Constance shook her head. “No longer.”
“How can that be?”
“Hexham was entailed. Her husband’s nephew, the child of his younger brother, is the viscount now and his wife, the viscountess.”
“But Lady Dalhousie goes to Hexham after the season.”
“To visit as a guest,” her mother said with surety. “And I would not be surprised if Hexham was no longer her destination since her nephew’s wife bore their second son.”
“And the house in Berkley Square?”
“From her own family, but she has only the property, such as it is. The money was all on his side and bound to Hexham.” Her mother shook her head. “No, Fanny must be in considerable debt by this time. Alas, I cannot be glad of that. To be without money is a terrible situation, Eliza, and no one is deserving of it.”
Eliza thought of the sandwiches and the lack of a footman and realized it all made sense.
“That was why she took the girl, of course,” her mother continued easily. “It was not a gesture of affection to be sure.”
Eliza blinked for she did not understand. “Helena?”
Constance looked up, eyes bright. “Of course, Helena. It was quite a coup on Fanny’s part, to be sure.”
“How so?”
“There is no blood between them. Frances was the sister of Captain Emerson’s mother, but Helena is the daughter of Nicholas’ father and that man’s second wife. In many families, Frances would not have been able to take Helena, but there was no one to fight her for that ward.” She shook her head. “The girl was only two when her parents died, though she must have been seven or so by the time Captain Emerson settled his father’s estate and bought his commission. The debts were frightful.” She frowned at the drawing. “Doubtless Frances was familiar by then.”
“I do not understand,” Eliza said. “If Lady Dalhousie’s finances were diminished, why would she voluntarily take a ward?” She moved the yellow Rose de Turcs to a sunny spot on the proposed wall on the layout.
Her mother immediately repositioned it further along. “I cannot bear its deep yellow against the pink of the Quatre Saisons,” she confided. “It should be amidst the white Albas.” Then she took a breath, straightening to survey the evolving plan. “The child was always pretty. Doubtless, Frances thought to make a good match for the girl and secure her own future. She may live decades yet, you know. I certainly intend to do so, but I wed rather better.”
“Is that the source of the rivalry between you?”
“Rivals? We are not rivals, Eliza. Frances despises me because I claimed what she desired. It is that simple.”
“Papa? Because he was a duke?”
Constance smiled, forgetting her plan for the moment. Her eyes lit as they always did when she mentioned the late duke. “I did not even realize Luke’s consequence when I met him. I scarcely even heard his name. I just looked into his eyes, and I knew that I had just met the man who would hold my heart forever.”
“That quickly?”
“It was immediate, and later he told me that it was the same for him. We had such a great love, Eliza, and the only thing I have ever wanted for any of my children was that they would know the rapture of that bond.” She came around the table and embraced Eliza. “I would never have anticipated that Frederick would be the one to claim your heart, but I am glad he did. Even though it is hard to be without one’s beloved, it has to be better than never having loved thus before.”
Eliza found a lump in her throat. She nodded agreement. “What about children?”
“Oh, Eliza. There is such joy in children, but there can also be such pain.” Constance lifted her chin and looked into the distance, a suspicious shimmer in her eyes. “I remember when James was born. Our first and a boy, as perfect as could be, and your father’s pride.” Her throat worked and she blinked rapidly. “Then Reginald, so quick to make his debut in the world, to my relief, and in a hurry for all his days and nights. They were so different and yet so much the same, and I could see Luke in them in different ways. Then Damien, always inscrutable and so loyal. I was blessed to have three fine sons, and even more blessed to then have a daughter as good and true as you are, but that did not diminish the anguish of losing two of them in rapid succession, right after your father.” She shook her head and her tears fell, her words husky when she continued. “Then Damien came home, wounded and I feared we would lose him, as well.”
“You do not urge him to wed?”
“He will wed or not as he chooses.”
“But the duchy...”
Her mother waved a hand. “I have one son and one daughter left to me, and I will love you both and defend you both until my dying breath. If you choose to marry for love, I will bless your match with all my heart. If you have children, I will pray at their christenings and spoil them at every opportunity. But I will never insist that you make any choice for my satisfaction or the sake of the duchy. I have you both and that is a treasure beyond price.”
Blinking back tears, Eliza embraced her mother, feeling the dampness of her mother’s tears upon her own shoulder.
“What did Lady Dalhousie want with you yesterday?” Constance asked.
“Captain Emerson asked me to chaperone his sister. I believe he thinks the task taxing for his aunt and he says that I will make a better match for Helena.”
