A/N: This is a first draft, so please excuse any errors. I will edit later. However, constructive criticism is always welcome. Thank you!

The next morning, Baileywick arrived at James's suite to tell me that Duke Roland requested for I have lunch with him. Cedric and James glanced at each other, and I knew I could not decline. Baileywick nodded and left as quickly as he had come. I turned back to James and Cedric, both of whom were frowning. My stomach fluttered.

"Do you think it's bad news?"

"It's just… unusual," James had to find the right word. "When was the last time you had lunch with Father?"

"The day he married mother."

"Exactly." James looked at Cedric and they seemed to communicate without words.

"What?" I exclaimed at them.

"I will sit with Lord James while you eat with the duke," Cedric said quickly. Too quickly.

I let it pass. "Thank you, Cedric."

"You'll need to dress up," James looked me over.

"What, you think I don't dress up for you every day?" I teased.

James smiled. "I'm not the duke."

I sighed and watched Cedric listen to James's lungs and heart and do some other random tests that probably meant absolutely nothing. Even when we were younger, James had rarely been out of bed, often had to be helped or carried to the window or a chair. His legs were weak, but Cedric insisted on testing James's strength every day.

After a few minutes, I realized that I was not watching Cedric's ministrations as much as I was watching Cedric. He was slim, but fit, he had a strong profile, but caring eyes. And his hands, though sometimes they were dyed from some plant, or dirty from some spell, his hands were gentle when they needed to be. Like yesterday, when he held me. And his scent…

James coughed and I looked back to him. It was not one of his regular coughs though. James had a teasing smile upon his face as regarded me. I blushed furiously. "I'll go get you some water." I hurried away, knowing that my brother had caught me ogling Cedric. How can I go back in there now? I did not want to return with the water, but I had to.

Upon reentry, James was nearly laughing and Cedric was confused. I gave James a withering look, which made him laugh out loud. "Have I missed something?" Cedric asked, looking between us.

I said no the same time that James said yes. James began to laugh, and Cedric followed suit, still confused, and I threw my hands in the air. "I guess I better go get dressed for lunch." Mainly, I just wanted to hide my furiously red face. I nearly ran down the hall.

After washing my face and dressing up a little, I arrived at the duke's private study. I knocked, Baileywick answered and then announced my arrival. Duke Roland stood and I gave him a deep curtsy while lowering my eyes. He asked me to rise and then motioned me toward a small table set for two.

"Thank you for inviting me for lunch, your Grace." It was the polite thing to say even though he did invite me, it was a command. Also, he had never told me I could call him Father, so to me, he was Duke Roland or Your Grace.

"Thank you for accepting," his voice was sugary sweet. A servant came forward and poured us wine and another served us soup and pieces of bread. Once they were finished, he began to speak again. "I wanted to thank you, Sofia, for your care of James. That duty will soon be ending."

I had to force my jaw to keep from falling open. "He continued. After that happens, I'm going to need your help with Michael, and perhaps have you do some other tasks."

Nodding, I did not know what to say. The lump in my throat from how nonchalant he was over James's impending death was still there. I knew the duke did not care, but to see it, to hear it, it was just something to which I could never understand.

He continued to speak, though I tuned out and watched him. For being just over forty years old, he was still quite handsome, but I felt his heart was ugly and therefore I could not like him. Mother had given him whatever she could to make him happy, to make him love her, but I knew he had only married her for one reason.

"Amber is of marriageable age, as will you be very soon."

This brought me back to reality.

"Yes, your Grace."

"We'll be having a ball soon, for Amber," he took a drink. "She will need your help also. And there will be others after that. I'm sure she'll be invited to a few as well." He stopped to take a bite and chew on some bread. I sipped my soup. "I shall send you with her as a companion when needed." He studied me for a second. Well, not me, but my clothing. "You will need a few new dresses. Tell Baileywick on your way out."

"Thank you, your Grace."

"Have you seen your mother, Sofia?"

"Only once since Lord Michael was born."

"She's not well, my dear. The birth was a struggle for her." His eyes narrowed. "Especially after all the miscarriages and such." I tried not to think about the miscarriages and the one stillborn baby that Mother had tried to give the Duke. It had hurt her because she could not please him, and in turn the duke seemed to despise me more, because Mother had given someone else a child just fine.

"I fear she will not outlive James."

I swallowed, dropped my eyes from him and took a drink.

"I wanted to let you know that I care for you, Sofia, and that you will stay here with Michael, Amber and me."

"Thank you, your Grace." I had to force the words out and meet his eyes.

"That soup was good, was it not?" He set his napkin by his bowl and I took my cue, though I had only had half the bowl.

"Yes, it was, Duke Roland. Thank you again, for inviting me."

He stood and I followed suit. Then he took my hand, lifting it a bit, then bending enough for my hand to reach his lips. "My pleasure, Sofia." He let of me, I curtsied, and left.

Baileywick stood outside the door as I exited. I spoke with him about the dresses Duke Roland said I must ask for, and Baileywick nodded, then sent me away. Instead of going to James, I hurried to my own room to shed the tears that were starting to burst on their own.

I hid, letting out the frustration of losing James, and possibly mother, and the confusion over the duke saying he cared for me while he seemed to not care about his eldest son or the mother of his youngest. Finally, my face washed, my back straight, I made my way to James room, glad to spend time with him and happy to be there for him when no one else besides Cedric would be.