James was sitting in the drawing room, reading to the twins, when Eleanor and Nathaniel finally returned. Seraphina had been hiding in her bedroom for the past three hours, undoubtedly to avoid being around him. 

“Good afternoon, everyone. James, it is so good to see you.” Eleanor said, coming over to embrace James and kissing each twin on the forehead. 

“My little darlings, could you go to your playroom for a moment? James and I need to have a grown up talk.”

“But mother.” The twins whined. 

Eleanor shook her head at them sternly and they both realised their mother would not give in to them this time. Nathaniel gave each of them a pat on their head as they walked past him. 

“I’ll go see how Sera’s doing.” He said, and he also left the room. 

James wondered why Eleanor wished to speak with him alone. She usually did not corner him this way—maybe something was wrong. 

“James, dear, you and Seraphina will be leaving tomorrow and I want to ask you to do something for me.”

“Of course, Eleanor. Anything.” 

“I need you to take care of my daughter for me.” She said. “I know the two of you don’t get along too well, but I trust you completely and I hope that you’ll watch over her for me.”

James studied the lines on the duchess’ face. She looked unusually tired, and James knew that it was because of the concern she felt over her daughter leaving. Eleanor had been visibly stressed for weeks now, constantly fretting over Seraphina’s imminent departure. She would never hold Seraphina back from the future she chose, James knew, but it was clear that she did not know how to manage the fact that her daughter would be leaving home now. 

“You don’t have to ask, Eleanor, I will make sure that Seraphina is safe whilst we’re there. Nothing shall happen to her, you do not have to worry.”

Eleanor sighed in relief. “Thank you, James. I know I’m being overprotective when I shouldn’t, but as a mother I cannot help but worry.” 

He nodded. 

“I have a particular request of you.” She continued. “Do try to keep her away from that Everton boy. My daughter has ideas of pursuing him, and the thought of it invokes terror in me. That boy has a terrible reputation and a trail of broken hearts behind him. He could never be good for Seraphina, she is much too delicate.”

James stifled a snort. Seraphina delicate, the thought of it was preposterous. 

“I will try to keep them away from each other, but in that regard, I cannot promise you anything, Eleanor. Your daughter is as hardheaded as they come, if she has decided that Kit Everton is the one for her, then neither one of us can stop her.”

“Oh, I know.” She said with a defeated sigh. “My daughter is difficult to stop once she has chosen her course.” 

She embraced James and thanked him again before leaving to find the twins. 

James took this opportunity to have another talk, this time with the duke. 

He found Nathaniel in his study, labouring over a letter. James knocked on the open door and Nathaniel looked up at him with a smile. 

“Come in, son. I’m just finishing up some urgent business.”

James sat down in one of the chairs in front of the desk and picked up a book whilst he waited for the duke to finish. 

He felt nervous to have this conversation, but he knew it had to be done. If he did not do it now, he would probably never get another perfect opportunity again. He could not return to school without first getting this matter out into the open. He owed it to the family that had treated him as one of their own from the moment he’d met them. 

“There.” Nathaniel said, finishing off his letter with a flourish. “So, are you ready to go back to university?” 

“Almost, sir.” James cleared his throat. “I wish to discuss something with you before I leave, however.”

“What sort of something?” Nathaniel asked jovially. 

James sighed. He could not turn back now. “Sir, my parents have been pressuring me to do something lately, and I cannot abide by it. Please know that I feel ashamed to tell you this, but I cannot remain silent any longer. It feels like deception and the last thing I would ever wish to do is to deceive you or your family.”

Nathaniel was quiet for a moment, a dark look on his face. “I believe I know exactly what it is they’re asking of you, James.” He replied seriously. 

This should have come as no surprise to James, since the Winthorpes had never been fond of his family, knowing exactly how appalling they were. Nathaniel and Eleanor Winthorpe were very hard to fool. 

“Please forgive me for not telling you sooner. I was, and still am, horribly embarrassed by my parents’ ambitions.”

Nathaniel waved his apology away. “Do you think I would have treated you as my own son all these years if I believed you were here to harm my daughter? I know you, James, and I also know your parents. You are nothing like them. Let them scheme and pressure as much as they like, they will gain nothing from it. If you and Seraphina ever decided to be married, I would have no objection. But your parents would not see a single dime from the arrangement.” He chuckled. “Of course, it does seem entirely out of the realms of possibility that you and my daughter would ever be married to each other. I have never seen two people hold more animosity for each other.”

James smiled, relieved that Nathaniel understood him. He’d been worried that this confession would cost him his relationship with the Winthorpes, but he should have known better.

“I agree, sir. And thank you.” It felt like a great burden had been removed from his shoulders. 

“No need to thank me, son. Now tell me, have you finished packing for tomorrow?”

Meanwhile, Seraphina had only just begun packing her suitcases for her departure while her mother helped her. She had nearly twenty new dresses to fit into her bags along with corsets, undergarments and some other belongings. There was hardly any space left in them when they were done. 

“What is this?” Eleanor asked, holding up the candle Gabriel had given her, it was wrapped in Daisy’s ribbon.

Seraphina smiled as she took it and put her brother and sister’s gifts in her suitcase. 

“They’re gifts from the twins.”

Her mother laughed. “They must have found these in the sitting room. It’s thoughtful of them to give you something before you leave us.”

“I think they’re afraid that I shall forget them. They are sweet, but silly.”

“They will miss you. We all will.” Her mother said softly, sounding somber.

“So will I.” Seraphina bit her lip to keep from crying. There was no room for sadness. She was leaving to pursue her dreams. “But I’ll only be at school, mother. I haven’t gone off to another continent. There is no need for all this.”

Her mother sniffled. “Will you be careful, my love? Will you promise me to take good care of yourself and surround yourself with good people?” 

“Mother, please, do not be dramatic.” Pleaded Seraphina with her weeping mother. “I promise I shall be careful and I promise to write to you all the time, to study diligently and to behave myself. I also promise that I shall befriend a lot of people and enjoy my time there.” She added cheerfully. 

Her mother smiled weakly through her tears. “That is all I wish for.” She said.