“Ihad no idea.”
“Whywould you?” Charuni was silent a moment. “You called me yoursister.”
“Well, we share a father. I would say that makes usrelated.”
“Youhave never before called me sister.”
“Well, I—” Sera’s mind went blank. That was…true. Seraregarded her sister uncertainly. What had changed?
“Whydid you say my name had Waller in it?” Charuni asked, saving herfrom thinking on it further.
“Doesn’t it?”
Her sister shookher head. “We have always gone by my mother’s name. Why would itnot be Waller-Mitchell?”
She could answerthis easily. “That is not Father’s name. Part of the marriagesettlement was for any issue of their union to be named bothFather’s and Grandfather’s names, with Grandfather’s as the finalname. He was a wily one, wanting an heir to the marquessate to havea merchant’s name.”
“Butmy brother is heir the marquessate.”
“Yes. More fool dear old Grandfather.”
“Soyour grandfather insisted on something that would strike a blow atFather’s pride.”
“Yes. That is one way to look at it.”
“Andyour mother left you when you were a baby.”
“Yes.”
“Andthen Father…”
Ignoring theache in her chest, she said impatiently, “What are you intimating,Charuni?”
Stopping dead onthe street, Charuni hugged her. “I am sorry your family ishorrible.”
Caught offguard, Sera looked around them. What few people remained on thestreet after the rain had not noticed the two of them or, if theyhad, they’d paid them no mind. Hesitantly, she returned hersister’s embrace. Is this what Stephen meant? When he said she hadno notion of what family was? Was family simply someone who huggedyou when you were sad? Was family those people you would kill for?In this moment, she would destroy anyone who thought to harm hersister. She would use every weapon at her considerable disposal tomake it so her sister was never harmed and, with every fibre of herbeing, she would protect her.
Comprehensiondawned. This. This is why Stephen would never betray hisbrother.
Pulling back,Charuni said, “You know, you could just invite yourself to thewedding celebration.”
Ducking herhead, she hid the tears clouding her eyes. “I beg yourpardon?”
“Asyou said before—is there not a way?”
Sera stared ather sister. Charuni stared back guilelessly, as if she had notsuggested a devious plan, as if she had not just turned the tableson a bigoted shop-owner.
A smile tuggedat Sera. Perhaps she and her sister were more alike than she’dthought.
But when she gothome and looked at the pile of correspondence on her desk, shefound she did not need to employ the plan Charuni suggested. Forsitting there, in a pristine cream envelope, was an invitation tothe wedding of Lady Lydia Torrence and the Earl ofRoxwaithe.
Chapter Eighteen
CONCENTRATING FIERCLY, STEPHEN TAPPED the football withhis left knee to bounce off his chest, catching it with his rightfoot. He flicked his ankle and the round ball rose again, hittinghis right knee only for him to tap it again to bounce off hischest, this time catching it with his left foot.
Again and again,he repeated the actions. It had snowed again overnight, coatingWaithe Hall and its surrounds in white. With the snow three inchesdeep and as Stephen had no desire to break an ankle, he’d revertedto the indoor pitch of his youth and made his way to the LongGallery. No one in residence at Waithe Hall would bother him uphere, and he’d needed the soothing only football could bring. Hehad, after all, endured yet another week of Oliver’scompany.
Three weeksthey’d been at the Farlisle ancestral estate in Yorkshire,reacquainting themselves with Waithe Hall and its surrounds. AfterMaxim’s disappearance and their father’s death, Oliver hadshuttered the hall and removed to London, making it so years hadpassed without a visit. On the rare occasion Stephen had needed tocome to Yorkshire, he’d stayed at Bentley Close, the Marquis ofDemartine’s residence bordering theirs. Alexandra and Maxim hadarrived ahead of them all, ensuring Waithe Hall was prepared forthe family and guests. They had married quietly six weeks ago, andthey saw no need to celebrate their marriage in the way Lydia andOliver intended to.
