“Is he really as heartless as people say?” Bethany asked.
She smiled and shook her head. “Not at all.”
Amelia grinned. “Then he’s falling in love with you! Oh, how wonderful! It is only natural he would fall for you.”
Marina felt a touch of wistfulness at the thought. “No, I would not say that. There are times when it seems like he might kiss me, or care for me romantically. But that is probably wishful thinking on my part.”
Both of her sisters looked disappointed. “How sad,” Amelia said.
“It’s all right,” Marina said quickly. “He is kind to me. And he loves his daughter. He just wants what is best for her. Last year was hard on both of them.”
“What truly happened?” Bethany asked, her face lit up with interest. “The ton was full of so many conflicting stories last year.”
“I will tell you, but not to give you fresh gossip.” She gave her younger sister a stern look. “Understand?”
Bethany rolled her eyes, but she was smiling at the same time. “Authority looks good on you. I daresay it’s a much better role for you than the silent, passive ghost you played for our parents.”
Amelia’s eyes widened. “Bethany, there is no need for such insults.”
Marina smiled. “No, it’s all right. Perhaps I have gotten a little more authoritative now that I’m Lilly’s stepmother.”
“Yes, and I meant it as a compliment,” Bethany said, looking a little peeved. “Now, tell us what happened. Please.”
“Well, he certainly did not poison the late duchess,” Marina said. “It is unfortunate that such a rumor got started.” She bit her lip, wondering how much she could tell without calling into question Lilly’s heritage. “It was a marriage of convenience,” she said finally. “A year before she died, they separated by Her Grace’s request. The late duchess was living in an apartment in London. She wanted nothing to do with Evan or Lilly. She did not even tell him when she was starting to feel poorly. She managed to arrange visits with a physician without her husband finding out. It was a shock to both of them when they received word that she had fallen ill and passed away.”
There. No mention of a secret lover or an affair. They will not suspect Lilly to be potentially illegitimate.
“That’s horrible!” Amelia said. “How could she abandon her family in such a way?”
“I do not understand either, to be honest. I understand being frustrated with having no choice in who you marry, but …” She could not imagine leaving Evan or Lilly. The little girl was sweet and a pleasure to spend time with. And Evan, for all of his faults, had given her a home and shown her more respect than her parents ever did. Even if he never loved her, she could learn to be content with her lot in life here.
Well, perhaps not content. But I cannot imagine ever being so unhappy that I would run away with another man.
“I cannot believe she did not tell him when she started to fall ill,” Bethany said. “Surely she would have reached out, if only to pay for the physician.”
“He gave her a generous allowance,” Marina said. “She would have had more than enough to live comfortably and acquire a physician without writing to him.” She would know because she had the same allowance. She just did not know what to do with the money. It was not like she had to buy new ball gowns and jewelry when she did not appear in society.
“The poor girl,” Amelia said softly.
“She does not know that her mother abandoned her, so please do not say anything to her about any of this,” Marina said.
“We won’t,” Amelia said. Bethany nodded, looking solemn.
Marina relaxed. “Thank you. It has been an interesting few weeks, and not without its trials, but I’m happy to be here with them. Evan wants to protect his daughter, which is why he keeps her here at all times. After all, he does not want to expose her to the same people who say such nasty things about him, nor does he want everyone to remind Lilly of her mother’s death.” She looked out the window to see Lilly chasing after Prince William, who was running wide circles around the twins.
Bethany smiled as she exchanged a look with Amelia. “I never thought you and the duke would get along so well. Are you sure there is no chance for romance in the future? You could give Lilly a little brother or sister.”
Marina shook her head even as her cheeks heated up from her sister’s talk about having children. “No, there’s no chance of that. Yes, my opinion of him is much warmer than it was before we married. It takes a while to get to know a person after all. But I doubt there will be an heir in the near future.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Evan watched Lilly during dinner. She was smiling, but also so tired that her eyes were drooping as she finished her food. After dinner, the Shirley sisters prepared to leave.
“Thank you for your hospitality, Your Grace,” Amelia said, curtsying at the entrance of the dining room.
He inclined his head. “I am glad all of you could make it.”
Bethany curtsied. “I cannot wait to come back. Today was marvelous.”
