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comparisons between the two of them and found Jocelyn lacking. “Did you want something?”
    Jocelyn roused from her stupor, a flash of heat storming her cheeks. “I came to see my stepdaughter.”
    “She isn’t well. I’m afraid I can’t permit you to wake her.” Confidence filled the woman’s voice, digging at Jocelyn’s composure.
    “Are you Cassandra’s nursemaid?” For once, Jocelyn struggled with poise. She sucked in a deep breath and exhaled before stepping into the room. A taunting smirk drew her up short.
    “Yes, I’m Arabella, Cassandra’s nurse and a distant cousin of Leo’s.”
    Nonplussed by the disclosure, Jocelyn reached for the polite society manners drummed into her by her mother from a young age. She ignored the sly insolence and quietly exerted her authority. “I’ll peek in on Cassandra. Is she through here?”
    The stack of wooden blocks and a discarded doll told Jocelyn this part of the nursery suite was where Cassandra played. A doll’s house sat in a place of prominence, the design appearing much like Merrivale Manor. Jocelyn noted a doorway and noiselessly opened it. A small mound in the middle of the narrow bed drew her attention. She stepped nearer, ignoring the disapproving presence at her back.
    Warm blankets swathed the child, and only the top of her blonde head showed above the covers. Each of her breaths whistled between parted lips, and every now and then, a cute snore erupted. Her cheeks appeared flushed, but when Jocelyn touched her fingers to the child’s forehead, she found it warm rather than hot. Sleep would aid her recovery. She was a very pretty child, taking after her mother, or at least Jocelyn assumed her mother bore the same coloring as the siblings she’d met a few hours earlier. After smoothing the covers, Jocelyn retreated to the outer room.
    Arabella confronted her, a scowl marring her dark beauty. “You have no right to barge in here. Leo has given me full authority.”
    The way the woman used Leo’s name gave Jocelyn pause. Some of what she was thinking must have shown on her face because triumph glittered in the woman’s brown eyes. Arabella let her gaze travel over Jocelyn. Jocelyn forced herself to remain at ease while inside every one of the hurtful remarks from the past emerged. It was true she couldn’t lay claim to beauty but surely Mr. Sherbourne…no, he’d hardly install a mistress as a nurse for his daughter.
    “I’ll let you get back to your needlework,” Jocelyn said in a stiff voice.
    She left the nursery in a dignified retreat, unpalatable thoughts keeping her company while she walked down the passage. Hardly knowing how she got there, she entered her chamber and blinked.
    The pinkness of the room didn’t improve on second viewing. Furniture and knickknacks cluttered the space, making it appear small in comparison to Leo’s chamber. The wallpaper coordinated with the furnishings, a deep blush pink that was almost red.
    Jocelyn spun in a slow circle, barely suppressing her wince. Her gaze settled. Right, the first things to go would be those grinning cherubs. The plump statues bore salacious expressions, entirely too knowing for her liking.
    Just like Arabella. She forced the notion away, determined to ignore the doubts the other woman had placed in her mind. She’d start clearing some of the clutter. When Mr. Sherbourne came to her room, and he would despite Arabella’s silent insinuations, Jocelyn didn’t want anyone or anything competing for his attention.
    She plucked a plaster cherub off a table and placed it on the floor. Soon she had large pile of rejected items.
    A brief tap announced the arrival of a maid. “Mrs. Sherbourne, my name is Susan. Mrs. Green said I’m to help you tonight, and if you like me, I’ll become your maid on a permanent basis. I unpacked for you earlier.” Breathless from her rushed words, Susan glanced at her feet.
    She was on the plump side, wisps of frizzy dark hair escaping confinement