Page 25 of The Duchess’ Little Miracle

At Euphemia’s words, Seraphina’s brow softened, the tight line of her jaw relaxing just a fraction.

“What manner of responsibilities are we talking about, precisely?” Seraphina asked. “Can I not simply delegate them? If this arrangement is merely temporary, if I am not to remain in this role for long, why must I expend energy learning the intricate machinations of his household?”

Euphemia gave a shake of her head. “Because the world does not pause for temporary arrangements, Seraphina. It does not matter how brief your tenure as Duchess may be. If the household falters, if tenant petitions go unheeded, or if you refuse to host even a single gathering, society will talk, and the rumors will be far from kind.”

“Surely people will not dare gossip so brazenly,” Seraphina countered, trying to piece together a defense. “The Duke of Norwyn is immensely powerful; his reputation formidable. Few would risk whispering against his house.”

“They will not gossip about him,” Euphemia replied firmly. “They will gossip about you. They will say the new Duchess is cold, incapable, or woefully lacking in her duties. You remember the storm of whispers that surrounded my own marriage, how quickly society sharpens its knives the moment a woman fails to meet their arbitrary expectations.”

Seraphina opened her mouth to argue, but the logic in Euphemia’s warning was inescapable.

“If you want to survive this intact, you must be strategic from the very first hour,” Euphemia continued, stepping closer and taking Seraphina’s hands in her own. “Your absolute priority upon arrival must be the housekeeper. Find out who she is and become acquainted with her immediately. Do not make an enemy of that woman, Seraphina; she has likely run that estate since long before you arrived, and she knows every whisper in every corridor. Earn her respect.”

Euphemia offered a reassuring squeeze of her fingers. “Learn the names of the senior staff as quickly as you can. Learn where things are kept, how the household moves, who answers to whom. Treat it like one of your scientific studies if you must, but let that be your focus for the first few weeks. Manage the house, keep the peace, and you will be fine.”

Seraphina took in a deep breath; the panic fluttered higher in her throat, tight and suffocating.

Before she could form a reply, the door opened, and a servant bowed low from the threshold.

“Your Grace, the footmen have secured the last of your trunks. The carriage is waiting, and His Grace is ready to depart.”

Seraphina swallowed hard, her pulse thumping wildly against her collarbone. She offered her sisters a final, tight embrace, pulled her traveling cloak tightly around her shoulders, and stepped out toward the foyer.

As she crossed the threshold into the afternoon, looking toward the carriage where William stood waiting to hand her inside, Seraphina closed her eyes for one long, desperate second.

‘Please,’ she thought. ‘Let this all be a very vivid, terribly complicated dream.’

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

William paused at the foot of the staircase, turning to look at his new wife. “I shall escort you to your wing.”

Seraphina paused on the step, her hand lingering on the banister. “My wing?”

“Yes,” William replied. “Your wing. The West Wing has been prepared for your personal use. It includes your bedchamber, a private drawing room, dressing quarters, an adjoining sitting room, a fully equipped writing closet, and some other amenities.”

Seraphina did not look relieved; if anything, her brows pulled together in a slight knot. “Well, before we proceed with tours of residential quarters, would you mind taking me to the library first?”

William felt his left eyebrow twitch, a rare, involuntary breach of his usual composure. “The library?”

“Yes.” She turned fully on the step, her expression serious. “I would really like to see the library, please.”

“Why not wait until morning?” William asked, folding his arms across his chest. “The house is vast, the hour is late, and I assumed you would be exhausted from the journey and the... events of the day.”

“I would prefer to know its exact location now,” Seraphina said, taking a step back down toward him. “That way, when I wake in the morning, I shall not need to disturb the domestic staff simply to locate a book. I can navigate there unassisted.”

William stared at her for a long second. “So that you can disappear into it at first light?”

“Precisely,” she replied without a shred of guilt. “Is that such a bad thing?”

“It is not a matter of good or bad, Seraphina,” William said. “It is simply unconventional. Typically, a new duchess of the estate expresses a desire to acquaint herself with the primary reception rooms, or perhaps review the morning room. She does not usually make a direct line for the archives to lock herself away. I was under the impression you intended to acclimate yourself to the household, and to Alice.”

A subtle flicker of realization passed over Seraphina’s features. Her expression softened, a momentary shadow of self-reproach crossing her face. “Ah. Yes. Of course.” She cleared her throat slightly, adjusting the fold of her cloak over her arm. “I shall certainly attend to Alice and the rest of the household obligations first thing in the morning. That goes without saying. But tonight... I would still like to see the library first.”

She paused, looking up at him with wide eyes that caught him off guard. “I presume I will have access to it? Or are certain sections restricted?”

William nearly scoffed, though he caught himself in time. “You are the Duchess of Norwyn now, Seraphina. Whatever belongs to this estate belongs equally to you now. There are no locked doors against you here, nor will anyone limit what you may or may not read.”

As the words left his mouth, William found himself observing her... the way she was looking at him. The way her eyes seemed to sparkle when she heard there were no limits.