I was tempted to try to convince our father to send them all off to boarding school to learn again—but both Linnette and Aerilyn were already graduates of the Royal Academy. That would be a hard sell to convince our father to send them away again under the pretense of their loose morals from a single carriage accident. It was a frustrating time for me, indeed. 

Today’s babysitting adventure was yet another tea party. But the main reason I insisted on attending with them was because the tea party was being hosted by the daughter of the grand duke. The grand duke is also the king’s younger brother. Lady Chavamond, his daughter, is a well-respected member of high society. A trendsetter and well-known as an inspiration to the debuting ladies of who to take after as someone exemplary. 

I wasn’t going to let my foolish sisters besmirch this perfect lady’s name because of some preconceived notion about her being a ‘villainess’ in the future. I was going to act in advance of whatever plans they were scheming to have a conversation with the ‘host’ of the event and advise her to take some precautions. Maybe ask her a few questions in regard to the language my sisters used.

The girls were lined up waiting at the front entrance of our estate, shuffling their feet and grumbling in frustration. How unbecoming of trained ladies. The only one who should be getting away with such childish behavior is Penelope, being the youngest. But for even my eldest sister, at the age of twenty-four, to act like a ruffian child sickened me. 

If I couldn’t send them away to a boarding school or mental ward, I should at least call for a private tutor to remind them of what society expects of them. On second thought, maybe I should just call the horse trainer since they insisted on acting like wild foals. That might bring about better results than cramming knowledge into a cavity that lacked the capacity for anything decent. Like a child always having room for dessert when full from dinner, they always had room for depravity. 

“At least fix your hair… You look like you’ve been out in a field of cows all morning,” I clicked my tongue in disappointment as I nagged them. We weren’t going to leave this house until they looked impeccable. I nodded to the maids behind them, and they rushed forward to adjust the hair and clothes of my sisters. I turned away as I opened my mouth to the staff, “Don’t ever let them leave the grounds in that condition ever again.”

“You don’t need to be so rude,” Aerilyn, my eldest sister, snapped at me. I shrugged in response.

“I’m just reminding them of what’s expected of them as your personal servants. As a member of this family and the heir, I have every right to command the staff. Giving a basic order to take care of you is not in the realm of rudeness,” I sighed in frustration. “Out of all the local families, we treat our staff the best. We pay them the most. We offer holidays and family vacations. Workplace harassment is inexcusable - so I am unsure of where you got this preconceived notion that we don’t treat our staff well.”

The maids all nodded with large smiles as they fluffed out my sister’s clothing and handed them their gloves. My twin sister, Linnette, remained quiet. The youngest, Penelope, smiled brightly. Even if my other sisters were already a lost cause, I still had to set an example for the one who would be eighteen within the year. 

I sighed as I took their short capes from the butler, draping them over each of my sisters as I wrongfully received their glares. I ignored their distasteful faces as I dusted off non-existent dust from their shoulders and smoothed out their coats before stepping back with a nod. In the end, I was still their only brother, so I was in charge of their care and well-being. 

“Let us leave. Stephen has pulled up with the carriage,” I stated as I looked out the door our butler, Adam, had opened. They followed behind me in a single-file line, like newborn ducks following their mother. I helped them safely load into the carriage, met entirely by more awkward silence. 

This was their second outing since their accident. To need a chaperone at their age - their brother at a tea party at that, was unheard of. The entire ride over was excruciating, watching them constantly readjust, grumble, and complain about how uncomfortable and in pain they were from the seats. This was a luxury carriage our father had designed specifically for my sisters - comfort was first and foremost in the design. I chose to ignore them - as any brother of more than one sister would do. 

“You’re leaving once we arrive, right?” Linnette asked me, pursing her lips. I smirked.

“No. Did you think I wasted time riding a carriage just to drop you off and go back home?” I rolled my eyes. “I’m with you until the end, dear sisters.”

“You don’t need to be!” Aerilyn interjected. I shook my head.

“As long as you continue acting like unrefined ingrates, I will take every step with you. Whatever foolishness you are attempting to accomplish, I will be on your heels as I chase you through the hell you lead us through.”

“What is wrong with you?” Penelope finally spoke up. I reached over and gently patted her hand. 

“I have three crazy sisters who insist on causing trouble and ruining the duchy’s reputation. Please think before you act so we all don’t end up with a noose around our necks, hmm?” I sarcastically pleaded with a clenched jaw, my eyes hardened as I saw the visiting estate come into view through the windows. 

“We behave!” Linnette grumbled, but I chose to ignore her.

“Lady Chaamond is a revered and well-loved lady in high society. Do not show any disrespect to any member of the Grand Duke’s family or their guests,” I warned them sternly. None of them would look at me. I sighed in frustration as the carriage came to a stop. Standing, I turned and whispered harshly, “Behave.”

I dismounted from the carriage, helping each sister down with care—making sure to meet each of their eyes as an obvious reminder of what was expected of them. The Grand Duke’s butler waited at the entrance, and I stepped forward to hand the invitation and explain that I was their caretaker for the day. With a polite smile, he led us through the main doors and toward the back to where the garden tea was most likely arranged. 

As my ragtag sisters and I approached the gardens, there at the entrance stood the most enchanting, breath-stealing woman I have ever laid my eyes on. I had attended events previously that Lady Chavamond was also present at, but with her popularity, I was never able to get close enough to see her. So many people always surrounded her; I only knew that she had hair the same color as red roses, with a wave as lush as fresh petals. She turned to greet us, and I was stunned into silence by the brilliance of her sapphire-blue eyes. 

"No," Aerilyn sneered in a whisper as she jabbed me with her elbow. “Not her; look elsewhere.” 

“Greet her properly,” I sneered back, plastering on a pleasant smile to hide my disgust with the volatile creature beside me. I stood in front of my sisters as I deeply bowed before the angelic women in front of me. 

“Hello, ladies,” her voice rang out like a clear bell. Oh, sweet goddess. If you can grant me any wish, please let it be that this woman can sing me to sleep every night.

“Good afternoon, Lady Chavamond. We have yet to have the pleasure of being introduced. I am Liviere Bellelane, heir to the Bellelane Dukedom. I am in attendance today as my sister’s chaperone,” I smiled, ignoring the not-so-subtle kicking my calves were receiving from my three sisters behind me. “We’ve been worried about their health since the accident. I deeply apologize for intruding.”

“Thank you for attending, Young Duke,” she replied as she snapped her fan open and covered the lower half of her face. I struggled to gulp down air as her eyes darted down to my legs, which were unrightfully being assaulted, before looking back up at me. “Please do note that I was unprepared to serve any gentlemen today, so I am worried I will have nothing to keep you entertained.”

“Do not worry yourself, my lady. I am the one imposing and would not expect such a change in service for me alone,” I replied apologetically, knowing we were considered rude for inviting myself to her event. “As I have many sisters, I am quite adaptable to these types of events and find no fault or bore with them."