The Barnets (1)
Bertha Grahm's parents are distant relatives of the Lord of Kyre.
When the girl was little, they sent her to Stoneyard as a playmate for Alexander. I don't know if they had other purposes, but the two grew up close.
In the end, she profited from Alexander's name as much as to be engaged, and then married, to one of the most promising youth in the Empire.
Samuel Grahm is expected to become Count as soon as his father becomes Duke. Which is after the elder's death.
For now, the title of the Duke hasn't been promised to any of his sons.
Count Grahm's position was put into doubt after some great failure related to the wars. He worked on the front with Polis for a couple of years before he was sent somewhere else.
I don't know if that had some effect on him, as he doesn't look like a man that hates me. He's just concerned because I'm occupying the place he imagined for his daughter.