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Calliope nodded, and Mary Kate remembered hearing that Earl Lippincott’s wife Aurelia and her uncle had rescued the viscountess from an untenable situation.

She marveled that Lady Calliope’s true nature had not been damaged beyond repair by the experience.

Marriage to the viscount had had a difficult beginning.

Not to mention that horrible duel and the viscount’s selfless act, leaping into the fray to protect Aurelia’s uncle.

The viscount was shot instead of her uncle.

It had been the turning point in the early days of their marriage.

“I have yet to decide if it is because of one’s environment, or one’s makeup,” Calliope remarked, “or a combination of both.”

Mary Kate was quick to reply, “Mayhap it is both and depends on the character of the person.” She thought of the daily interactions between Lady Calliope and the viscount.

Seeing them together, one would never know that theirs had not been a love match, but a marriage to save her reputation.

Mary Kate still had trouble believing the tale she’d heard.

While still a poor relation, Calliope had been at the Duke of Wyndmere’s estate in the Lake District, at the top of the grand staircase, when the viscount barreled out of the duke’s study into her and knocked the wind out of her, causing her to lose her footing.

Thankfully, the viscount grabbed hold of her and caught her in his arms. The story was that he thought she’d stopped breathing.

A number of the duke’s staff had been on hand to witness the dramatic rescue and the immediate aftermath.

The viscount had placed his ear to her breast to ensure her heart was still beating, and she was still breathing.

From the base of the stairs, Mary Kate imagined it had looked like something else entirely, though she would never give voice to that supposition.

It would hurt Lady Calliope, and she would never do anything to distress her mistress.

Mary Kate sighed just thinking of the romantic rescue.

Then there was Calliope’s subsequent rescue of Lord William when the duke ordered him to London to attend to matters, ordering Calliope and Mary Kate to Chattsworth Manor.

Between the two of them, they had pushed up their sleeves and pitched in to bring his house to some semblance of order, endearing the remaining servants to her ladyship and forging a friendship with Mary Kate.

Looking back, she marveled at how much had happened since they first walked into the viscount’s home.

Putting it to rights was the first action that had brought the couple closer together.

So much more had happened since then, leaving Mary Kate to wonder, would she ever have a knight in shining armor come to her rescue?

Well, she qualified, Garahan had, but then he rescued Melinda Waring from the horrible situation she had suffered through working in her cousin’s tavern in the stews of London.

Garahan had fallen in love with Melinda and married her.

Calliope slid her arm free and placed a hand on the stair rail.

“I need to check on little William.” Her quiet gray eyes studied Mary Kate.

“While I do, you can tell me what has been bothering you these last few weeks. You haven’t been the same since you returned from Lippincott Manor after nursing Flaherty through the worst of his wound fever. ”

Mary Kate was too embarrassed to discuss what had happened and had not wanted to confess that Flaherty had ordered her to leave.

As if her sitting beside him, bathing his brow, helping him drink—when he refused to do so for anyone else—had not occurred.

It had cut her to the quick. He’d broken her heart.

She cleared her throat to tamp down the ache inside of her. Needing to distract her ladyship from asking questions that Mary Kate was not ready to answer, she murmured, “We’d best see what William is up to. He is growing so fast and already grabbing hold of furniture and chairs to hold himself up.”

Lady Calliope laughed, a bright, musical sound. “He is the light of our lives. You’re right. I’d best be ready, because I have a feeling once he takes that first step, he’ll learn to run instead of walk!”

Mary Kate fell silent as they ascended the staircase.

Her mind still tried to understand Flaherty’s hot and cold treatment.

He had rescued Lady Calliope and Mary Kate—and brought up that fact more than once since he had been stationed at Lippincott Manor, while she was working for Lady Calliope at Chattsworth Manor, a few miles away.

It was as if he thought she would forget the gallant way he had pulled them both up and out of the duke’s carriage when it was lying on its side precariously over that ditch.

The strength he exhibited as his muscles tensed to accept their weight as he deftly extracted them, one at a time, from the coach was extraordinary.

Yet he hadn’t been winded after he set them on their feet outside the carriage, where they waited while he and Michael O’Malley righted the coach. Another feat of ingenuity and strength.

But strength alone was not a reason to let her heart or her head get carried away.

Like-minded opinions mattered. Whether or not one wanted to live in the city or the country, and then there was the question of children.

Did one suffice, or would Flaherty want half a dozen children?

Would he expect her to leave her position as part of the viscount’s staff?

Just the thought had tears forming. She blinked furiously to keep them from falling.

Calliope paused in front of the door to the nursery.

“I’m afraid I cannot wait until you are ready to tell me what occurred when you were at Lippincott Manor for those worrisome days Flaherty’s life hung in the balance.

You have been carrying a heavy weight ever since you returned, even though he has recovered. ”

“I… You see… That is—” Mary Kate’s eyes welled with more tears, and this time, she could not seem to stop them.

Lady Calliope put her arm around Mary Kate. “Tell me everything!”

When Mary Kate shook her head, her mistress opened the door, pulled her inside, and closed it. With a stern expression Mary Kate had never seen before, Lady Calliope told her, “Do not leave anything out!”

Little William’s face scrunched up, and he started to cry.

Calliope soothed him and lifted him out of his cradle, kissing away his tears.

“I am so sorry for scaring you, my little angel face.” When he quieted in her arms, she turned to Mary Kate.

“I apologize for sounding harsh to you as well, but I have given you plenty of time to confide what happened between you and Flaherty.” Calliope’s frown was fierce.

“I must have a happy balance in my home, for my precious little one’s sake, my darling husband’s, and every one of the staff.

You are like family to me—and to William.

I know it is not the way of things, and how most households within the ton are run, but William and I are in full agreement.

We owe Hargrave, Mrs. Romney, Mrs. Meadowsweet, MacReady, and Rowland so much for their loyalty in remaining, even when William had not been able to pay them.

Can you not see that you are not just hurting yourself, but all of those around you? ”

The floodgates opened and Mary Kate dissolved into tears.