Page 1 of The Duke’s Impossible Match

Chapter One

“Children, where are you?” Clara Sterling called out as she entered St. Margaret’s House.

The orphanage was an old, weathered building that was said to have stood since Norman times. There was a crumbling wall stretching around the grounds of the house, and vines creeping up one wall. Some of the windows were cracked, and the path that led to the garden was covered in moss.

Clara’s words echoed around the empty hallways. She ventured into the front room and tutted when she saw the toys strewn about near the toybox. In the library, books had been placed on the floor, the pages open to the air. In the dining room, a maid was still tidying up the remnants of breakfast.

“Have you seen the children, Joanne?”

“I think they’re in the garden, ma’am,” Joanne replied. Clara pressed her lips together. She had told Joanne not to call her ‘ma’am’ many times, but the message never seemed to take. Clara plucked a currant bun from the table and popped it in her mouth as she exited the house and made her way to the garden.

She passed by vegetable patches containing potatoes, leeks, carrots, and cucumbers when she heard the children’s voices dancing in the air, and saw shadowy figures moving about in the old greenhouse. Clara sighed and increased her pace until she was standing in the doorway. The children were huddled together.

“I believe I forbade you from coming out here unsupervised,” Clara said, glancing worriedly at the fragile panes of glass.

The children gasped, startled by her sudden appearance. They looked at her with wide eyes and huddled even more closely together, as though they were hiding something.

Their names were Emily, Oliver, Sophie, and Teddy.

Emily was impudent for her age, believing that she knew better than most adults. Agatha, Clara’s grandmother, often said that Emily reminded her of Clara when Clara was younger. Clara did not think this was accurate. Oliver and Sophie were both quiet. Oliver liked to read and observe people, while Sophie was often lost in her drawings, which were coming along nicely with Clara’s tutelage. Teddy was the youngest of them all, but the most affectionate.

He was the only one who smiled as Clara approached, putting her hands on her hips and wearing a stern look.

“They are supervised. I am supervising them,” Emily said, turning up her chin.

“You cannot supervise them. You are only twelve years old,” Clara said.

“That is old enough for many things. Aunt Agatha told me that when you were twelve you were running the entire household.”

Clara narrowed her eyes slightly. “Did she?” Clara murmured. She would have to have words with her great-grandmother as soon as possible. “Well, she was mistaken because I was most certainly not running my house. However, I am running this house, which means that you need to leave. I am disappointed that you failed to tidy up after yourselves. Come on,” Clara clapped her hands together, but the children were reluctant to move.

Clara frowned, perplexed. They were not usually too much trouble. Mischievous, yes, but disobedient?

“We were going to tidy up. It’s just… something important happened,” Oliver said, looking at the ground.

“What happened?” Clara asked.

“It’s about the man!” Teddy piped up, at which point Emily nudged him so hard he stumbled forward, almost falling to his feet.

Emily glared at Teddy, who pouted as he looked back at her, rubbing his shoulder. Because he moved, Clara could see what the children were hiding. There was a large square of material on the ground, and inside were some treasured belongings. Clara saw Teddy’s carved wooden horse, which he took everywhere with him, one of Oliver’s favorite books, Sophie’s drawings, and one of Emily’s pretty brooches.

“Why do you have all this here?” Clara said, mystified as to why the children had gathered these things like magpies taking shiny objects back to their nests.

“We don’t have anything here,” Emily said, stepping in front of the objects and spreading her arms out wide. Clara cocked her head and exhaled deeply.

“Children, it is far too early for this kind of behavior. We shall return to the house and go about our lessons, and in the afternoon you may show me what you don’t have here.” Clara looked pointedly past Emily to the collection of children’s treasures behind her. Teddy, Oliver, and Sophie all started marching towards the door with bowed heads.

Only Emily remained rooted to the spot.

“What’s the use? The house isn’t going to be ours for much longer,” Emily said. “Why didn’t you tell us?” There was a sharp edge to her words. Betrayal, fear… anger. Clara blinked, shocked.

“What on earth gave you that impression? This house will be your home for as long as you need it.”

“That’s not what Joanne said,” Emily replied.

“Joanne? What has Joanne been saying?” Clara twisted around, looking at the other children.

“She was speaking to Ruth about the,” Teddy paused for a moment, “so little her.”