Page 11 of His Darling Duchess
“Yes, Father.”
“Go to bed, son,” Lymsey said, not unkindly. “We’ll talk tomorrow, and if there is anything you can do, we shall let you know.”
“Very well.” Louis accepted the instruction with poor grace, and left husband and wife alone to consider the situation they found themselves in.
“I cannot help but think this is somehow my fault,” Lady Lymsey said after several minutes of silence. “I told her never to be caught alone with a man who might not have her best intentions at heart, but I never thought to warn her against Grantleigh.”
“How could you know the pup would run mad?” Lymsey said, lifting his head from where he had been sitting with his face sunken in his hands. “I am berating myself too; if I had permitted them to become engaged, would he have done this? Did he plan the whole thing, to force my hand? But if so, why be so rough with her, tearing her gown… I cannot fathom it.”
He looked distraught, and rising from her seat, Lady Lymsey went to kneel at her husband’s feet, taking his hands in hers.
“I think the truth is that you are no more to blame than I, or than Aurelia. Unbelievable as it may seem, if Grantleigh really did attack her in such a terrible way, he is the one who must bear the consequences.”
“Except it seems as though Stowe may be the one who bears the consequences.” Lord Lymsey stroked his thumbs over the back of her hands.
“Then Aurelia will be a duchess, with a genuinely honourable man for her husband. There could be worse outcomes.”
“Oh, Elizabeth.” Lymsey smiled down at her before lifting her hands and kissing them. “As ever, you excel at finding silver linings.”
“Come to bed, husband,” Lady Lymsey invited softly. “Since I doubt either of us will find sleep this night, let us at least take comfort in each other.”
“My wise, lovely wife.” Rising, he drew her to her feet. “Whatever should I do without you?”
“Make a quite unbearable hash of things, undoubtedly,” Lady Lymsey teased, hoping to make him smile, and was relieved when he managed a weary chuckle. He was humouring her, of course; neither of them felt like laughing, but as they made their way upstairs together, she was glad he had accepted her invitation and she would at least not have to lie awake alone and afraid of what tonight’s events might mean for the future of her daughters.
Entering Aurelia’s room the following morning, Lady Lymsey found all three of her daughters asleep, curled up together like a basketful of kittens. Tear tracks were dried on Aurelia’s pale cheeks, and Lady Lymsey’s heart ached for her oldest daughter. Betrayal by somebody you trusted was the worst kind of all.
“Viola, Ophelia.” Stooping over the bed, she shook the younger two awake. “Go to your rooms, and then find Mrs. Wilmslow.”
“But Mama,” Viola protested, knuckling sleep from her eyes, “Aur needs us!”
“You can see her later, I promise, but right now she and I must spend some time alone. You may return after you have both completed your music practice for the day.”
Lady Lymsey waited until the door closed behind the younger girls before settling onto the bed, careless of her skirts, and placing her head on the pillow beside Aurelia’s. Red-rimmed brown eyes regarded her, filled with pain.
“Did you sleep at all, darling?” Lady Lymsey asked gently.
“A little.” Aurelia’s normally musical voice was hoarse.
“Then you are the lucky one, for I did not.” Putting an arm around Aurelia to pull her close, Lady Lymsey kissed her cheek.“Now, I am afraid I must press you for the complete story of what happened last night, but the choice is yours as to whether you tell me now, or if I ring for chocolate and toast and you tell me over breakfast.”
The kindness and consideration from her mother, who was prone to giving instructions she expected to be obeyed without question, almost brought Aurelia to tears again. She had to squeeze her eyes closed and hold her breath for a few moments.
“You must be hungry,” Lady Lymsey said, her tone bracing. “Do you think you could eat something?”
She should try, at least. Possessed of a healthy appetite, Aurelia could feel the emptiness of her stomach. Today was likely to be trying at best, and she would need her strength, so she nodded. “Chocolate sounds good.”
“Good.” Lady Lymsey sounded relieved, and then she was getting off the bed and ringing the bell to summon Mary, dispatching the maid with a request for breakfast for the two of them.
Aurelia suffered her mother chivying her into a simple day dress, albeit a warm one of soft wool. Lady Lymsey even took up the hairbrush to tend Aurelia’s hair herself, braiding it simply and looping it up to secure with some pins. Grateful for her mother’s fond attention, Aurelia didn’t complain even when Lady Lymsey accidentally poked her scalp a time or two.
Mary looked more than a little outraged to see her job done for her when she brought in their breakfast, but Lady Lymsey dismissed her with a quiet word and sat down to pour the chocolate.
Aurelia felt a little queasy, but she sipped the sweetened chocolate and nibbled on a piece of toast spread with jam. After a little while, her stomach settled, and she tried one of the pastries Cook had sent up too, finding it delicious, stuffed with chopped apple and nuts.
Lady Lymsey remained quiet, eating her own breakfast. Her patience helped Aurelia find the words.
“Grantleigh said the ballroom was too noisy and crowded and he wanted to talk,” Aurelia said finally, setting down her empty cup. “I went with him to the library.”
