Page 9

Chapter Six

“ I ’m so glad that I was able to call on you for a promenade through the park. It has been too long.”

Charlotte smiled at Selina, her sister-in-law Rose right alongside her. Though the Dowager was still reeling from the ultimatum given to her by the Duke, Selina was indeed happy to be among her friends. It was precisely what she needed, in fact, and the fresh air was lovely.

“It has indeed. It’s lovely to see you both.” Selina smiled down at Charlotte’s abdomen, the gentle bump only just visible beneath the layers of her skirt. “Or shall I say the three of you?”

The women laughed as they strolled through the expansive park.

Charlotte loved this one in particular, and the walking trails were expertly maintained.

Selina sighed as their conversation came to a natural pause, casting a glance around at the trees and greenery around them.

It was peaceful here, and if she tried diligently, Selina could almost forget about the tremendous pressure on her shoulders.

“Oh, I must sit. It is becoming more and more difficult to walk for an extended period. It feels as if my lungs cannot fully expand now.”

Selina and Rose led Charlotte to a bench, helping her sit before taking their places on either side of her. There was a twinge of something odd within her as Selina fawned over Charlotte’s pregnancy. While she had not given much thought to becoming a mother in the past, that was no longer the case.

A looming deadline hung in the balance, and if she wed again, there was no promise that the man would be elderly or leave her unclaimed.

In fact, it was very likely that a new husband would be young and virile, looking to carry on the family name by producing an heir.

Selina did not know if she wanted that. It had never been in the cards before, and now…

she had to admit that the prospect of finally losing her virginity actually frightened her.

“So then, Selina,” Charlotte began, pulling the Dowager out of her thoughts, “how is this new Duke of yours?”

She scoffed. “He is hardly mine . The Duke is…”

Selina hesitated to speak poorly about the man in such a public place, and she spied around them, searching for anyone who might overhear their conversation. When she deemed the area suitably empty, Selina leaned in a bit closer to Charlotte and Rose.

“The Duke is demanding and rude. There have been several rumors that have reached me about his rather rakish behavior, and as I told you before, he is demanding that I find a new husband. Still now, he has given me until the end of the Season to accomplish this.”

“That is in a month!” Rose exclaimed, and she clapped a hand over her mouth, outrage plain on her face.

“I know. And I have not been doing anything to further that aim. I explained to the man that I do not wish to remarry, having fulfilled that duty to my family already, but he simply will not listen. He has demanded that my sisters follow suit as well. Poor Lydia is to debut next Season, and he is giving her the length of it to find her own husband. And the same goes for Myra.”

“Why on earth does the man wish to speed things up so? It is as if he has a pressing date in his head that he must have the estate emptied out by.” Rose reached across Charlotte to pat Selina’s hand. “I am so sorry. That is exceedingly unfair.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

A brief quiet slipped in again as Selina assessed Charlotte. She had not spoken during their exchange, and her stare was set straight ahead and unfocused. Her friend seemed especially distracted by something, her brow furrowing slightly as she gazed at nothing.

Putting her hand on Charlotte’s arm, Selina leaned toward her friend’s face to get her attention.

“Charlotte, are you quite all right?”

She shook herself, refocusing on Rose and Selina as she quickly swept away the concerned expression and replaced it with a smile.

“Apologies. Of course. I am quite all right, indeed.”

Selina did not believe her for a moment. She took Charlotte’s hand, squeezing it lightly. Rose met Selina’s stare briefly, a knowing expression on her face that suggested she was aware of what preoccupied her sister-in-law’s mind.

“Charlotte.” Selina offered a sympathetic smile. “You can talk to me. I know I have just revealed my own situation, but I am your friend. I still wish to help you if you are having one of your own.”

A shuddering breath left the Duchess, and she bobbed her head in a gentle nod as a breeze drifted past them. The rustling sound of leaves was quite loud for a moment, and Charlotte waited for the wind to die down before speaking.

“I am sorry for being distracted. There is much going on. As you all know and can plainly see, I am carrying a child, and a letter was delivered to me just a few days ago from Cordelia. She is quite ill again, and this time it is unlikely that she will recover.”

Selina’s heart broke for her friend. Charlotte had a very unique relationship with Cordelia, as the woman with whom her father had an affair.

Still, they got along well, and Charlotte had been going to see them regularly for some time now.

Cordelia and her daughter, Kitty, were a part of Charlotte’s family, thanks to the Duchess’ strong, independent heart, and this news surely devastated her.

“Oh, Charlotte, I am terribly sorry. That is awful. Poor Cordelia. I know she has battled illness for some time now.”

Nodding absently, Charlotte gripped Selina’s hand all the tighter. “She has. And-and I am just so worried over what might become of Kitty. Where will she go if— when Cordelia passes? I have offered to take her in, but Magnus… Well, you know how he can be.”

Rolling her eyes playfully, hoping to give her friend a bit of levity right now, Selina scoffed.

“Oh, goodness. And just what has that brother of yours done now?”

