Agnes took her sister’s hands, once more thinking over everything Cecily had said. Cecily doubted that she would ever fully convince Agnes that she would be all right. But for the moment, it was more important to keep her sister from feeling guilty about her malady.
“But are you really all right with all this?” she asked doubtfully.
Cecily nodded with more enthusiasm than she truly felt.
“I am, Sister,” she said. “And I mean what I say to you about enjoying your life. You must not let it stand still just for me. I want you to live it to the fullest and find all the happiness you can.”
Cecily could feel Agnes looking at her, and she continued to smile. Of course, she was not perfectly happy with living the life of a spinster. But it was what life had dealt to her, and she would not complain. She tried to believe that she could learn to be content. And what mattered most to her was her sister.
“Very well,” Agnes said dubiously. “I will try.”
Chapter Eight
Val groaned when the first rays of the early morning sun splashed into the window of his bedchambers and shone right in his eyes. He was suffering from a splitting megrim, and he chastised himself for his indulgence the night before. It had been many years since he allowed himself to get completely foxed. In that moment, he was reminded of just why that was.
He dragged himself from his bed, shielding his eyes with his hand as he walked to the pull rope to call Frank. A moment later, the valet entered the room. He gave his master a quizzical look, which Val evaded. After another minute, Frank simply joined him at the wardrobe without saying a word. He quickly helped Val dress and then clapped his master on the back.
“Do not be so hard on yourself, your Grace,” he said with a wink.
Val flushed and nodded.
“Thank you, Frank,” he said.
The valet bowed, taking his leave. Val took a moment to vigorously splash his face with cold water. It did little for the megrim, but it felt good on his hot cheeks. He promised himself a small glass of brandy to chase away the horrific headache and dizziness after breakfast. Then, he went downstairs, praying that he could hide his condition from his mother.
He realized immediately that he could not, however. As soon as he entered, his mother regarded him with a mixture of sympathy and bemusement.
“You look terrible, dear,” she said, motioning for him to take the seat across from her and help himself to the breakfast spread in which she was already partaking.
Val nodded, sitting so that the sun was not in his eyes. He silently cursed himself for his drinking and vowed that he would never get so inebriated again.
“I feel as bad as I look,” he said. “And I owe you an apology.”
The Duchess looked at him for a moment, puzzled. Then, she shook her head.
“You do not need to apologize for going out and enjoying some drinks,” she said.
Val shook his head.
“I meant for the way I behaved yesterday,” he said. “I was out of line and very rude to you. I had no right to be that way, and I hope that you can forgive me.”
The Duchess set aside her tea and rose to embrace her son.
“Think nothing of it, darling,” she said warmly, kissing his cheek before she sat down again. “I understand why you were so unhappy, and I should not have forced the dinner upon you.”
Val shook his head again, hard enough to make the room spin. He had to close his eyes to combat a wave of nausea, then poured himself some coffee.
“No, Mother,” he said. “I have given it some thought, and I think that the dinner was a good thing.”
At this, his mother’s eyes widened.
“Oh?” she asked. “Why is that?”
Val thought for a moment. He did not want to tell her that it had sparked an idea in his mind.
“Because you were right,” he said. “Seeing Lady Cecily engaging in normal things showed me that having a normal life could very well be possible for me.”
His mother’s face instantly brightened, and she put her hands together at her breast.
