Page 15 of His Ruined Duchess

“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—whenCordelia 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.

“Heinsiststhat 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 formultiple childrensince 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,sosorry, 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?”

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