Read Online Celeste Bradley - [Heiress Brides 03] by Duke Most Wanted - Free Book Online Page B

stuck his head into the office. “Mr. Fortescue, there’s a guest come. Miss Blake is here and she says it’s for a long stay.”
    ’
TIS EASIER TO beg pardon than to beg permission
.
    As Sophie stepped from Lementeur’s ridiculously elegant carriage—really, it was like a cake iced in cream and gold!—and was handed down to the walk in front of Brook House, she held Lementeur’s admonition close.
    The fine day notwithstanding, she quaked just a bit inside. She was not accustomed to simply taking possession of anything, much less something she had no right to.
    And yet you’re making quite a habit of it
.
    She had no right to invade Deirdre’s house this way, especially with her cousin gone. But Lementeur was right when he said that her new persona, Sofia, needed every advantage of status and address.
    This address had status enough to share. The wealthy Lord Brookhaven, soon to be Duke of Brookmoor, was a good master and had a keen business sense, so hisfortunes had never suffered like so many of the aristocracy. Brook House gleamed, the marble steps scrubbed thrice daily, the trees shading the circular drive trimmed neatly and the great brass door knocker . . . gone.
    Ah, yes. Well, it would be, when his lordship wasn’t in residence. Sophie lifted her chin, feeling all the more like an intruder. The Brook House footmen moved forward instantly, their expressions devoid of surprise, when her luggage was handed down as well.
    She’d stayed here for a few months until Deirdre and Brookhaven had wed, so they knew her well enough to smile slightly. She did catch a few of them casting worried glances into the empty carriage. Making sure Lady Tessa wasn’t accompanying her? Sophie could have reassured them that Tessa had no inkling of the move, but she didn’t think it advisable to call attention to her lack of chaperone.
    “No one will dare to whisper a word against you,” Lementeur had assured her. “Between my powers of transformation and Brookhaven’s wealth and imminent rank, there isn’t a soul in London who would doubt you.”
    Grand words. Sophie, for she was still Sophie and not yet the promised Sofia, was going to reserve judgment thank you very much. No one had ever hesitated to abuse her in the past. She was having trouble believing any future changes would be that dramatic.
    Fortescue met her in the front hall, looking oddly flushed for such a paragon of dignity and restraint. Her unannounced visit must have put him out more than she’d thought it might.
    Behind him, Sophie spotted Deirdre’s maid, Patricia.She blinked in surprise. “Is her ladyship at home already?”
    Patricia smiled and shook her head. “No, miss. I stayed behind to watch over Lady—”
    “Sophieee!”
    Sophie braced herself for impact, luckily, for Lady Margaret was running so fast that the slick marble of the entrance hall did not allow for braking. After Sophie caught her breath and untangled herself from pointy knees and elbows, she stood Meggie on her feet and gazed at her in mock severity. “Nutmeg, don’t you understand the science of friction and momentum?”
    Meggie grinned up at her. “Sure. When I’m in stocking feet I can slide from the back stairs to the front door, if Graham is here to throw me.”
    The mention of Graham stole away some of Sophie’s pleasure at seeing her new little cousin, but she lifted her chin to gaze evenly at the butler, one of the few men she tolerated well.
    “I’ve come to stay, Fortescue.”
    Fortescue seemed to have recovered himself as well. “Indeed, miss, you’re very welcome. How long will you be with us?”
    For as long as it takes
. She smiled noncommittally. “I can’t say. I simply felt like a change.”
    A sparkle of wry sympathy shone in Fortescue’s eyes. “And how is Lady Tessa?”
    Sophie shook her head ruefully. “In for a surprise, I fear, if she ever bothers to notice I’ve escaped.”
    Fortescue made no response, but his brisk orders to the footmen