Mary braced herself, and tried one more time. Everyone had her eyes on her, but she missed — causing a collective sigh of dismay to erupt from the group of maids.
Mrs. Arlidge nodded. “Now, now, Miss Mary, you’ll get it next time. Keep that arm steady!”
Harriet stood back, and took in the sight. It was not the family that she had expected to have — far from it.
She was different from her sisters in that she never daydreamed about having a husband, and a houseful of children. But somehow, she thought that the option would be available to her, should she ever change her mind in the future.
Now it seemed like that possibility had been closed off forever. She was married, but there was no husband in sight.
And of course, no children. She did not even know if the duke even wanted an heir — she had never gotten the opportunity to get to know him in that manner.
So, even if it was not a dream for her like it was for her sisters, or other girls her age, it was a dream that could never be fulfilled.
At the estate, the maids were the closest thing that she had to a family.
She had managed to get the freedom she had always wanted. But in entirely different circumstances than she could have ever imagined.
Simon had kept true to his promise. The last time that Harriet had seen him was on the day of their wedding. He did not write to her, nor did she know anything about his life. She had figured out where he was residing — one of his family’s chalet’s in the north — but what his day-to-day looked like, she did not know.
It was strange, indeed. But it was a reality that she had come to accept.
After all, she was happy at the estate. She followed her own schedule, did whatever her heart pleased, and did not need to keep anyone happy.
That was the argument that she proposed to herself when sometimes, late in the night, a feeling of loneliness crept up inside her.
You have a lot to be grateful for. No need to be dismayed.
Her family did not know the truth about her marriage. She had done a great job at pretending. By now, she had run out of just how many lies she had told on behalf of Simon. Whenever her sisters, or her parents visited, Harriet had a fresh, new excuse as to why her husband was not present.
‘Oh, you know, His Grace is a very busy man. He is expanding his business overseas, and it has him gone for many weeks at a time.’
‘Oh, he has asked me to come with him, many times. He claims that he cannot bear to be without me. I always refuse, however. I believe I have a duty to my home, as the duchess.’
‘He was here just yesterday. You just missed him. Such a shame; it would be incredible for you to meet.’
Surprisingly, her excuses had worked so far and her family was none the wiser. As long as they were kept unaware, her situation remained uncomplicated.
After all, it would be difficult for her to explain to her family that her husband had left on the night of their wedding, never to be seen again. Of course, she could draw a certain level of satisfaction from being proven right in front of her parents, that truly this marriage was done in haste. But the slew of questions that would follow that admission was something she did not look forward to.
Besides, it had been nine months. Harriet had found her place at the estate.
“Your Grace!”
The game came to an abrupt end when one of the younger maids came running from the house. Her hair was strewn across her pale face, and she seemed entirely out of breath.
Harriet got up from her place of rest immediately, “What is it, Eliza?” she inquired, concern knitting her eyebrows.
Eliza heaved a few deep sighs to catch her breath. It looked like she had run all the way here to deliver the message.
“May I…. may I speak to you in private?”
Harriet nodded, and took the maid to the side. Curiosity was burning inside of her.
“Tell me what it is now,” she demanded, tapping one of her feet impatiently.
Eliza lowered her voice down to a whisper, “There’s a baby, Your Grace. A baby girl at the doorstep! And a note! You must come quickly!”
Harriet’s heart skipped a beat. “A baby?”
