“Stiffly and unyielding?” her grandmother said with a laugh. In their world, comfort reigned. Clothing was serviceable. There were no layers worn simply for show. In order to fit through keyholes and slide under doors, one must be appropriately attired.
“Maybe I should have saved this mission for Claire after all.” Indecision rose within her. No. She could do this. She could help the Duke of Robinsworth’s daughter.
“You must learn to use your senses, your mind, and your heart more than your magic. You can do it, Sophia. I wouldn’t have allowed you to come if I didn’t believe it.”
“Oh, come now,” Sophia cajoled. “You wanted an opportunity to come through the portal, to see the fish.”
“I’d love to know their crimes. Knowing they were once fae scares me a little.” Her grandmother shivered lightly.
“They seemed amiable enough.”
“Only because you had something they wanted to trade for passage. Otherwise, we’d still be at home waiting for the night of the full moon.”
The fish that guarded the portal were granted a reprieve on the night of the moonful, the night the midnight wind swirled, carrying passengers from the fae world to this one. Any other night, wary travelers must trade something of value to get past the fish and away from the land of the fae.
“This mission is very unlike my others,” Sophia said, more to herself than to her grandmother.
“Most missions don’t include a handsome duke.” She grinned. “A duke who makes one’s heart go pitter-patter.” For some reason, her grandmother’s mild, cherubic smile sent fear skittering up Sophia’s spine, making her wonder what devious plot was hiding behind her grandmother’s innocent facade.
Two
Ashley stepped through the front door of his home to find his butler, Wilkins, standing at attention in the entryway. The regal, spry old servant rushed forward to take his hat and coat.
“Any news for me, Wilkins?” Ashley asked absently as he shrugged out of his jacket, took the correspondence the butler placed in his hands, and sorted through the stack of notes quickly.
“Your brother awaits you in your study,” the butler said.
A smile broke across Ashley’s face. “I imagine he’s sampling my best whiskey?”
Wilkins smiled, then added glibly, “Not since I removed all the decanters upon his arrival, Your Grace. You should be aware that he partook of more than his share of spirits before he arrived.”
His brother had never b
een one for taking spirits in moderation. Ashley chuckled. “That bad, is he?”
“Worse, Your Grace,” Wilkins said, nodding his head slightly.
“Oh,” Ashley said as he turned and held up a finger. “Did you have any luck finding a suitable governess for Anne?”
The man sighed. “Unfortunately, no. The agency refuses to send another of their applicants. Not after what happened the last time.”
Ashley tried to remember. “Remind me of what happened last time.”
“Lady Anne set the governess’s hair on fire. On purpose.”
“Oh, yes. I remember. There was a stench for days.” Wilkins’s lip curled as he obviously remembered the same smell. “Are there other agencies you can try?”
“I’ll keep looking.”
“Thank you.” Ashley smiled as he walked down the corridor and turned the corner to enter his study. There, seated in a deep leather chair, was his younger brother, Lord Phineas, or Finn, as his friends called him. “I heard a rumor that you were in my study and that evasive maneuvers had to be taken to keep you out of my stock,” Ashley said, extending his hand.
Finn rose to his feet unsteadily, grasping for the arm of his chair as he lost his balance. The man looked positively miserable, his eyes rimmed with red, his face blotchy and pale. “Ah, yes. But he forgot the bottle you keep in your private stash,” Finn said as he held up a glass, lisping a little on the last word.
Of course, his brother would feel free to invade his private space at will. Never one to mince words, Ashley said, “You look like hell.”
“I feel like hell,” Finn grumbled back.
“Dare I ask what the matter is? It’s a bit early in the day to be so deep in your cups.” He urged his brother to sit before he toppled over. He was nearly as big as Ashley, so it would take at least two footmen to bring him back upright.