Page 23 of An Unwanted Widow for the Duke
“Apologies,” Wilhelmina whispered. “The quartet is doing wonderfully. I just have not been out in Society for a while.”
She realized that she was right. There was still that numb feeling in her chest. When she gave in to the music, she was able to breathe.
The melody unfurled like a living thing, beginning low, tender as a whisper, before swelling into a soaring crescendo. On the surface, it was silken, graceful. But deep inside, it carried a quiet sorrow that throbbed in every note.
It was Wilhelmina herself who made the sound—composed, restrained, but aching within.
For a fleeting minute, she allowed herself the gift offeeling. With her eyes closed, she surrendered to the darkness, letting it press her closer to the music’s embrace. The notes bore her up and drew her down by turns, a tide that both carried and consumed her.
And then it was gone.
Applause shattered the spell, breaking against her like cold air. The musicians stepped forward to bow, and all around her, the audience began to rise.
“Well done!” Lady Grisham praised, brushing invisible lint from her dress. “Come, girls. Let us approach our hosts to thank them for such a wonderful evening.”
“Must we do that, Mother?” Victoria complained, acting as if she’d faint anytime.
“Yes,” Lady Grisham hissed.
“I find myself in rare agreement with Mother,” Wilhelmina chimed in, “Call it penance for your beauty, or a tax levied on us for enjoying ourselves too much.”
Victoria rolled her eyes, but ended up smiling anyway.
They went to their host and hostess to express their gratitude. Wilhelmina was truly thankful, so exchanging pleasantries was not much of a problem. It also helped her avoid her brother’sbusiness associates. She didn’t want to answer any more questions about whether she was planning to remarry.
“You survived the evening!” Daniel declared.
“Barely. And it’s not because of the people, but because of the music,” she scoffed.
“Will you attend the Hawthorne ball next week? I believe there are more social gatherings coming up, but the ball is next, I believe.”
“I will need support, Daniel. You know that,” she said softly.
“We will be there, Mina.”
That was all she needed to hear. She would have to be at the Hawthorne ball, anyway, and any other social gathering wherein she had to help the Duke of Talleystone.
The end of the musicale brought back thoughts of the Duke.
Where is he? Has he even attended this evening?
Lady Grisham, undeterred by the end of the performance, was still speaking with Lord Alcott, her charm on full display.
“She does not relent,” Wilhelmina murmured to Daniel. “The music is over, yet she is still performing. She will not forget what Lord Alcott hinted at earlier.”
“The matter of you remarrying?”
“Yes. And I have no wish to remarry.”
“Then don’t,” Daniel replied simply, with a shrug.
Wilhelmina turned to him, incredulous. “Do you think it’s as simple as that?”
“You are strong and independent, Wilhelmina. You have no need for a husband. You have already proved you can inspire devotion; Robertadoredyou.”
Her lips pressed together. The problem was that what she and Robert had shared was not the sort of love her family imagined.
A partnership, yes. Security, yes.
