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purchasing a few new gowns.”
    “ I will.” Leah hurried down the stairs and across the foyer. “Mister Pratt?”
    The butler emerged from the dining area. “Yes, miss?”
    “ Has the carriage been brought around?”
    “ Not yet. I’ll see what’s keeping Davies.”
    “ No, don’t trouble yourself. I’ll wait for him outside.”
    “ Very good, miss.”
    Leah rushed to the front door and swung it wide. In an instant, her joyous mood froze like droplets of water on a frigid winter day. She couldn’t have been more surprised if Katrina had brought home a trained monkey. In fact, she rather preferred such a creature to the devilishly handsome man who stood at her sister’s side.

Chapter Three
     
    Leah entwined her fingers to keep them from trembling. She couldn’t just abandon her father. Could she? No, it would be considered impolite. At least she’d had the good sense to send Anne a message concerning the delay.
    She sipped her tea, praying for patience. During lunch, she’d been forced to converse with his Grace as if they shared a casual friendship. Throughout the meal and under the guise of polite conversation, he’d monitored her every move. And now, in the familiar comfort of Greyson Manor’s private parlor, his dark gaze watched her still.
    “ Which do you prefer, Chase?” her father asked.
    “ Brandy will do, my lord.”
    Leah’s attention darted to her sister lounging in the window seat. Although strangely quiet, Kat’s expression showed the usual amount of boredom.
    “ I cannot believe the years have passed so quickly,” the duke stated. “If I close my eyes, I can see Lady Greyson sitting in this very room.”
    “ It took a long time before I finally stopped hearing Olivia’s soft voice or her delightful laughter.” Her father handed his guest a glass of brandy. “There are times, when the manor is quiet, that I hear it still.”
    For the moment, Leah forgot her nervousness. “I wasn’t aware you’d met my mother, your Grace.”
    “ Adrian never mentioned it?”
    She thought back. “Not that I recall.”
    “ A pity. Your mother devoted her time and the benefit of her wisdom to both me and my brother, but I fear we often disappointed her.”
    “ Not you, Chase,” his lordship declared. “You were Olivia’s favorite. If I’m not mistaken, she taught you how to skip pebbles.”
    Kat nearly rolled off the window seat.
    The duke smiled. “Her ladyship also instructed Adrian and me in regards to proper etiquette on dining, dancing, speaking, and otherwise entertaining a lady.”
    “ Becca’s mother is teaching Becca and me,” Katrina explained. “We each have our own etiquette books.”
    “ Splendid. Did you know your mother presented Lady Ashburn with such a book as a gift on the year of her thirteenth birthday?”
    Kat nodded. “Lady Ashburn told me. She said she adored my mother because she was always thoughtful and kind.”
    “ She certainly was, little one.”
    With Katrina, Chase didn’t guard his emotions so closely, and his eyes reflected so much warmth.
    How would it feel to be cherished by such a man?
    Leah grimaced. What on earth had her thinking such ridiculous thoughts? She wanted nothing from this man. Not one thing.
    “ I’m pleased you accepted Katrina’s lunch invitation, Chase,” her father said. “It’s been far too long since you and I have had a chance to visit.”
    “ Agreed. After my grandfather died, you gave me good advice on several business matters. I’ve never forgotten that, and I hope I thanked you properly at the time.”
    “ I was happy to be of assistance. There was no finer gentleman than Bart, and I was fond of Lord Adrian as well. When he asked for my daughter’s hand--”
    “ Father,” Leah interrupted. “Must we speak of this?”
    “ It’s quite all right, Miss Sheridan,” the duke stated. “It’s time I moved beyond my brother’s death.”
    “ As I’ve told Leah, the pain will lessen over time, but it will never