She turned swiftly on her heel and fled up the stairs. She did not stop until she’d closeted herself safely in her room.
She didn’t know how long she’d stood there staring at the floor, her mind completely blank, when she heard a light knock.
“Please come in,” she said hesitantly.
“I thought I’d heard you come back.” The Duchess of Ashbey slipped inside. “Pen’s upstairs reading to the children. I was a useless second. So, I thought I’d come down to look in on you.” She smiled kindly. “We’ve not had a moment alone.”
“No.” What waswrongwith her? Her mind should have been focused entirely on Annis and what the duchess had learned of the Runner. “I have, of course, been anxious to know if...if...” Her voice wavered.
Did her preoccupation with her feelings for the duke mean she would make a terrible mother? She held a tightly closed fist against her lips.
“What’s happened?” the duchess exclaimed.
“Nothing,” she sniffed. “Nothing that will not shortly be undone, anyway.”
“Are you upset with Hurtheven?” The duchess searched her gaze. “No, no, my dear! I didn’t mean to make you feel worse. You’ve no need to look so distressed. I only noticed an…affinity.”
“He—He is in no danger from me, if that is your concern.”Oh God.Shemustprevent tears. “I wouldn’t presume.”
“If he isn’t in danger from you—which I don’t believe—I’d wish he would be!” the duchess exclaimed.
“You cannot be serious!”
The duchess took a deep breath. “Interesting choice of word,presume.”
“Meaning”—Hera reverted to her governess tone—“look higher than my station.”
“Yes, I understood your meaning,” the duchess said gently. “After all these years, I can still remember how deeply I dreaded the question, ‘who does she think she is?’ when I considered marrying Ash.”
The duchess’s eyes were all that was kind.
“Did anyone ask you such a thing?” Hera asked.
“Not directly, but I heard the whispered words. Words, in my experience, spoken out of jealousy. Or fear.” She frowned. “Bothperhaps. Jealousy because I dared to reach for something someone else decided should be beyond my touch. Fear because, if the rules of hierarchy can be so easily broken, what can be left to protect those in power?”
“Youwere born a gentlewoman,” Hera reminded.
“You are, are you not, the daughter of a baron?”
“Yes, but…”
The duchess raised her brows. “But?”
“Annis.”
“Have you told Hurtheven about Annis?”
Hera shook her headno.
“I cannot,” the duchess said carefully, “speak for the duke. But I would encourage you to confide in him. I expect he’d surprise you—as he often does us all.”
“Please,” Hera protested, “I know you mean well but...”
“But your heart is breaking.”
Hera nodded.
The duchess wrapped her arm around Hera’s shoulder. “Well, I have said my part and encouraged you to trust him.” The duchess sighed. “Please tell me you’ll at least consider my advice.”
