Hera had stifled a tear when her courses came. She hadn’t wanted a pregnancy to force either her or the duke’s hand, although she hadn’t realized until that moment that a part of her had been holding out hope...
She sighed, brushed Annis cheek with her knuckle. The baby gurgled at the sound of a knock on the door.
“Shall I answer?” Hera asked.
Annis drooled in reply.
Hera kissed the child’s head before opening the door.
“Ma’am.” A housemaid bobbed a curtsy. “You’ve a visitor.” The young woman’s eyes were wide. “Aduchess.”
Odd.She’d parted ways with Alicia, the Duchess of Ashbey, more than a week ago...just after the successful hearing.
“I will go down presently. Would you mind watching Annis?”
The maid brightened. “Not at all! She’s never any trouble.” She smiled down at the child. “Are you?”
Annis bubbled her lips andcooed.
When Hera entered the parlor, she wasn’t greeted by the Duchess of Ashbey’s petite form, but by the willowy figure of Penelope, Duchess of Ithwick.
“Your Grace.” She curtsied.
“Penelope, please.” Penelope crossed the room and took both Hera’s hands into her own. “I trust everything has been arranged to your satisfaction?”
“Oh, yes! We are—Annis and I—quite content.”
Penelope lowered her chin and gazed deeply into Hera’s eyes. “Areyou?”
Hera withdrew her hands. “Won’t you sit down?”
They took chairs opposite the fire. The clock ticked away an uncomfortable silence. How long was the appropriate length of a morning call? A quarter hour. Surely she could survive fifteen minutes without mentioning?—
“I’ve come here today on a very specific errand,” Penelope interrupted her thoughts. “A mutual friend asked me to plead his case.”
Hera inhaled sharply.
“I’m far too direct,” Pen said sympathetically, “I know. I wasn’t raised to soften the truth. And, in this case, I see no reason to temporize, nor is there any cause for explanations if you are dead set against the renewal of his acquaintance.”
Feeling overrun by a verbal carriage, Hera could only blink.
“Wouldyou consider giving Hurtheven another chance?” Penelope pressed.
She’d wanted to give him a chance, but he’dlied.
She looked away, stopping the words from spilling forth. Whatever the duke had or had not shared with her, she did not wish to discuss the subject with anyone else—especially not the woman he loved.
She frowned. Of all people to send! She glanced back angrily. “He is in love withyou.”
Penelope’s jaw dropped. She quickly recovered. “Hethoughthe was,” she said slowly, “at one time. But that was a long time ago. And, in my opinion, not at all the same kind of attachment he shares with you.”
“But Iheardyou acknowledge his affection...”
The duchess frowned. “Impossible!”
“...the night before I left. He was coming up the stairs, you were coming down from the nursery.”
“Ah.” Penelope lifted her brows. “While I cannot recall the specifics of our exchange, I believe you must have misread the situation.”
