned his gaze on the duke. Nash had never quite warmed to her, or understood Algernon’s insistence that she join in their games as often as she had.

The third brother strolled closer, eyes narrowed on her.