Page 85 of Her Duke By Accident
CHAPTER 20
On the bumpy ride back to London, Alicia could only remember the day of her wedding, and the journey to Garvey in the same carriage. Despite the tension between them, there was a sort of comfort on that day — one that she wished to feel now.
“Don’t cry, Your Grace,” Juliet cooed from across the carriage. She reached out, taking a gentle grasp of Alicia’s hand. “We will be there soon enough.”
Alicia wiped a stray tear that dripped down her cheek. “I seem unable to stop shedding tears, Juliet.”
“I know, Your Grace, it is expected when your mother has taken a fall.”
“I might feel more at ease if my brother hadn’t been so vague in his letter,” she muttered, still clutching the letter in a tight fist. “Or if…”
“If the duke was here?” the lady’s maid finished with a soft smile.
Alicia sighed. “Yes, Juliet, if the duke was here.”
“There is still time to spare, Your Grace, if you wished to turn around.”
“Heavens, no,” Alicia said.
“But—”
“My comfort is nowhere near important in this case!” she snapped, sounding harsher than she intended to. Alicia felt herself sink further into her seat.
Juliet remained unscathed. “Might I say something, Your Grace?”
“Of course.”
“I do not think you have given yourself any semblance of comfort since arriving at Garvey.”
Alicia met the girl’s gaze. “What do you mean?”
“Everything you do is for someone else, isn’t it?”
“I wouldn’t say that.”
“The meetings with Ms. Crawford are to fulfill the duties given to you,” Juliet explained. “The time you have spent with Lady Lucy has been for the girl’s betterment. Even the moments that have left you in a screaming match with the duke have all been for him.”
Alicia pressed her lips together silently.
“Perhaps it is time for you to give yourself the grace to be happy.”
“Now isn’t the best time for that, Juliet,” Alicia said with a sad smile. “Though I appreciate your words.”
“Why not now?”
“We are on the way to my injured mother,” she said exasperatedly.
Juliet shrugged. “But we can turn back for the duke. Why shouldn’t he be here to support you?”
“Support me?” Alicia said with a humorless laugh. “We had one good evening, Juliet.”
The maid leaned forward eagerly. “You were lit up, Your Grace. One good evening looked like a thousand bountiful lifetimes when you woke up this morning. Why must you deny the good that has happened to you?”
“I cannot lift up my hopes.”
“Why not?”
“Juliet—”
