Without her husband’s assistance, Bridget had been forced to find answers on her own, which was how she had learned that Lewis went every day to visit the Dowager Duchess, as she had suspected. Regrettably, she had been unable to learn much more, for both Lewis and his staff were reluctant to speak of the woman.
“Have you met the duchess?” Dorothy asked.
They were seated together in the drawing room, sharing tea and biscuits.
“No,” Bridget said, sighing. “He says that he will let me meet her when the time is right, but he has given no indication of when that will be. It is very suspicious.”
“It is,” Dorothy replied, furrowing her brow.
“I imagine he is trying to hide the cruel conditions in which he keeps the poor woman,” Bridget said.
For a moment, she was the heroine of a novel once more. She imagined bravely sneaking into the Dowager Duchess’s townhouse at night and discovering the imperiled woman locked in the attic. They would flee into the night, and?—
“Do you really believe that?” Dorothy asked quietly.
“It is a possibility,” Bridget said.
But did she reallybelieveit? That question was more difficult to answer. Her husband was cold and mysterious, but he had also proven himself capable of being kind and open.
“If you are in danger,” Dorothy said slowly. “You must tell me. If anything about His Grace makes you uncomfortable?—”
“No,” Bridget interrupted. “I do not really believe that he is unkind to his grandmother. I think it is as he says.”
Maybe.
She was mostly certain that the Dowager Duchess’s health was truly poor, but it was difficult to imagine Lewis being so devoted to the Dowager Duchess that he visited her every day.
Dorothy sighed deeply. Her eyes took on a distant look, as if her thoughts were an ocean away.
“I shall meet her soon,” Bridget said. “Lewis has said so, and I have no reason to disbelieve him. He has always been honest about everything else.”
Admittedly, the only real promise he had made her—aside from their wedding vows—was that he would give her pleasure if she was a proper duchess, and he had fulfilled that promise.
“Very well,” Dorothy said. “But if you ever have any doubts, I implore you to tell Elias or me. If you are unsafe or unhappy, you can always stay with Elias or Gerard and me.”
“I know,” Bridget said. “I can always depend on you and my brother.”
A warmth swept over her. Not everyone had the family that she had, and maybe Bridget could have been more grateful for her siblings in the past. They loved her and wanted the best for her.
“I have other obligations this morning,” Dorothy said. “I fear it is past time for me to depart.”
“I understand,” Bridget said, standing.
Dorothy also rose, her hand going to her stomach. Her condition was impossible to miss, and Bridget imagined that she would soon withdraw from polite society.
“If you need anything from me, do not hesitate to ask,” Bridget said awkwardly.
It was strange to make such an offer to Dorothy, who had always looked after her, but it felt like the right thing to say.
“I will.” Dorothy smiled in the same soft, maternal way that she had always used. “It was good to see you, Bridget.”
Bridget walked with Dorothy to the foyer and bid her sister farewell. Then, she stood in the doorway, watching as the footman assisted Dorothy into the carriage.
Once Dorothy was gone from sight, Bridget frowned and considered the state of her marriage. At present, Lewis was visiting the Dowager Duchess and based on what Bridget had observed from previous visits, her husband would return soon.
There was nothing preventing her from going to see the Dowager Duchess on her own while he was gone. What was the worst that could happen if she went to visit the Dowager Duchess, after all?The old woman already knew that Bridget was married to Lewis, and Bridget would be able to assuage all her fears about the Dowager Duchess potentially being mistreated.
Smiling, Bridget stepped into the townhouse, her eyes snapping to the maid, who happened to be standing nearby. “Have the carriage prepared. I wish to visit the Dowager Duchess.”
