“Morning, Hannah,” Victoria called out to another member of the staff as she passed an open door.

“Miss?” A surprised woman perked up as Sophia bustled by.

“And over here”— Vic gestured to her right— “is the family library. You’re welcome to use it at will, as the family will likely be away for the duration of your stay.”

“Wonderful,” Emma said. Then turning to Sophia and Talia, she added, “It’s my favourite room in the whole place.”

“And while the furniture in there is modern, the structure, including the windows and the ceiling, are all original to the 4th Duke of Northland, which would’ve made it relatively new during the time in which your film is set.”

Sophia was impressed; Vic didn’t have to search for that information any more than she needed to watch where she was going as she kept her tone steady in a politely efficient register. Then again Vic was on her home turf, or rather, as she’d pointed out yesterday, in her actual home.

“What about the dining room?” Emma asked.

“Right,” Vic said. “I can show you the space, but I have to warn you certain pieces are too fragile to be moved.”

The phrase struck Sophia, and she wondered if the same held true for the woman herself. At times she did seem almost fragile, then again, other moments, not so much, though she came across as equally unmoveable in both states.

She barely had time to process the question, much less come to any conclusion before they set off again. This time they strode through another sitting room and down a long hall in the general direction from which they’d come, and yet they passed through different places, leaving Sophia disoriented.

As if reading her mind, Victoria stopped to peek into another room, this one with lavish tapestries and a mammoth stone fireplace. “There’s the formal state living room we came through earlier, also where you and I met.”

“Hmm,” Sophia mused. “I hadn’t even noticed the fireplace, what with being distracted by the tip of your sword.”

Emma came up behind them. “Sword?”

Vic flushed and pressed her lips together, her blue eyes flashing brilliantly as they met Sophia’s. “Have I adequately apologised for my behaviour preceding our formal introduction?”

Sophia laughed outright. “I wouldn’t think it would occur to you to apologise to me, or anyone else who trespassed into your space.”

“Then I’ve given you the wrong impression,” Vic said solemnly, “both of my character, and my hospitality. You are a guest in my home, and I should’ve afforded you the courtesy inherent in that position.”

“Don’t you love it when she talks like that?” Emma said, her tone light and teasing.

“It’s impressive,” Talia admitted. “It would’ve taken me ten minutes to construct a sentence that formal and gracious. Maybe you should take some lessons from her, Sophia.”