110

DARLENE

“What is this that you have done Darlene?”

Stephanie McKenzie’s whisper was hollowed enough that it echoed rive-tingly in the ornate living area of the manor as she stared disappointingly at me. It was the first time I had seen the straight ruler of her shoulders hunched, slouched in defeat.

“What she did, Mother was, fall in love.” Fredrick quipped snappily and I squeezed my eyes shut, wincing at the wrongness of it all.

How could I choose one when they were both equal parts different and equal parts mysterious?

Dammit, all to freaking hell Darlene!

“Enough Fredrick,” I warned, just in time with Mr. McKenzie’s angry barking and I grimaced in embarrassment, turning to see that the manor maidservants and men keepers had all witnessed the debacle, the fork of shame twisting my heart as it beat erratically in my chest.

However, would I raise my head in their presence again?

The gray-frocked helps must have seen the risquépictures scattered like pollen dust on the burgundy red g