Page 2 of The Duke's Gamble
“He is the new Earl of Haddington.”
This was spoken without any sense of gladness, without any whisper of joy. It was simply spoken as a matter of fact, that this was now how things stood.
“He is still Henry, mama,” said Miriam, one of Florentina’s sisters. “You may still call him by his name, if you wish it.”
Lady Haddington did not say anything in response to this. Instead, she drew in a long breath, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back against the chair. Florentina exchanged a brief glance with Miriam and offered a sad smile, seeing the tears welling in her sister’s eyes. They were all so broken, so lost in their sorrow, it seemed as though they might never rise from it.
“Henry shall take care of our family, mama.” Christina, sitting next to Miriam, leaned forward in her chair and spoke with such earnestness that Florentina’s heart ached at the weight of their current circumstances. “He understands his responsibilities towards us. Father taught him well, I am certain of it.”
“Of course he did.” Miriam’s eyes were fixed to her teacup, her mouth thin and her cheeks pale. “But whether or not our elder brother iswillingto put into practice all that Father taught him is another matter entirely.”
“I am certain he shall,” Florentina interrupted, sensing her sister’s fears. Though she understood them, she knew she could not allow them to taint their mother’s already dark world. “Let us not forget that he, too, is struggling with his own grief at present. It is no small burden for him, especially now that he must shoulder the full weight of the title.” She straightened in her chair, raising her chin slightly and forcing confidence intoher voice, even though she did not feel it. “Give Henry some time and I am certain he will not fail us.”
“Indeed.” Her mother sighed and lifted her eyes to Florentina’s. Florentina smiled gently but her mother did not return it with one of her own. There was still too much sorrow within her heart to permit such a thing but Florentina prayed that, in time, the pain and grief would lessen. “Florentina, might you go in search of Henry?” She stopped, closed her eyes and shook her head. “Might you go in search of Lord Haddington, my dear? There are some matters I should like to discuss with him.”
Florentina swallowed the lump in her throat that came with the mention of her late father’s title. It was quite right and proper that it should be bestowed on her brother now, but still, there was such a great swell of emotion on hearing it that Florentina could not immediately answer.
“Yes, mama.” Rising to her feet, Florentina drew in a deep breath and made her way to the door. They were no longer the contented, secure family that they had once been. Their father’s untimely death had brought with it a sense of chaos, of uncertainty and fear. Florentina could only pray that her brother would do all he could to make certain that their futures would be entirely secured. Her father had promised them all so much and now he was gone from them forever. Would Henry be able to fulfil his father’s duties and care for them all as his father had done? Try as she might, Florentina could see nothing but dark clouds on the horizon, could feel the icy rain doing all it could to pierce her skin. There was doubt and there was fear and Florentina was afraid that they would never be overcome.
***
One year later.
“Mama?”
Florentina made her way to the stairs and looked down to the hallway, wondering if she might find her mother there. The house seemed to be a little too quiet for the time of day, and a swirl of both nerves and unease immediately settled within her. It was a sensation that had plagued her for many months now, and try as she might, Florentina could never quite rid herself of it.
“Mama?” Her voice echoed down the staircase and into the hallway, but there came no response. Her brows furrowed as she wondered where her mother might be at this early hour. Her room was empty and she was not in the parlour nor the drawing room. According to the maid, her other sisters were still abed, and Florentina and Lady Haddington were the only ones awake. Was there a chance that Lady Haddington had gone riding? Or had she decided to take an early morning stroll through the gardens? Though it would be most unlike her to do so, there seemed to be no other plausible explanation for her mother’s absence.
A sudden thought sent a jolt of awareness straight through her, pinning her to the spot. Florentina caught her breath, her hand at her heart as she fought for the next breath, gasping a little as she did so. She bent over slightly, forcing herself to breathe more slowly as she fought the panic that threatened to overwhelm her.
It was a year to the day since her father had been found dead, having been thrown from his horse. A year without him, of struggling to find their place in life in his absence. A year since her mother had suddenly become a widow, abruptly bereft of the man she had always loved by her side.
Whilst Florentina had always hoped that she would marry a gentleman who cared for her as her father would care for her mother, she now, for the first time, realised the immense pain that accompanied the loss of one so dearly beloved.
Florentina knew she could not fully comprehend the depths of such grief, the agony of such a parting, for she had never experienced the kind of deep and unrelenting love that binds two souls together. And yet, she longed to find such a love within her own heart, wanted to bind herself to another in the way that she had seen her parents devote their lives to one another’s happiness and well-being. Even with the eventual parting, even with the grief and heartache that would inevitably follow, Florentina considered it all more than worthwhile.
Closing her eyes tightly, Florentina dragged in one long breath and let it out again with what felt like an agonising slowness. Her heart screamed, begging her to breathe hurriedly, to allow more air into her lungs, but Florentina refused to do so. She had to force herself into a calm state, so that she might allow her thoughts to assemble themselves into an orderly situation. Righting herself, she stood tall and set her shoulders before finally opening her eyes.
I must find her.
Lady Haddington was the only one on Florentina’s mind, just as she had been every single day of this wretched year. Florentina had watched in utter helplessness as her mother sank into a deep and impenetrable melancholy, while the world around them remained forever changed. Try as she might, Florentina had been unable to do anything to aid her and had herself grown weary and sorrowful in her continued failed attempts. It had only been in the last month that Florentina had finally seen a flicker of a smile on her mother’s lips now and again, had begun to see a new light growing in Lady Haddington’s eyes. But now, she feared that even that would be pulled away from her mother again, given that it was now one year since the loss of her husband.
“Where are you, mama?”
Florentina spoke the words aloud as she made her way to the window, looking out over the gardens once more. Her breath frosted the window lightly and she closed her eyes, leaning her forehead against the cool glass for a moment as she fought back her fears. It had been a year of great difficulty as the heavy burden of grief and sorrow lingered in each of their hearts. With summer now approaching, Florentina had hoped that the warmth of the sun and the long, beautiful days might lift their hearts, if only a little, easing the tide of pain that had so long dominated their lives. Bearing such a responsibility not only toward her mother but also her sisters, Florentina had seldom found the time to contemplate her own grief or to allow the full measure of her heart’s sorrow to be fully understood—even by herself. It was in moments like these, moments when she stood alone and uncertain, that Florentina began to feel as though she were sinking into a vast, treacherous pit, with no one to pull her free.
“Lady Florentina?”
The gentle voice startled her and she turned around swiftly, a little embarrassed to have been caught standing in such a strange manner.
“If you are seeking Lady Haddington, she is taking a short walk in the rose garden.” The maid kept her head lowered and did not meet Florentina’s gaze, though her voice was quiet yet assured. “There is also a letter for her.”
“A letter?” Florentina shook her head, turning away from the window and making her way toward the front door. “I shall inform her of it when I find her.”
The maid curtsied but, much to Florentina’s surprise, spoke once more.
“Forgive me, my lady, but the letter was brought with great urgency,” she said, as Florentina paused beside her. “I know thatLady Haddington always wished to be informed whenever Lord Haddington wrote, and—”
