"Ehm, Your Grace," the baron said, hurrying out of the dining room to block the Duke's view of the kitchen. "I believe you are mistaken. There is no one else here besides myself and the family. You are probably seeing one of the house staff."
A house staff!? Duke Félix turned the words over in his mind. Had the baron just admitted to reducing his own flesh and blood to the level of a mere staff, or had he clearly misheard the man?
"My husband is right, Your Grace," the baroness said, hurrying out also. "There is no one else of importance here besides the five of us."
Félix's frown deepened at her words and seeing the two identical girls from before dart out of the dining door. Why were they so determined to hide her from him? Or, rather, to stop him from seeing her? Someone he had seen dancing with the Viscount at Lady Agatha's ball like everyone else the other day. Or were they oblivious to the fact that he had attended as well?
Félix drew a sharp breath, swallowing the thick air of deceit around him. Turning to the head of the house, he spoke bluntly. "Which of these young ladies standing here is bound by law to marry the Viscount?"
The baron turned to his wife and shared a brief but telling look.
Sensing the need for reassurance, Félix added, "It's nothing serious. I simply heard of the arrangement and wished to send over some congratulatory gifts if you don't consider it going out of line."
"Oh, not at all, Your Grace," the couple said in unison, smiling sheepishly. "We openly accept and appreciate your generosity."
While they turned to each other and murmured among themselves, all four of them, Félix glanced toward where he had seen the motionless figure before, only to find out she was gone. His jaw clenched. He was not losing his mind, was he? He had definitely seen her standing there.
As he considered this, the baron spoke again, his enthusiasm forced. "Why not join me in my study? We can discuss the reason for your visit."
"No need," Félix said curtly. There was no point in pleasantries when the baron's scheming was so transparent. If he had not suggested the study earlier, why bring it up now?
"I will send for you when the time comes," Félix added. "For now, I must take my leave. There is somewhere I need to be."
"So soon?" the baroness asked.
Félix met her troubled gaze, offering no reply.
"I hope we have not offended you?" the baron asked in her place. "I have done my best to make your stay as comfortable as possible, given the short notice."
Félix heard him but felt no obligation to respond. Still, the baron pressed on.
"Although I would have liked to give you a tour of the house, since you are leaving soon, I must admit I feel a little saddened."
Interesting, Felix thought to himself. The baron had truly regarded his visit as a ceremonial affair.
"Honey?" the baroness murmured, nudging her husband in what seemed to be a warning. Félix noticed and was quietly amused.
With an unreadable smirk, he said, "I suppose I can spare a few minutes for some sightseeing. What do you think, Bach?"
His butler, who had remained silent, observing the scene unfold, gave a nod of approval. "I'd say you can, Your Grace."
"Perfect!" The baron's face lit up with excitement. "Where shall we begin? Oh, I know, the drawing room—"
"No," Félix said, noticing the women stiffen in alarm. Their sudden nervousness was telling. "Outside," he added. "Let's start there."
"Okay…we can start with the garden, then go around the house or…" the baron paused and looked at his wife, who was pinching the side of his cloak. As if they shared some secret understanding, he then nodded slowly.
"Why not start from the inside and work our way out?" he hesitantly suggested. "There is far more to see here than outside. We even have a room we like to call our private museum. It holds quite the collection. Wouldn't you rather… No?"
Félix kept a straight face, knowing it would unsettle the baron. For some reason, he enjoyed seeing the man stutter, unable to compose himself. Thinking that, the duke smiled inwardly to himself. Perhaps his visit to the baron's house would be more entertaining than he had expected.
***
Estella swallowed hard behind the door where she hid. She had never imagined that the man she had blackmailed at Lady Agatha's Ball would somehow turn up at her house, much less that he would turn out to be the duke.
The duke!
A strange cold settled over her as she realized he might have tracked her down to punish her. Oh God, Estella wailed internally. What have I brought upon myself?
If only she could disappear into the wall or turn into a fly. She would like that very much.
She could not begin to imagine what further punishment awaited her if the baroness chose to question her about how she had come to know the duke personally.
Just how badly was her destiny set on working against her? Had she not suffered enough at the hands of her sisters and their mother already? What more did fate want from her?
Her back was still raw, bleeding from the ruthless whippings Theodore had dealt her outside. The pain was so intense she could no longer stand up straight.
But now, this?
Why, of all days, had Duke Félix—for that was his name she'd just now learned about—decided to show up at her house today? Could she not even hope to catch a break? What was she expected to do now?
Estella sulked weakly and held her place behind the door. She could sense the baroness and her sisters close by, so it was best she remained a ghost, unseen and unheard. One wrong move, and they would instantly turn around and pounce on her. She could not have that in her already drained and weakened state.
"What was Father thinking?" Estella heard Georgina mutter in an agitated tone.
"Yes, Mother. Why would he agree to show His Grace outside our house?" Geraldine added, her voice tense.
"What if he sees the station where Estella was just held?" Georgina said again. "What if he finds something of hers lying around? What should we do?"
Georgina's panic was evident even though Estella couldn't see her. She could picture that sister chewing on her nails while her mother tried and failed to calm her down.
"Say something, Mother," Geraldine said.
"What would happen then?" Georgina groaned.
"Steady yourselves, girls," the baroness finally said. "How well do you think you know your father? He will not take His Grace near that part of the house. Most likely, they will go into the garden."
"But what if he insists on going the other way, Mother?" Georgina asked. "What excuse will we give then?"
"Father can simply say that area is meant for slaughter or something, I think," Geraldine suggested, though she did not sound convinced of her own words."Certainly, coming up with a reasonable excuse is something he can manage."
"I wouldn't count on that," the baroness said resignedly. "I'm afraid to say this, girls, but your father does not have nearly enough skill in the art of persuasion."
"Ah," both girls sighed simultaneously, loud enough for Estella to hear without straining her ears.