Secrets of an Accidental Duchess by Jennifer Haymore Read Free Book Online Page A

there was something about Lady Fenwicke that just seemed… absent. Max glanced at Olivia. Her gaze was forthright and friendly—not that he’d ever seen it any other way—but there was the slightest crease between her brows.
    Tea was served, and Max sat back and enjoyed the scorching, bitter taste of his. The sisters all took generous lumps of sugar for their tea, and Lady Fenwicke took sugar and cream in hers, but Max noticed that after she’d prepared it to her liking, she placed it beside her and didn’t touch it.
    The ladies discussed their plans for autumn and winter, briefly skimmed the topic of their past in the West Indies, and told Lady Fenwicke about their absent sister, Phoebe, who Max had met last evening. For her part, Lady Fenwicke hardly spoke but asked the sisters questions and offered them more tea and cakes. A proper hostess. Still, something in Max panged for her. She just seemed so damned unhappy.
    Jessica dabbed her napkin to her lips. “That almond cake was simply delicious, Lady Fenwicke! I’ll have to tell my sister’s cook to ask for the recipe from yours.”
    “Thank you, but I must confess that I made the cakes myself.” Sucking in a breath at her blunder—a lady of her status should never admit to doing something as common as cooking!—she looked down at her lap.
    There was a short silence, then Lady Stratford said in a kindly voice, “Oh how lovely. You are a talented cook. I do hope you’ll give my cook the recipe.”
    Olivia took her first bite of the cake and added herappreciation, and Max ate his cake in silence. He liked these three sisters. It was heartwarming how they attempted to make their hostess comfortable.
    “Do you like to cook, then, my lady?” Jessica asked. “Is it a hobby of yours?”
    He also liked how forthright they were.
    “I do,” Lady Fenwicke said quietly. “I like it very much. It is… it is a great solace to me.”
    “I understand completely,” Olivia said. “Going for long walks is my solace.”
    “Reading is mine,” Lady Stratford added.
    “And mine is dancing. Oh, how I love to dance,” said Jessica, beaming. “Our sister Phoebe does, too. We used to dance together for hours and hours in our parlor back in Antigua before she came to England last year.” She turned to Max. “What’s your solace, my lord?”
    That took him aback. His solace? Solace hadn’t been a concept he’d considered for years. Perhaps ever. “Well. I can’t think of anything.”
    “It must be hunting,” Jessica said. “Since you’re here to hunt with my brother-in-law and Captain Langley.”
    “No, that can’t be it.” A mischievous grin lit Olivia’s features. “Lord Hasley has confided to me that he’s a poor hunter.”
    “Perhaps horses, then,” the countess said. “Many men take solace from their animals. I know Jonathan does, at times.”
    “No,” Olivia said, sliding a glance at him. “Not horses, either. Don’t you remember? Lord Hasley told us this morning that he wasn’t the horse connoisseur that Captain Langley and the earl are,” Olivia said.
    “Ah, that’s right.” Lady Stratford gave Olivia anappraising look, then set her teacup down. “Thank you so much for the tea and the lovely cakes, my lady. I didn’t mean to march in like this today, but I’ve very much wanted to meet you.”
    “Me too,” Jessica said, “and I’m so glad we came.”
    “I’m very glad you came, too,” Lady Fenwicke said. “It’s so nice to meet new neighbors.”
    “We must go, though,” the countess said. “My husband will be wondering what has happened to us.”
    “But he won’t worry.” Jessica shot Max a saucy grin. “He knows Lord Hasley is here to protect us.”
    Lady Stratford rolled her eyes heavenward. “In the event of a dragon attack as we walk through the fearsome Sussex countryside, I daresay.”
    Max bowed his head. “At your service, ladies.”
    They all laughed, even Lady Fenwicke. Her lovely, tinkling laughter seemed to