Page 66 of Song of the Caged Duchess

And might he really ask her to marry him?

It felt like such an intangible hope, and yet, thatwaswhy a gentleman courted a lady. The thought must certainly have crossed his mind.

I could be engaged by the end of the Season, she thought, her heart fluttering.Perhaps I’ll never go back to live at Mother and Father’s home. Perhaps I’ll leave Harcourt Manor and go directly to Hallowbinder to become the new Duchess.

In the past, her fantasies would have been of telling her parents that she had succeeded in the job they had set for her, or of reassuring Caroline that she would have the future she deserved. But tonight, as she drifted off to sleep, Esther let herself imagine something very different.

Hugh. By her side, every hour of every day.

Dining at his table—just the two of them, able to discuss anything and everything.

Walking through the grounds at night and kissing, embracing, without fear of reprisal.

I could be his wife.

The thought filled her with boundless joy.

Chapter 25

Esther examined her reflection in the looking glass. She was wearing a yellow gown that she thought looked very good on her, even though it wasn’t her mother’s favorite.

I hope Hugh will like it.

He was due to arrive in a little over an hour, and already she couldn’t wait. Every couple of minutes, she hurried over to the window, imagining that she had heard the clopping of horses’ hooves that would announce his arrival. Every time, she was disappointed to find that she had imagined it.

A knock came at her door and she turned. “Enter.”

Amelia opened the door. “Forgive me, My Lady,” she said.

“That’s quite all right, Amelia.” Her lady’s maid had agreed to give her a few moments to herself after helping her dress, but time alone wasn’t helping Esther as much as she had thought it might. Instead, she felt like a hummingbird that couldn’t bring itself to land. “Perhaps we should go downstairs now.”

“That’s just it, My Lady,” Amelia said. She looked rather anxious. “Your parents have requested your presence in the sitting room at once.”

“My parents?” Esther frowned. “What do they want?”

“I don’t know,” Amelia said, but the expression on her face indicated otherwise.

“I think you know more than you’re saying,” Esther said. “Be honest with me, Amelia. What are my parents going to say? I deserve to be prepared.”

Amelia nodded. “I don’t know what they’re going to say, My Lady,” she said. “But…they have luggage with them.”

Luggage?

A thrill of fear ran through Esther. Not long ago, she would have been overjoyed at the prospect of her parents leaving London. But this was yet another surprise, something she hadn’t expected. What did it mean?

Will it interfere with my courtship?

If they expected her to go back with them…well, how could she do that? When things were going so well between herself and Hugh? She couldn’t possibly leave.

Esther took a breath and calmed herself. Her own things hadn’t been packed, after all. Her parents couldn’t intend to take her away. And she was dressed for dinner, and Hugh was on his way…

“All right,” she said. “I’ll go and speak to them. Will you find Eugenia, please, and ask her to come to my room and talk to me when I’ve finished with them?”

Amelia nodded.

Holding onto the idea that she would at least have her cousin to discuss matters with, Esther made her way down to the sitting room. She found her parents waiting, seated side by side with their luggage at their feet.

“What’s going on?” she asked.