Page 3 of An Arranged Betrothal with an Icy Duke
The butler blinked. “Your things, Your Grace?”
“I am to return to my estate,” Henry told him. “This morning, in fact. There is to be no wedding. I wish to leave within the hour.”
“The hour?”
Henry nodded, caring very little for the difficulties that his servants would now face as they were forced to scurry and rush about to have everything ready for him within the short amount of time he had given them.
“Very well, Your Grace.” The butler nodded and then stepped away, leaving Henry alone in the quietness of his study.
Stepping forward, Henry locked the door, having no desire to see or speak with either his brother or his mother. He did not want to hear either explanations or excuses. All he wanted now was silence.
Chapter One
Edith smiled as Lily climbed into her lap and rested her head under Edith’s chin. “Did you enjoy the story?”
Lily nodded and then stuck two fingers into her mouth, her eyes already closing. Edith held the toddler close, enjoying the warmth and the sweetness which came with such a trusting child sitting in her lap.
“You had the children spellbound with your story, my dear niece.” Lady Hamilton smiled as she settled one hand on Edith’s shoulder. “And I see that your dear Lily has come to seek you out again. She does love you a great deal.”
Edith smiled softly and brushed one hand over the toddler’s golden curls. “She is very dear to me also, Aunt.”
“I know.” Her aunt bent down and pressed a light kiss to Edith’s forehead. “You have a great deal of kindness and generosity in your heart, my dear. This orphanage would be a much darker place without you.”
With a small shake of her head, Edith reached out to grasp her aunt’s hand. “It is only because of you that I had opportunity to give of my time here,” she said, softly. “I know that you and my uncle sponsor this orphanage and that generosity has inspired me to give what I can myself.” She smiled gently as Lily snuggled a little deeper into Edith’s arms. “To know that the children here are well cared for, that they are well fed and looked after is a great relief to me.”
“Though they do lack love,” Lady Hamilton added, her shoulders dropping a little as she sighed. “We give them what we can but what they truly need are families to call their own.”
Edith nodded, one hand going to brush through Lily’s curls once more as she thought about what it would be like to take thischild back home with her, to offer her the love and the warmth that a family would bring. She could not do such a thing as yet, of course, for she was unwed and still under the care of her mother and father but mayhap, one day, she might have opportunity to do so. For the moment, she could give of her time, coming to the orphanage alongside her aunt so that she could read and sing and play with the children here.
“I will let you sit for a little while longer but we must soon take our leave, else your mother will wonder what it is that has become of us!” Lady Hamilton laughed as Edith nodded. “But we will return tomorrow, I promise you.”
With a smile, Edith watched her aunt walk away, only for her arm to be tugged by another small child. Her smile grew as Caleb, a five year old rambunctious little boy, grinned at her.
“Good afternoon, Caleb,” Edith smiled, tilting her head a little. “Would you like me to read you another story? I have some books here.”
Caleb nodded and, picking one up, handed it to Edith. Carefully, he climbed onto Edith’s knee – though Lily did not stir even a little, and, after encouraging Caleb himself to hold onto the book and turn the pages, Edith began to read.
***
“I think that your mother would enjoy coming here.”
Edith smiled to herself, looking out of the carriage window as she and her aunt continued to make their way back to Edith’s father’s townhouse.
“My sister has always been considerate,” Lady Hamilton continued, “though she has not the same love for the orphanages as I do. Though that in itself, I quite understand. No-one is obliged to do anything when it comes to the poor.”
“Mama is always very good with the tenants at my father’s estate,” Edith answered, finding herself a little defensive of her mother. “And she does not prevent me from coming here.”
Lady Hamilton smiled gently. “That is quite true. I did not mean any criticism. I only meant to suggest that her interests lie in other things.”
Edith shared a smile with her aunt. “And by that, you mean that my mother is eager to find her daughters a suitable match.”
Her aunt laughed, eyes twinkling. “Yes, that is certainly her most prevailing desire at present, is it not?”
With a small sigh, Edith sat back against the squabs. “Yes, it is.”
“And you find that a little overwhelming?”
Edith nodded. “It is rather suffocating, Aunt. My father is always standing guard over me, making certain that every gentleman I step out with – or even so much as converse with – is more than suitable. I know that he wants me to make an excellent match but this constant tension to look my best, to be my best, to behave as I ought… well, it is exhausting!”
