“There is more to the story, of course. I am not only Lydia’s friend. I am the children’s godmother. That is why I know so much about them. When…” She paused, her nails digging into her palms. “When Lydia fell in love with Peter, she was working at my home as a maid. She confessed it to me, crying for days because she did not believe a match between them could ever be possible.”
“But Peter was madly in love with her,” Christopher added, stunned by the weight of her confession.
“He eventually proposed to her,” Frances continued, “but Society would have never accepted them. Which is why they chose to run away. I helped her go with him. In return, they made me their children’s godmother.”
“How am I to believe you?” Christopher raised an eyebrow. “The children did not know who you were. They should have recognized you if that was truly the case. For all I know, this could be the result of brilliant guesswork.”
“What benefit would I get from lying?” she shot back, vexed. “Besides, they moved to the countryside after their wedding. I was only able to meet the children once when they were baptized, of which they obviously have no memory. But I know more about them than anyone else. Lydia made sure of that—she wrote to me frequently.”
Christopher’s expression changed from shocked to placid. “So you were the reason why they got married?”
“I would not say I was the reason,” she sighed. “They were in love with one another, and no force could keep them apart. But I helped in whatever way I could.”
His shoulders stiffened, and he leaned back in his chair. “I see.”
“I hope you believe me now.” Her tone was pleading. “It’s been a terrible thing to stomach their awful and untimely demise. But it is even worse for the children. All I ask is that you let me visit them so I can be close to them.”
“They have suffered enough.” Christopher’s tone had turned cold. “What they need is a woman who will remain a steady presence in their life. If I allow you to visit them, they will suffer even more once you get married and start a family of your own.”
Albina’s face flashed in Frances’s mind alongside the expectation to marry.
Frances pursed her lips—she had not thought that far ahead.
“Y-your Grace…” She tried to compose herself. He was looking at her intently again, and it was making her feel flustered. “You have to think of the good of the children.”
“That is precisely what I am doing.” Christopher shook his head. “Quite frankly,unless you are planning to become my wife, I don’t think you should see my nephews.”
His tone dripped with sarcasm, but he had just pointed out a possibility that she had considered before.
Hitting two birds with one stone.
“If marrying you is the only way to be close to the children, then I accept.”
Frances did not know where the sudden courage had come from. But the words fell out of her mouth, as though it was the most natural thing to suggest.
When it came to the children, she was willing to go to any lengths.
CHAPTER4
“Ibeg your pardon? That was not meant to be a proposal.”
The woman stood firm in front of him. “The children need someone to look after them, and it is clear that no one else is better suited to the job than I am. However, I cannot be their governess, so the next possible outcome is that I marry the man whom they are in the custody of.”
“What a clever, little plan you have concocted,” Christopher replied sarcastically, a force of habit. “But did you once stop to consider why I would consider marrying a stranger?”
She shrugged, as though that was the least of her worries. “I would be doing the same. Besides, my mother has always said that no matter how long a courtship lasts, you only truly get to know someone after you marry them.”
This woman is truly insane.
“I must say that you have some gall coming here and saying that to someone you have met for the first time.”
“The situation demands it,” she argued.
Christopher could see that she was not putting up a show. It was not uncommon for women to concoct all manners of nefarious plots to secure a marriage offer from a duke. But she did not seem like the type.
Peter’s marrying Lydia had caused a great scandal, and his mother had never come to accept the woman as a part of their family. Christopher was of the opinion that his brother should be free to do as he liked, but the news had tarnished his family’s reputation—something that he could not stand.
His jaw tightened as he considered what the woman was saying to him. Marrying a stranger?It was not something he could ever do.