As hoped, Charlotte let out a small laugh, a tiny fraction of a smile lifting the corner of her mouth.

“He’s so stubborn.” She shook her head, sighing. “Magnus truly has the countenance of a rock.”

Laughter erupted easily from Rose and Selina before Charlotte continued.

“He insists that Kitty cannot live with me and Frederick because I am with child. He fears the stress of caring for her would be too much for me, and I might fall ill or lose the baby. Honestly, it’s ridiculous.

Does he not remember that siblings exist?

Women have been caring for multiple children since the beginning, and I am not made of porcelain. I do not crack so easily.”

Selina wrapped her arm around Charlotte’s shoulder, dropping her head so that it landed there next to hers. She squeezed, and for a moment, she just allowed Charlotte to be upset, to be distracted, worried, and angry.

There was nothing easy or carefree about the life of a woman, no matter who said otherwise.

So much rested on their shoulders, and so much was required of women by everyone around them, from learning to be the perfect wife and marry well, to running the household and caring for children and the elderly.

So little was under their control, so much taken from them.

“I am so, so sorry, Charlotte. That must be so much to deal with. Carrying a child is already quite the responsibility and strain. To add the failing health of a family member. I am always here for you.”

Charlotte chuckled, bouncing Selina’s head. As the Duchess sat up, her friend wiped a stray tear from her eye and looked down at her rounded belly.

“Whoever the child is, they’ve begun to move and squirm so much. Little butterflies of sensation all the time. It’s a welcome reminder that something I’ve longed for is happening.” She laughed to herself again. “I’m afraid that my brother might not fare so well, however.”

Selina furrowed her brow, her nerves lighting up with intrigue.

“What do you mean? Is Magnus up to even more than simply keeping Kitty from you?”

“Indeed.” Charlotte nodded, her brows raised up to her hairline. “As he is unwed, Magnus knows that he would require assistance if he were to care for Kitty himself. As such… he’s decided to find a bride.”

“What?” Both Rose and Charlotte laughed at Selina’s outburst; she couldn’t help but chuckle in return. “He’s always been so set on remaining single. Ugh, and Ethel is nowhere in sight.”

The women’s laughter grew stronger, overtaking the feelings of sorrow. Selina had to admit that it felt so wonderful to give herself over to joking and teasing with her friends, getting her mind off the imposing future that lay ahead of them all.

“If my dear friend were here, she could wed Magnus.” Selina had to speak through an endless tirade of giggles. “They would make quite the pair, wouldn’t they?”

“Selina!” Charlotte grinned, playfully elbowing her. “You’re terrible. You know they can’t stand each other. Ethel has been quite vocal about her dislike of my brother.”

“Can you imagine her face if she were here, and I suggested it?” Selina laughed harder. “It would have been so hilarious. I am certain that joke would have seen me happily through the next month!”

Their fit of giggles continued for several minutes, all of them jesting about what facial expressions both Magnus and Ethel would wear and how terribly matched they were. After a time, the mood calmed some, and the friends worked to catch their breath after laughing so hard.

“Have you heard from her?” Rose asked, wiping tears from beneath her eyes that had accompanied her raucous laughter.

Selina sighed, the swell of positivity in her mood faltering. “Unfortunately, I have not. She has not answered the letters I’ve sent her, and I have no information regarding what she might be doing and where.”

Rose shook her head, her face becoming more solemn. “That’s terrible, and with such talk going around as well.”

“What talk?”

Selina straightened up, her brows pinching together as she worried about what people were saying about her dear friend. Ethel and Selina had an argumentative relationship, but it had always been done in good fun. If the ton were speaking poorly about her, Selina would put a stop to it.

Rose’s blanching face told Selina all she needed to know, really. Whatever the ton was on about, it was unkind and likely scandalous. Ethel did not deserve that.

“My apologies, Selina. I didn’t mean to offend at all.” Rose’s eyes were wide, and Selina held up a hand.

“It’s all right. Please go on.”

“The rumors are…not kind.” Rose began, and both Selina and Charlotte leaned toward her, eager to hear what was being said about their friend.

“They are also quite odd. I will admit to never hearing such things before. However, my direct experience with the ton is limited because of how I remained within my chambers for a time.”

“Of course, I know that you dealt with much because of that horrible Baron.”

Selina remembered how the man had sought to ruin her. It was only as Charlotte and Frederick were getting acquainted as man and wife that Frederick had been able to stop the man when he attempted to drag Rose further down. Frederick had nearly been killed.

“Indeed.” Rose nodded, the shadow of the past moving over her features. “Still, this is about Ethel, and what I have heard is that she has… gone mad. Rumors are spreading that she has not been seen because circumstances demanded that she be reprimanded to a sanatorium.”

“What?! That’s preposterous,” Selina scoffed, rolling her eyes, but a thread of worry slithered through her, and she had to force herself to swallow.

“As I have said whenever I hear it,” Rose replied. “Still, I fear that if she is not returned soon… permanent damage might be done to her reputation.”