Lady Knowe and the children arrived before she could respond, milling about them and shouting, two grooms laden with parcels in the rear.

Lady Woolhastings and Lady Knowe were acquaintanced, and Ophelia watched with a rather jaundiced fascination as Lady Woolhastings dropped into a deep curtsy. Of course, Lady Knowe was to be her sister-in-law.

“Are these children all yours?” Lady Woolhastings asked a moment later. “I knew, of course, but there are so many!”

“Yes, they are,” the duke answered. “Lady Knowe, may I introduce Lady Astley? I am holding her daughter, Viola. And Lady Astley, this is my twin sister, Lady Knowe.”

Ophelia dropped into a curtsy.

“What a pleasure to meet you!” Lady Knowe said. She had an angular face; what was handsome in her brother looked somewhat incongruous shaped in womanly features. But when she smiled, her eyes lit up with true charm and she looked positively beautiful.

Ophelia beamed back at her. “I feel the same; your brother told me so much about you.”

“He has?” Lady Woolhastings drawled. “I was under the impression that my fiancé and you were scarcely acquainted.”

The word “fiancé” slid down Ophelia’s back like an icicle.

“Everyone loves to talk about me,” Lady Knowe said, turning to Lady Woolhastings and smiling. “Come, Edith, you know perfectly well that my brother has the habit of chatting about me in moments when he has nothing else to say. Eccentric relatives are such a gift to polite conversation.”

Ophelia put on a serene expression and said, “Certainly I couldn’t describe my relationship with the duke as more than casual, since we recently met for the first time, and yet I am aware that you live mostly in the country and have kindly cared for His Grace’s children, Lady Knowe.”

Beside her, Hugo made a sudden movement, as if he was about to refute the word “casual,” but Ophelia turned her head and allowed a flicker of authority to cross her eyes. He shut his mouth, which she appreciated.

“His Grace is certainly lucky that you were there to run the household during his misfortunes,” Lady Woolhastings said to Lady Knowe.

“Which reminds me that I must introduce the children!” Lady Knowe cried. “Or would you prefer the privilege, Hugo?”

“I shall take it on,” the duke said. He raised the hand that wasn’t holding Viola, and the children flocked to his side.

“Lady Woolhastings, and Lady Astley, my children: Horatius, North, Parth, Alaric, Leonidas, Betsy, and Alexander. The littlest, Joan, remained in the nursery today.”

Ophelia flinched. She was party to the introduction of the children to their future stepmother? She opened her mouth, about to announce that they would return home. She could take a hack if she had to.