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He knocked gently on the door this time. The Dowager Countess of Meadow answered it. He had expected an older woman, knowing she was a dowager, but Harriet was only in her twenties.

“I am—” Edwin started.

“I know who you are, Your Grace,” Harriet interrupted. “She said you might come. It is to your benefit that you have, and I shall tell her you called.”

“So, she is here! You must let me in. I need to speak to my wife.”

“I am under strict instruction not to let you in,” Harriet replied.

“And if I come in anyway?”

“Do you think the best way to win her back is to make a scene?” Harriet asked. “Do you understand how much you have hurt her?”

“I understand, and it was never my intention,” the Duke replied. “Please, will you tell her I love her?”

“No, that should come from you.”

“I will wait here until she comes out,” Edwin stated.

“You do know how stubborn she is,” Harriet warned with a sad smile. “She will stay inside for the rest of her life to prove a point.” She stepped out the door, glancing behind her quickly. “She will be at her sister’s debut. Please don’t mess it up.”

“I won’t,” Edwin said, relief washing over him.

He had ridden out there to speak with his wife and had been unable. He knew where he would see her again, and he would prove his love to her, no matter the consequences.

ChapterThirty-Four

A Double Debut

Willmington Manor, London

Six Day Later

“Lady Hannah Bolton, the daughter of the Earl of Ramsbury, and Her Grace, the Duchess of Walford!”

Beatrice walked in with her sister, and her stomach churned. She was excited to see her husband again, but she was nervous about the very same thing. She was worried she might throw up when she came face to face with him.

She tried her best to concentrate on Hannah—it was her formal debut, after all—but all she could think about was Edwin.

Why do I have to be so stubborn?

She could have spoken to him when he visited her at Harriet’s house, but she had been too emotional. She was too emotional, and he was not emotional enough. If he had only confessed his love to her in the first place, they would not have been in this mess.

Beatrice had not married him for love, but she could not be with him now except for love. If he could not admit his love or did not love her, then there was no future for them, and he would be far better off with Agnes.

“Oh! There is Lady Elizabeth!” Hannah gushed.

“Keep your composure,” Beatrice reminded, for her benefit as well as her sister’s. “There will be many men watching you, and you must remain composed and elegant.”

“Yes, I will,” Hannah said.

Beatrice had never seen her sister more nervous, but she had been in the same position and could recall how nerve-racking it had been.

“Let’s visit with them,” Beatrice murmured.

Hannah had no idea about Beatrice’s problems with the Duke, and she did not know that her older sister had barely spent one night at his residence in the past two weeks.

Elizabeth looked equally excited as Hannah, and the two women met in the middle of the hall and embraced each other gently. Elizabeth showed some restraint too, just as Beatrice had taught her.