Page 27 of Masquerading with the Duke
All three of them instinctively glanced at the vacant chair on Frankie’s left as they sipped at their tea. It was the chair that Crista had always occupied. None of them were insensitive enough to sit in it and Frankie suspected that they all missed her bright chatter and sensible suggestions. Frankie closed her eyes briefly, wishing she could turn the clock back. Wishing life didn’t have to be so cruel. Wishing all manner of unattainable things before reminding herself that Crista would be appalled if she realised quite how often Frankie blamed herself for surviving the attack that had cost Crista her life.
‘Actually, before we get down to the details for the masquerade,’ Frankie said, forcing herself to do what she knew Crista would have wanted her to and devoting her attention to Martina’s plight. ‘There is something I need to ask you.’
Nia looked surprised. ‘What is it?’
‘It’s about Martina.’
Sara and Nia both looked surprised when Frankie explained about her sudden return.
‘What could have happened, do you suppose?’ Nia asked, frowning. ‘I should have thought that she would have been anxious to explain her abrupt departure from a comfortable position, given that you secured it for her.’
‘I don’t actually know.’ Frankie tapped her index finger against her lips. ‘I don’t like to pry, so I have not asked. The girls have been through so much.’ She paused. ‘It’s funny, but her experiences have matured her and I sometimes forget how young she still is.’
Sara gave a sage nod. ‘My heart goes out to the pair of them.’
‘Martina leaned on Ariana during their travails. She barely spoke a word when she first arrived here, suspicious and terrified half out of her wits, but that doesn’t mean she didn’t understand what had happened to them—what a narrow escape they’d had. Now that she feels safe and has had time to reflect, I believe it’s made her stronger, but robbed her of her innocence.’
‘Girls as pretty as she and Ariana are should be thinking of nothing more taxing than dancing the night away and playing their suitors off against one another,’ Nia said, nodding.
‘Quite.’ Frankie sighed. ‘Martina is slow to trust, as any of us would be in her situation. The girls avoided being physically violated, thanks to Amos, but the mental scars…’ Frankie dashed at a tear trickling down her cheek. ‘Anyway, that is why I won’t demand explanations from Martina if she doesn’t feel ready to confide in me. I am satisfied that she would not have turned her back on the Redrows without good reason.’
Sara nodded, looking close to tears of compassion herself. ‘What those poor girls had to endure doesn’t bear thinking about. You’re right not to press Martina for an explanation, Frankie. She just needs to be aware that we all support whatever decisions she makes.’
‘Thank you, Sara.’ Frankie briefly closed her eyes, relieved to have her decision vindicated by those who wouldn’t be afraid to speak out if they thought she had made an error. No one outside of her immediate family would ever criticise her behaviour; the price to be paid for being a duchess whose good opinion everyone craved. ‘Anyway, Nia, I raised the subject because I know you need a new nanny. I can assure you that Martina is not the flighty type. Something of an unpleasant nature occurred at the Redrows, and the details will come to light in due course, but I am satisfied that Martina is diligent and not at fault.’
‘I will gladly offer her the position,’ Nia said without hesitation. ‘She will probably feel more settled next door to her sister. As you say, they have endured so much.’
‘Thank you. I will tell her.’
‘I shan’t need her for a couple of weeks. Nancy doesn’t leave until the end of the month so Martina might as well stay here with her sister and recover from whatever it is that sent her scurrying back here.’ Nia sighed. ‘I do hope that Mr Redrow did not…’
‘That is what we all hope,’ Frankie said, her expression sombre.
‘Redrow is a charming gentleman,’ Sara said reflectively, ‘but I have always felt that there’s something slightly depraved about him. The way I’ve caught him looking at me once or twice quite gave me the shivers.’
Nia smiled her sympathy. ‘Some men simply assume that all married ladies are dissatisfied and looking for distractions. Nothing could be further from the truth, at least insofar as Sheridan wives are concerned and it’s very bad manners of Redrow to make assumptions. Even so, Sara, you are so exquisitely beautiful that you ought to be accustomed to being admired.’
‘There is a difference between being admired and being treated without respect,’ Frankie said. ‘Eleanor Redrow has nothing but good things to say about her husband. I think she is still besotted with him, and if he misbehaves she probably pretends not to notice. A lot of wives either turn a blind eye or get their revenge by taking lovers themselves.’
‘Then she is in the wrong,’ Nia said stoutly. ‘To turn a blind eye, I mean. At least she is if he attempts to force himself upon any member of their household staff.’
‘I agree,’ Sara said assertively. ‘If he cannot control his baser instincts, he should at least have the sensitivity to keep his extramarital affairs well away from his wife and daughters.’
‘Zach thinks it will be interesting to see how the Redrows respond to Martina’s abrupt departure. They must realise she will come straight back here and—’
‘And the Redrows enjoy being on friendly terms with you.’ Sara again nodded. ‘Which takes us back to the discussion we were having before Nia’s arrival. Every local worthy wants to be on your guest list, Frankie; not just for the masquerade but so that they can claim an acquaintance with this family. The Redrows are examples in point, so they can’t just pretend that Martina didn’t walk out on them.’
‘Sara’s right,’ Nia agreed. ‘If—and I don’t believe it for a moment—Marina didn’t discharge her duties to their satisfaction, they would have had the right to dismiss her. But if that was the case I believe Martina would have told you and apologised for being inept. If she left for any other reason, then the Redrows’ desire to stay on good terms with you leaves them with a duty to ensure Martina’s safety.’
‘Well, they’re taking their time about it,’ Frankie said crossly as she adjusted the fall of her skirts. ‘Martina has been back for two days now and…What is it Faraday?’ Frankie asked when her butler quietly entered the room.
‘Mrs Redrow is here, your grace.’
Frankie smiled at the other ladies. ‘Talk of the devil. Show her in please, Faraday.’
‘This should be interesting,’ Nia muttered. Frankie smiled at her, aware that she had never much liked Mrs Redrow.
Their visitor appeared behind Faraday, who was then despatched to fetch fresh tea.
