Her success with Melody was turning out to be pure luck. The baby was probably only making a statement in front of the nursemaid, if that could be a believable motivation for such a young child.
Perhaps it was the emotional tension and exhausting schedule of taking care of Melody that had the duchess completely depleted.
Days. It had been days since Richard sought her last. He had been out with the marquess to find some leads, but she had not heard anything.
At least, that was what she told herself when her mind flitted to him—that she only needed to know if he had discovered anything new. Still, something in her might be triggering Melody’s feeling of unease. The baby whimpered and fussed, and her mere presence did not work this time.
“Your Grace, perhaps a bit of fresh air and some gentle rocking will work for dear Melody. We can walk her in a stroller at the park,” Mrs. Hughes suggested.
“Oh, I would love to take a walk, too. I’ve missed the outdoors,” Victoria said, feeling a jolt of longing.
While she had wanted to get married and have her own household, she also missed the time when she was young and carefree.
Sheneededair. The house, which was always a place of refuge, had become a fortress. A gilded prison, even.
So, Victoria went to dress with utmost care, choosing a purple walking dress. It was tailored and severe, just enough to ward off the ton.
Perhaps the duke, as well.
After taking a long, deep breath, she knocked at the duke’s study door.
“Enter,” he commanded.
Such a voice would normally make her tremble with annoyance, but the way he said the word made her tingle all over.
Suddenly, she got the sense that approaching him was not a good idea. Still, she had to.
As she entered his study, her eyes met his for a brief moment, and then, Victoria tried to look at the study’s mahogany furniture, the leather-bound tomes on the shelves, the framed maps on the walls … anything but him.
Richard stood by the fireplace. She flushed when his eyes veered towards her once more and stayed there. His gaze was so intense that she almost felt it grazing her skin, softly, slowly, like a whisper of a question.
“I’m taking Melody to Hyde Park for a stroll,” she blurted out.
“What? No,” Richard replied, his body suddenly rigid. “We have not announced her presence to the public yet.”
“Mrs. Hughes recommended it. Melody has been fussing quite a bit. Not to mention that I would also love to see the sun.”
“Then I shall have to join you,” he said firmly.
“You will what?” Victoria spluttered. “No, that is entirely unnecessary. Besides, I can see that you have work to do.”
“That’s where you’re wrong,” he retorted. “Itisnecessary. Think about it: if you are seen alone with the child, the ton will speculate, as they’re wont to do. We need to show a united front.It must look like the natural order, as if we are used to this, and that we have nothing to hide.”
A united front?She snorted in her mind.
She found it a ridiculous notion. And yet, her mind wandered back to little Melody. If people gossiped about her at this age …
Even though Victoria had no idea what she’d do with Richard by her side during this promenade, he did have a point.
She sighed. “All right, then.”
Richard nodded. “Good. Now, I wanted to let you know that I’ve got some good news. Jonathan and I have made progress in our search. We found a name: Mrs. Tallow. Apparently, she was present at Melody’s christening. We believe she might know the baby’s mother.”
A soft, yet cold disappointment spread over her chest. Her brows furrowed. Why was she disappointed? Didn’t she want the little girl to be reunited with her mother?
Casting the peculiar feelings aside, Victoria plastered a polite smile on her face, the one she’d seen her mother use so often. It felt too stiff on her face.
“Oh. That is good news indeed. I’m glad to hear that you’re making progress,” she said at last.
