Page 67 of Song of the Caged Duchess

“We’re returning to Cliffdall Manor,” her father said.

“You are?” Esther asked blankly. “Right now?”

“You’re not our only child, Esther,” her mother said, as if Esther had given any indication that she believed she was. “We have Caroline to think of.”

“Of course you do,” Esther said. “But you had Caroline to think of when you came to London, and that didn’t stop you. Why are you returning home now?”

“Things seem to be well in hand,” her father said.

“We feared for your prospects,” her mother said. “But it seems clear to us now that the Duke is devoted to you. He’ll propose within a few days, no doubt.”

“Do you think so?” Esther asked. “That seems very fast.” Even assured as she was of his regard for her, it was hard to imagine a proposal coming that quickly.

“When hedoesask for your hand,” her father said, “it’s only fitting that he should make the journey to my home to do it. I won’t have my firstborn daughter’s engagement papers signed at my sister’s home.”

“But must you leave tonight?” Esther asked.

Her mother frowned. “I thought you didn’t want us here, Esther.”

“I never said such a thing,” Esther protested.

“You made it apparent, nonetheless.” Her mother straightened her bracelet. “No. Your father and I have discussed it, and we feel there’s a chance the Duke might ask for your hand this very evening, if your father is here to receive the request.”

“Mother,” said Esther, exasperated. “Youwantme to marry the Duke. To run away because you’re concerned about when and how he’ll propose marriage—it strikes me as foolish.”

“Are you calling me foolish?” her father asked, raising an eyebrow.

“No,” Esther said quickly. But she couldn’t help the thought that rose in her mind—her father was a gambler. His gambling was what had gotten their family into the situation it was in. But this time, he was gambling with her future. He was putting everything that mattered to her on the line.

“Don’t you think His Grace cares enough for you to make the journey to Cliffdall?” her mother asked, raising an eyebrow. “You surely don’t think he’ll give up on the idea of marrying you because it’sinconvenient.”

“I don’t think there’s any reason to make itmoreinconvenient for him,” Esther said.

“If you haven’t engaged his interest enough that he would be willing to journey to your father’s house,” her father said, “then you haven’t done your duty. Is that the case, Esther? Have you failed?”

“No,” Esther said. “I haven’t. But I hardly think—”

Her father held up his hand. “Very well then,” he said. “We’ll be leaving at once. We expect to see His Grace at Cliffdall very soon. Do not disappoint us please, Esther. We’re counting on you. Your sister is counting on you.”

He got to his feet and left the room.

Esther’s mother rose as well. “It may not seem it, Esther,” she said. “But your father and Iareproud of you.”

Esther said nothing.

“Your marriage to the Duke will be a wonderful thing for our family,” her mother said. “All our problems will be solved.”

Esther wished she could feel as happy as her mother seemed to feel. But she couldn’t. All she could think about was what Hugh would say if he was here right now, if he could hear the way her parents were talking about him. They were so manipulative. It wascruel.

How could I not have understood how cruel this was before? How could I have approached Hugh with the mindset my mother has?

She wondered if she would ever be able to confess that particular sin to him.

Her mother left, and Esther was alone in the sitting room, pondering what she had said, wondering what the coming days would be like now that everything had changed once again.

* * *

“So they’ve gone back to Cliffdall,” Esther concluded. “But the good news is, at least they’re no longer in London. At least they won’t be here for Hugh’s visit this evening.”