He stared at her, partly in shock and partly in concern. “What was in the water? It is like you have been bit by a snapping creature…”
She rolled her eyes. “You are doing it again!”
“I really do not know why you are getting so upset at this. I have never been chided for having a sense of humor…” He ran a frustrated hand through his hair. “Are you sure that is about my jokes?”
No, she really wasn’t sure at all. But obviously, she was not going to let him know that.
“Has it ever occurred to you that people only laughed at your jokes because you are a duke?”
Her words were unwarranted, and she immediately regretted them. But he took a step back from her.
“Is that what you really think?”
Silence fell over them, hanging in the air like a leaf from a tree that was on the verge of collapsing but just did not.
“You seemed to like my humor before,” he continued, and she could hear in his voice that she had gone too far.
She reeled herself in. Arguing was not the way to deal with her confusing feelings.
“I suppose I went too far,” she relented.
“You suppose?”
“Well, I did.”
His expression softened as she admitted to her mistake.
“Right, no worries, then. You still are quite cold though, and I do not wish for you to fall sick.I shall call in the lady’s maid. She will help you get changed out of your clothes.”
CHAPTER9
Frances was beginning to settle into the estate well. She had assumed all of her responsibilities, and the children were comfortable around her.
Her interactions with Christopher remained mostly limited to the children, but even so, she felt as though they had cultivated a good friendship between them.
She had gotten rid of all her misgivings of any possible feelings for him. It was just too impractical, and it was best to not water something that could never bloom.
Besides, the twins were enough of a handful to keep her fully occupied.
Today, her sisters were supposed to pay her a visit—their first one after she had gotten married. She missed them terribly, and she felt excited.
The moment they entered the drawing room, they leaped over to her, engulfing her in a hug.
“Oh,it is not the same without you,” Harriet complained. “I have no one to annoy, and I miss you constantly.”
Esther smiled. “She is a married woman now. Of course, her priority is her husband.”
Frances noticed that Harriet’s smile diminished at their sister’s words, but she did not put much stock into it. Instead, she turned to Esther.
“I am happy that you could take the time out to visit today. Surely, it is difficult to do with your children.”
Esther smiled. “Oh, I had to. Even Phillip was urging me to come so that he could see Christopher, but I told him to stay with the children for the afternoon. I believe he might see Christopher later. How are things with the twins?”
“Oh, beyond my expectations. They have taken to me quite nicely. It’s beginning to feel like a family home now,” Frances gushed.
Harriet scoffed in response, and both sisters turned to look at her with curiosity.
“Something wrong, Harriet?” Esther asked with a raised eyebrow.
