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Olivia smiled at Louiza, and they continued toward the table.

Sunlight poured through the tall windows and fell across gleaming silver, delicate china, crystal glasses, and polished serving dishes.

There were soft-boiled eggs in silver egg cups, rashers of bacon, sausages, kidneys, grilled mushrooms and tomatoes, warm rolls, butter, preserves, honey, fresh fruit, and a handsome ham accompanied by mustard and pickles. A covered dish held kedgeree, while another contained delicate slices of cold meat, and there were cakes and sweet pastries arranged beside pots of tea and coffee. Olivia stared at it all with growing amusement. If this was breakfast, she wondered what Glenmore considered an appropriate dinner.

James was reading a letter while drinking his coffee. He looked entirely at home among the silver and china, which reminded Olivia rather forcefully that this was his world.

She sat beside him while Louiza took the chair opposite, and for a few minutes Olivia concentrated on her breakfast rather than the fact that she was sharing a table with her husband.

She wanted to ask James a dozen questions about Felix. Did he think the baby should eventually spend more time at the manor? When would it be safe to bring him into the household? Who would decide which servants could know? She wanted to tell him that she thought Felix ought to have familiar faces around him and that she did not want him growing up feeling as though he had been hidden away.

Unfortunately, Louiza was sitting directly opposite her, and Olivia could hardly discuss something that could turn into an argument in front of her.

Louiza seemed blissfully unaware of Olivia's internal struggle.

She buttered a roll and then looked toward James with a warm smile. "Your Grace, I wanted to thank you again for taking me in," she said, setting down her knife. "I know you did not have to do it, and I am very grateful."

James looked up from his correspondence and gave her a calm nod. "Do not thank me," he replied, reaching for his coffee. "Thank your sister. She would not agree to the marriage without you."

Louiza smiled across the table at Olivia, her expression filled with affection. "Yes. She is a true sister."

James followed her gaze toward Olivia and nodded. "Indeed."

The single word should not have affected Olivia, yet somehow it did. Her eyes met James's across the table, and for one suspended moment neither of them looked away. His blue eyes held hers with an intensity that made her forget what she had been about to say.

She became suddenly aware of the warmth in her cheeks and the quiet movement of his hand as he lifted his cup. There was something terribly unfair about a man who could be so cold one moment and so attentive the next, particularly when he possessed eyes that made it exceedingly difficult for her to remember why she ought to keep her distance.

Olivia cleared her throat and looked down at her plate. "Now, Louiza," she said, concentrating very deliberately on the marmalade beside her, "what would you like to do for our first full day at Glenmore?"

Louiza considered the question. "I should very much like to walk the grounds. I would like to get a proper sense of the place."

"That is a very good idea," Olivia agreed, grateful for the change of subject.

She was eager to explore the estate herself, particularly because she had only seen a small portion of it during her visit to Felix's cottage. There were gardens, woods, stables, perhaps a lake, and probably enough land to become lost in if one did not pay attention. She rather liked the idea of learning the estate piece by piece.

James glanced at her with a faintly mischievous expression. "Indeed. Olivia already knows where the stables are, do you not, wife?"

Olivia nearly choked on her tea.

Louiza looked from James to Olivia, her eyebrows rising with immediate interest. Olivia placed her cup down carefully and felt the heat spreading from her neck to her cheeks as the memory returned with humiliating clarity. The first time she had met James, she had been attempting to steal a horse from his stables so she could escape Lord Boulton at the ball. She had not known she was speaking to the Duke of Glenmore, and he had found her entirely too entertaining.

"I may have seen the stables," Olivia replied, attempting dignity while James's mouth twitched.

"You did rather more than see them," he said, leaning back in his chair. "You were attempting to steal one of my horses."

Louiza's eyes widened. "You attempted to steal his horse?"

"I was desperate," Olivia protested, looking at her sister. "There was an unpleasant aunt trying to marry me to an unpleasant man."

James lifted an eyebrow. "And naturally, stealing my horse was the most reasonable solution."

"It seemed reasonable at the time."

Louiza laughed, and even James could not suppress his amusement. Olivia found herself laughing too, despite the embarrassment warming her face. She looked at her husband and shook her head, wondering how he could make an old moment feel so light.

Yet beneath the laughter, she felt that familiar confusion returning.

This is my husband, and I still scarcely know what to make of him.