Page 36 of A Duke to Restore her Memory
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The next day, Christina sat at the window seat in her room, gazing out the window disconsolately.
Even though she tried to tell herself to stop doing it, she had been waiting for the duke – she had been waiting for him to send for her, or to knock on the door. For something. But the summons, and the knock, never came.
And it will not come. He knows as well as you do that indulging this attraction between us is pointless. He knows there is no future in it.
Suddenly, her heart seized. There was a small, sharp rapping upon the door. She stood up, her heart racing, her mouth dry. She smoothed the creases in her gown with trembling hands before walking to the door and opening it.
She bit her lip. Lady Frances was standing there. Christina tried to ignore the way her heart plummeted and crashed to the ground.
It wasn’t him. It wasn’t ever going to be him.
“My Lady,” she stammered, curtseying quickly.
“Georgina,” said Frances, smiling at her warmly. “I wanted to check how you are.” She hesitated. “May I come in?”
“Of course, My Lady,” said Christina quickly, opening the door wider to let her enter. “I am honoured.”
Frances swept into the room. Christina closed the door, indicating that the lady should take the only chair in the room, while she sat down in the window enclosure again. They stared at one another without speaking for a moment.
“You look weary, Georgina,” said the lady in a soft voice. “I heard about your bravery after the explosion … how you nursed the injured miners. You are a wonder. Such a courageous, compassionate soul.”
Christina blushed fiercely. “You are too kind, My Lady.”
“I am only speaking the truth,” said Frances with a kind smile. She hesitated. “I wanted to see how you are and commend you for your work yesterday … but I have also called on you to give you a warning.”
Christina’s heart seized. “A warning?”
Frances nodded, looking pained. “Yes. A warning. I am afraid that the argument between you and Lydia is not over, Georgina … in fact, I believe it is only just beginning.”
Christina could barely breathe. “How so, My Lady?”
Frances sighed heavily. “Lydia and I attended a small dinner party last evening,” she replied slowly. “His grace was supposed to attend as well, but he begged off after what happened at the mine, saying he was too weary and preoccupied to go to a dinner party.”
“He was very upset about it,” said Christina softly. “He leads with his heart.”
“Indeed,” said Frances. “He is a kind man and takes his duty to his workers and tenants very seriously.” She hesitated. “Lydia was talking about you to our host and the other guests last night, Georgina … and she was not being very complimentary about you. In fact, I would say she was deliberately spreading rumours about you.”
Christina’s heart skipped a beat. She should have realized that Lydia would up the ante and do something like this. She had challenged the duke’s sister, and Lydia would not let that go. The lady had wanted to get rid of her anyway. Now, it appeared she was actively trying to do it.
“What was she saying about me?” Christina held her breath, waiting for the response.
Frances hesitated for another moment. “She was saying that she believes you are only pretending to have lost your memory to ensconce yourself at Newquay Hall to seduce and marry the duke.”
Christina jumped to her feet. “How can she say such a thing about me?” she cried, her heart filling with anger and frustration. “Why is she so set upon the fact that I am a fraud?”
Frances sighed again, shaking her head sorrowfully. “I am so sorry, Georgina. I do not believe you are making it up to deceive and seduce the duke deliberately.” She hesitated. “But then, I have made the effort to sit with you and talk with you, so I know you are genuine. But Lydia has been suspicious of you from the start and quite determined to think ill of you.”
“Why?” Christina turned to the other lady. “Why is she so determined? Why will she not give me the benefit of the doubt?”
Frances shrugged. “I do not know the answer to that question, either,” she said with another heavy sigh. “Every time I try to steer the conversation in that direction, asking why she is so determined to believe the worst of you, she will not reply.” She paused, gazing steadily at Christina. “I do not know why she is so resolute as to match me with the duke, either, when it is clear that neither of us is interested. But Lydia is a stubborn, determined woman, and when she sets her mind to something, it is very hard to sway her.”
Christina sat down again, her sudden anger dissipating. She just felt weary and sad now. She could do nothing to make Lydia like and approve of her, and even her best friend didn’t understand her motivation.
If Frances was in the dark about what was driving Lydia, then what hope did she have of understanding it?
“All I know is there must be something quite important driving her to do this,” continued Frances in a thoughtful tone. “She would not risk public scandal otherwise. It is not her style to stoop to gossipmongering and spreading rumours – usually she loathes such behaviour. So, whatever her reasons, they are vital to her. I am so sorry, Georgina.”
