The Forbidden Duke Read Free Page B

liked her tea, then set about preparing their cups accordingly.
    “You are quite adept,” Lady Satterfield said. “Tell me, why are you seeking employment?” She picked up her cup and sipped her tea.
    Nora smoothed her skirt over her knees, even though the outmoded fabric was lying perfectly flat. She hated admitting the embarrassing truth, but again preferred to be candid. “My father is moving to Dorset at the end of the month and will no longer have space for me.”  
    Lady Satterfield’s lips pursed into a slight frown. “What a pity. I can’t say that recommends him, in my opinion.”  
    Nora appreciated the countess’s support, but also couldn’t help but feel like a charity case.
    “And what have you been doing these past nine years?” Lady Satterfield asked.
    “Reading, mostly. I also enjoy working in the garden.” She was going to miss that. She’d cultivated a healthy display of flowers and shrubbery. She was most proud of the roses.
    “Have you been happy? That is, if not for the change in your circumstances, would you have continued on as you were?”
    Nora had difficulty understanding why this woman was inquiring after her happiness. No one beyond Jo had ever cared. “I expect so. My sister hoped that I would marry eventually.”
    Lady Satterfield took another sip of her tea. “Is that what you wanted?”
    Once, when she’d been a young lady, fresh in London, she’d nurtured dreams of marriage and children. But after her fall from grace, she’d lost all expectation of such a future, regardless of her sister’s determination to have faith. “Originally, but I have no such aspirations now. I shall be quite content to serve as your lady’s companion. That is, if you decide to hire me.” Nora felt color rise in her cheeks. She didn’t wish to be presumptuous.
    “I most certainly do,” Lady Satterfield said. “Can you move in immediately?”
    Nora couldn’t speak for a moment. “I’m…overwhelmed by your faith in me.”
    “You possess a lovely spirit as well as resilience and intelligence. I am not at all concerned you will repeat the mistakes of your past.”
    Joy and relief merged, and Nora couldn’t contain her smile. “I shan’t.”
    “Excellent. We shall need to move quickly since my ball is in just a few days, and you will need to attend, of course.” Her gaze dropped to Nora’s horribly outdated traveling costume. “I gather you’ll need a new wardrobe?”
    Nora winced. “I’m afraid I haven’t needed fashionable clothing in recent years.”
    “That’s quite all right, dear. I am rather inspired by this project—not to say you’re a project, but I daresay you are.”
    Nora couldn’t possibly be irritated with the woman’s assessment, not when her gray eyes were sparkling with infectious enthusiasm. “It is my good fortune to be your project. Thank you ever so much for this opportunity.”
    “Excellent. After tea, we shall embark on our first shopping trip. I’ll have Harley send for your things.” Lady Satterfield shook her head, smiling. “But I’m getting ahead of myself. I’ll show you upstairs to your room and give you a thorough tour of the house. We have an extensive library downstairs—you did say you like to read, didn’t you?”
    Everything was happening so fast, but then that was good, wasn’t it? Nora had needed a new situation and quickly at that. Now she had one.  
    She would be companion to a kind and generous countess. She would have a new wardrobe and access to a fabulous library. So she would never be married or have a family of her own.  
    That was fine, since she’d abandoned that dream long ago.

    T itus arrived ten minutes before his stepmother’s tea was due to begin. Harley, the Satterfields’ typically unflappable butler, blinked, registering a moment’s surprise at seeing Titus.
    “Your Grace, Lady Satterfield will be delighted to see you. She is already in the drawing room.”
    “Thank you, Harley. I’ll see myself