“No.”
“Highly unusual.”
Lewis raised an eyebrow. “I live my life, and Bridget lives hers. I try to give her some measure of independence.”
“But to not know where sheis.”
Lewis sighed. “If you must know, we quarreled last night. I assume that she left early to avoid me, and I cannot fault her for that. Even the staff do not know where she has gone. She insisted on leaving unaccompanied and would tell no one where she was going.”
“Unaccompanied?” His grandmother’s face twisted into an expression of horror.
“Bridget is a willful, young woman. She goes wherever she likes, regardless of the consequences,” Lewis said. “Impropriety has never been of any particular concern to her.”
“Impropriety?Thatis your concern?”
Lewis sipped his tea. “Of course.”
That was not entirely true. Bridget’s distraught face had kept him awake throughout the night. He had never even returned to his bed. Instead, Lewis had passed the night in his study, resisting the impulse to return to Bridget and apologize for his refusal.
“The streets of London are no place for a young lady to wander unaccompanied!” his grandmother exclaimed, wringing her hands. “What if some harm befalls her? There are so many villains roaming the London streets who would rejoice in bringing harm to some innocent, young Duchess!”
Lewis sighed. “I am certain that Bridget is fine.”
His grandmother was right. London could be unsafe for an unaccompanied young lady, but somehow, he could not imagine any harm befalling Bridget. She was too clever to come to harm.
“How can you be certain?” his grandmother asked. “You do not even know where she went! It is midday. She could be hours away from London! Oh!”
His grandmother leaped to her feet and paced the floor. Her entire body quivered like a leaf caught in a gale.
“I promise that Bridget is fine,” Lewis said. “There is much that you do not know about her, Grandmother. I have only let you see the best of her.”
His grandmother halted abruptly and stared at him in disbelief. “What are you talking about?”
Lewis sighed. “My wife is selfish and scheming. She cares for no one except herself.”
“That is untrue.”
“It isentirelytrue,” Lewis argued. “Ever since we married, Bridget has tried to ruin our marriage. If she is not upset and avoiding me, she is doubtlessly conspiring against me.”
“You are wrong.”
“Am I?” Lewis asked bitterly. “I know my wife far better than you do, Grandmother.”
The woman put a hand to her forehead and inhaled deeply. She slowly lowered herself into her chair. “I have become fond of Bridget.”
“I know you have.”
Lewis’s chest twinged with guilt. His grandmother had no acquaintances or friends except for Bridget, and Lewis risked taking away the one person who had made his grandmother’s life a little brighter.
“I am not finished speaking,” his grandmother said, fixing him with a stern expression.
Lewis blinked, taken aback. He sipped his tea and said nothing. His grandmother had not used that tone with him in a very long time.
“You might know Bridget better than I do,” she continued. “However, you also do not give Bridget her due. She is kind and patient and thoughtful.”
“She is good at pretending to be those things.”
“You do not really believe that,” his grandmother said. “At least, I hope you do not. Bridget has not only come to visit me every day, but she has visited on days when you have not. She helped me redecorate. For the first time in decades, I have changed how the townhouse looks without being consumed by feelings of distress!”
