He nodded. ‘And you have enlisted the help of those doctors and specialists I have recommended?’
‘Yes,’ William answered. ‘All of them.’
He sighed. ‘That is what I feared. In that case, I think you should prepare yourself that she may never speak again, especially if these types of occurrences continue.’
‘Did what happened today impact her? Was she close to speaking again?’
He shrugged. ‘WhileIdo not know if she was close to speaking again, Miss Potts and I spoke at length about her experiences with Lady Millie while she had been with her over this last week. I believe they were making progress, but such…disruptions…like today will set her back. It is such sudden scares and traumas that will compound on themselves. I cannot say that I know what the long-term consequences will be or if she will become worse than she is now.’
All the Doctor’s words overwhelmed William. He shook his head, trying to understand what the Doctor wasnotsaying. ‘What exactly do you mean by “worse than she is now”?’
‘She is isolated, Your Grace. She only knows those within this household. The fact that she took to Miss Potts so quickly is quite miraculous. She is wary of strangers, which will make moving within the ranks of Society challenging when she is older, especially when she will not speak. She was shy of me even this morning when I checked upon her and I have known her since the day she was born.’
‘What can I do?’ William asked, leaning forward in his chair. ‘You know that I will do anything for her,’ he said, his voice catching and his pulse increasing. ‘She is my world.’
The Doctor nodded, his gaze softening with sympathy. ‘I know you would move heaven and earth for her, Your Grace. All you can truly do is stabilise her world as much as you can. Keep her days structured, have those around her be consistent and reduce events like today where she sees her safety threatened as best you can, so it does not set back her improvement. Then, maybe one day we will have a chance of unlocking what has held her silent.’
Illness threatened, but William swallowed it down. After a beat, he stood and extended his hand. ‘Thank you, Doctor. That is exactly what I will do.’
Even though I have no idea how to do it.
‘Of course. Send for me if you have need of me in the coming days.’
‘I will.’ William watched the Doctor leave his study and moments later he heard the front door of the Manor open and close. William set his palms flat on his desk and let his head hang down. He closed his eyes and cursed. Cecily, all of Society and thetoncould hang for all he cared. He hated them all…but he loved his daughter more. He had to unearth a solution for the mess he was in and quickly. Doctor Kemplar wasn’t prone to exaggeration. If he felt Millie was in danger of never speaking again, William needed to do something about it.
Now.
Restless, he left the study and walked down the hall to the library. While he’d never loved the room as a boy, as he preferred to be outside playing cricket, boxing or exploring the acres surrounding the Manor, he revelled in the peace it brought him now as it reminded him of his father, whom he missed dearly.
As a father himself now, he understood why this room was his own father’s refuge and sanctuary. Surrounded by walls of books and knowledge, William felt safe and as if he could conquer anything, even the current situation. He walked into the room and settled into his father’s favourite oversized, highbacked chair and let the lush, velvet cushions envelop him.
He glanced at the small round table next to him and rested his palm on the book he had been reading on those nights he couldn’t sleep, but also couldn’t bear to work:Grimms’ Fairy Tales. He smiled at the fanciful choice he had made and the surprise he felt when he’d seen it here among the hallowed shelves of his father’s history, geography, science and fiction works.
He had no idea his father’d had interest in such books, so William had plucked it from the shelf one evening and had been reading its stories ever since. He stared up at the familiar family portrait where his parents, young and vibrant, stared back at him. He also studied his younger self and the older brother long lost to him. He smirked. What his brother would have said to him now, he could clearly imagine.
‘Stop your gloaming. Just because life has given you a bit of a knockabout does not mean you’re down and out. Dust yourself off and get back in the fight.’
That had been one of the last conversations he’d had with his brother and William could still feel the warmth of his brother’s hold as he’d tugged him into his side and ruffled his hair. Sebastian had always been the fun, charming older brothermeant to be Duke, unlike William, who was never a fan of Society and its trappings. Easy-going and well loved, Sebastian’s passing ten years ago had been what had killed their mother. She had passed but a year later. Though she would never admit it, part of her light drifted away when his life had been extinguished, as it had from all of them, but her loss was deeper. She was his mother after all.
Father had focused his energies on building after that. So much so that he’d become obsessed with perfection, almost to the point of creating financial strain, but William had righted the course of their expenses when he’d come to his father’s aid during his last months of decline. Now he just needed to right the course for Millie’s future. But how to do it?
He ran his fingertips restlessly over the fine gilded-script inset on the cover of the book, tracing its letters. He stared at the cover and his fingers stilled. ‘Cinderella’. He shook his head. Could it work? Could the solution be so simple? He smiled at the portraits of his father and brother. How they both would smirk at him now if they could see his scheme. It was brilliant and yet mad enough that it might work.
Williamwouldtake a wife to quiet the reporters and thetonin their quest for gossip about the newest Duke. Well, at least he wouldpretendto.
And he knew exactly who his fake future bride would be.
Now he just needed to talk Miss Potts into it to see if she would be willing to play the part of a fake princess like the woman in the story of Grimm’s cinder girl.
Hattie settled in the chair opposite His Grace in his study, having been summoned by Mrs Chisholm and brought to him post-haste. When the housekeeper closed the door for privacy,Hattie almost jumped out of her skin. She was a cluster of nerves and pain since the incident this morning.
She winced when her shoulder touched the back of the chair. She edged forward in her seat and readjusted the sling that held her left arm still. Her heart roared in her chest. She risked a glance at the Duke of Wimberley and he was frowning. Deeply frowning. She dropped her gaze, pressed her lips together and swallowed. Now he appeared to be scowling as he studied her sling.
‘You need not worry, Your Grace,’ she rushed out. ‘I will still be able to tend to my duties for your daughter. It shall only be a few days.’ She smiled weakly and leaned back in her chair as far as she dared with her injured shoulder and waited. He appeared very angry. But at her? Why? Was he annoyed at the time it took for her to come see him? Or perhaps he was angry about her unladylike behaviour in tackling the trespasser? She wouldn’t apologise for it. Millie’s safety was more important than propriety.
‘Does it hurt?’ he asked, his voice soft with concern as he glanced at her shoulder.
Startled, it took her a moment to reply. ‘It is strained and sore, but I was lucky. Only bruises other than my shoulder. The doctor said a couple of days in this sling and my arm will be fine. I am just relieved Lady Millie was unhurt.’
