Her hands shook at just the thought of being with a man she did not know, or any man at all, really. Winnie’s only comfort was that if the fates aligned, not only would she be blessed with remaining at Brown Manor, but she would have a child.
There were no secrets for Winnie, especially living with her mother and aunt. They had lived together for five years, and the older but intelligent women knew the exact details of Winnie’s failed marriage. They both knew exactly what type of man Graham Musgrave was. He had proved himself early on.
Rumors had traveled from London on the lips of servants in abundance, so much that in the earlier years, Winnie felt like a complete failure. As the years passed, she only felt one thing for her then husband. Anger. Now, even in death, Graham was hindering her, rendering her a complete failure.
“The duke’s solicitor informed me that all is well, and we will indeed be able to live at Brown Manor until we wish to vacate.” Winnie gave what she thought was a most convincing smile, careful not to bite her bottom lip, something she did when she was lying.
Her mother would know instantly if Winnie was being deceitful. It was the one thing that had always vexed her about her mother.
Feeling triumphant, Winnie turned her head to give her aunt the same performance, however, she found clear blue eyes suspiciously squinting her way.
“Well, that is wonderful indeed, isn’t it, Tori?” Uriana asked Winnie’s mother, using the name she’d called her sister as a child.
Her aunt and mother’s relationship was the reason Winnie had wanted a sibling when she was a child. They were like two halves separated by eight years.
“How wonderful! Now we can stop fretting and move on to other things.” A radiant smile, like the ones Winnie remembered from her childhood, graced her mother’s face. “I knew a man who does such wonderful work in Parliament could not be so cruel to a widow.” A violent cough wracked her mother’s small body.
As always, fear filled Winnie at the deep hollow sound of it. She waited patiently, trying not to hover, but she could not help but to grab the glass of water that sat on the side table next to her mother.
As her mother drank, she felt Uriana’s pensive stare. “I would have never suspected the duke being so amenable to his late cousin’s wife.”
Winnie ignored her aunt’s comment, said with a slight bit of theatrics.
“Perhaps their differences were over-exaggerated throughout society,” her mother said, handing Winnie the water.
“I am sure it was,” Winnie said, wanting desperately to change the subject.
“Really? Because I was quite certain Richmore could not stand your late husband. Which I dare say you both have in common.” Her aunt stood with the grace of a ballerina, walking over to stand in front of Winnie. “If Richmore was not agreeable, you could ask the Widow’s League to aid you. My old friend Daphne Williamson was a member of their council before her death.”
Winnie looked up, shocked to hear another person suggest she seek the aid of the Widow’s League instead of proceeding with her deception.
A sliver of doubt pierced her, but the truth was simple. Winnie had done nothing daring. She married the man her father chose for her, then allowed Graham to lock her away in the country while he paraded around London with a variety of mistresses…until he met Esther.
“I have heard wonderful things about the league,” her mother added helpfully.
Winnie leaned back, her shoulders rubbing her mother’s. She wanted to lie in her arms as she had done as a girl. “Kitty mentioned them as well.”
“Kitty? When did you see Kitty?” Her aunt demanded, taking the space at Winnie’s mother’s feet.
“When I was in town.” That was all the information she was going to supply the older woman.
“Winifred, you cannot be seen with Kitty. She may come here, but you can absolutely not be seen with her in London.” Uriana threw her hands up in the air in exaggeration.
“Kitty is my oldest friend, Aunt,” Winnie reminded her. She would never deny her friendship with Kitty, no matter what profession the other woman had chosen.
Circumstances pushed women to do drastic things. Winnie knew that now.
“I know, dear, but we agreed she should visit you here to protect your reputation,” Uriana reminded her gently.
Winnie could feel her mother watching the two of them. They often would spar like a pair of bare-knuckle fighters, her mother always the mediator between them.
“I do not have a reputation. No one in society knows who I am.” Winnie threw her head back, tired of the old argument. “I never had a season.”
“You will be surprised who may actually know you.” Her aunt pointed a long, elegant finger at her. “Thetonmakes it their personal mission to know who everyone is. Unfortunate for you, my dear, you married an heir to one of the oldest dukedoms in England and a deplorable fellow.”
One could always depend on Uriana Thomas to tell the absolute truth of any situation. It never mattered to Winnie that Kitty owned and operated the most scandalous pleasure house in London. They had been friends their entire lives, and nothing would change that.
“I have to return to London in a sennight. I’ll return in a few days after,” Winnie rushed out. Finding the change in topic from Richmore to Kitty was the perfect opportunity to announce she would leave again.
