“I shall not,” Mrs. Clove said. “Her Grace has made it quite apparent that she does not wish to be disturbed. I will not broach the subject, for that would be disturbing her.”
“When will she again be taking visitors?” Bridget asked, keeping her tone reasonable.
“I am afraid I do not know, my lady.”
Bridget frowned. She had not anticipated being denied, and she was uncertain how to handle the firm rejection. How brazen did she dare be? With icy dread, it occurred to her that His Grace might learn of her questioning and not take kindly to her trying to learn the truth about him.
“Is sheallowedto have visitors?” Bridget asked. “Or is it that the Duke forbids his grandmother the comfort of companionship?”
Mrs. Clove inhaled sharply, her face the very picture of shock. “My lady, that is a dreadful thing to suggest! His Grace cares greatly for the Dowager Duchess.”
Of course, Mrs. Clove would say that. The Duke paid the woman to be a member of this household, and she was beholden to him. A woman in such a position would defend her employer, no matter how despicable his actions might be.
“I am to marry this man,” Bridget said. “I need to know that I am safe with him.”
“You are,” Mrs. Clove said, her expression hardening. “His Grace is a kind and thoughtful man. With all due respect, my lady, I think you should go.”
Rather than waiting for an answer, Mrs. Clove simply shut the door. For a heartbeat, Bridget stared at the townhouse, but the door did not open again.
“What an unusual exchange!” Amelia exclaimed.
“Indeed,” Bridget said.
They turned away from the townhouse and began the short trip back to the waiting carriage.
“What will you do now, my lady?” Amelia asked. “You did not learn much at all.”
“No,” Bridget mused, climbing into the carriage. “But I learned more than I knew before.”
It was not enough, though.
“Do you intend to marry him without knowing?” Amelia asked.
Bridget leaned her head back against the seat and sighed. “That is the question, isn’t it?”
She did not know if she would be safe with the Duke of Wheelton. However, the possibility remained that maybe the Dowager Duchesswasin poor health and chose seclusion, rather than having it forced upon her. There was one way to find out, though. If she married the Duke of Wheelton, he would have to introduce them eventually.
“I think…” Bridget trailed off. “After some consideration, I think I must marry him.”
“Truly, my lady?” Amelia’s eyes were wide. “Perhaps your brother could speak to His Grace and learn the truth of the matter.”
“And take care of me again?” Bridget asked. “I will not have Elias managing my life for me. If I am sufficiently mature to marry, I can handle my own affairs. No, I am set on marrying the Duke of Wheelton.”
For better or worse.
CHAPTER 17
“But no one is supposed to visit me!” The Dowager Duchess’s voice came from her bedchamber, just a room away.
Lewis tore his gaze away from the window, through which he had seen Lady Bridget just moments before. His grandmother had no notion that she had nearly encountered someone who most certainly would cause no small amount of distress. Fortunately, Mrs. Clove had turned the young miss away.
“It is His Grace,” Mrs. Clove said.
“Oh.”
Lewis waited, silently hoping that his grandmother had decided that she had no desire to see him, even if this was a conversation that must be had.
She would inevitably need to meet Lady Bridget, too. Assuming that the young lady would behave. He begrudgingly conceded that it was bold of her to come to the Dowager Duchess’s house in search of answers, but that did not bode well for him. He needed an obedient wife.
