“I do not understand. Why would Evander marry someone like her? Is she not already married?” Nora asked.
Guilt and sorrow speared through Bridget’s chest, and once more, she feared she had made a mistake in accepting Adrian’s proposal. She had been warned by Adrian that his mother’s nerves had suffered a strain since his older brother’s death, but she had not realized the depth of the issue until that very moment.
“Perhaps I should take my leave,” Bridget offered.
“No,” Elara quickly replied, then gave her a pleading look for patience before she looked back to her mother and took her hand.
“Mama, Evander is dead, remember?” Elara said in an incredibly gentle tone. “This is Adrian’s wife.”
Nora turned to Bridget with a narrowed gaze.
“Yes,” she said, her voice hollow. “That is how I know you. Adrian said your husband killed my Evander. You are the reason he is dead! You have some nerve showing your face in my home!”
“I am so very sorry for your loss, Your Grace,” Bridget offered, curtsying deeply. “I realize now that the circumstances of Adrian and my marriage must certainly be confusing and not at all ideal. Please do forgive me, I shall go. I did not mean to upset anyone.”
“Bridget, please, wait,” Elara insisted, darting her eyes to Bridget before returning to Nora. “Mama, I need you to listen to me, please,” Elara pleaded with Nora. “Bridget is not responsible for her late husband’s actions, and she certainly had no hand in Evander’s death. She is a woman of her own mind and heart, just as you and I are.”
Bridget held her breath, unsure of what was about to happen as Nora looked from Elara to Bridget, then to Elara again. Then, to her utter surprise, Nora let out a mirthful laugh.
“Of course, you are right, my darling,” Nora agreed, patting Elara’s hand.
Bridget exhaled, dizzy with relief, and she smiled along with Nora.
“Evander is so strong, he would never let himself be killed by such a lowly man,” Nora went on. “He will find it all very amusing when he returns.”
The room suddenly went so silent that a pin could have been dropped, and it would have been heard from upstairs.
“Your Grace,” Bridget began to say, but she was at a loss for words. She threw a pleading look at Elara, who looked just as worried.
“Mama, I fear you are confused,” Elara said gently, her sorrow evident in her voice. “Evanderisgone. He is not coming back.”
“No!”Nora exclaimed, her voice trembling as she pulled her hand from Elara’s. “He most certainly is not! Evander? Evander!” She began to shout.
“I should take her to bed,” Elara said, tears pricking her eyes as she looked at Bridget. “I am so sorry about this. She is fine most of the time.”
“No, please do not apologize,” Bridget quickly countered.
“She is not herself sometimes,” Elara added, trying to capture her mother’s hand again.
Nora swatted it away, and she turned a glare toward Bridget.
“You.What have you done?” she whispered venomously, then shouted. “What have you done with my son!”
“Nothing, Your Grace, I swear it!” Bridget replied earnestly.
“Mama, please,” Elara now begged as she grabbed Nora’s arm. “Let me help you to bed. You are just tired is all. Nothing a nice rest will not cure.”
“Get her out!” Nora shouted as Elara led her out of the parlor. “Get her out of my house! I do not want to ever see her again!”
Bridget remained frozen as she heard Elara’s soft pleas begging her mother to calm down as the two disappeared into the hall. Her heart went out not just to Nora, but also to Elara and Adrian. She had known, from the moment she had met Adrian, that Evander had been an important part of his life, but it was only now that she understood how fundamental the late Duke had been to the entire family.
Bridget’s jaw began to ache with that familiar pain as she ground her teeth together, worried as to what to do. It was clear that Adrian held no ill will against her. Elara had no such feelings either. Yet it was very clear that the dowager duchess held Bridget responsible for Evander’s death, and in Nora’s condition, Bridget very much doubted she could be convinced otherwise.
I should have known better than to believe this marriage could be anything other than too good to be true.
Forcing herself out of her frozen state, Bridget left the parlor and headed toward her room. As hopeful as her marriage to Adrian had begun to feel, it was painfully clear in that moment that it could not endure.
Chapter 20
