She could have lied and told herself that it was the excitement of the new arrival that had kept her from the work. Except that Mr. Banfield had not come around since that first day when she found him in the library. He’d been busy, settling in with the servants, learning about new duties with her brother. She’d only seen him once or twice in passing, and though she’d felt him watching her from time to time, he hadn’t bothered her.
No, her own thoughts were guilty of that, but not the man, himself. But now the other guests had arrived. Lizzie had watched their carriages roll onto the drive that afternoon and the friends tumble out. She’d watched the usual warmth and brotherhood between Hugh and Robert and Ewan. Observed the laughter between the couples and the true friendship and bond. And then she’d sat up just a little higher and watched as Morgan shook his brother’s hand with no more connection than he had with Ewan or Hugh. They weren’t close, that was clear.
She jerked her head up at the memory and got to her feet. It was none of her business what the situation was between Banfield and Robert. Or Banfield and anyone else, for that matter. He was her brother’s employee, nothing more.
She walked toward her escritoire in the corner of the room, ready to write down a list of things to do for the garden, when there was a light knock on her door.
Amelia ducked her head into the room. “There you are!” she said, face bright with pleasure.
Lizzie shrugged her thoughts away and forced a smile in return. “Were you looking for me?”
Amelia worried her lip a moment, and then stepped into the study and shut the door behind herself. She leaned against the barrier a moment and Lizzie felt her sizing her up. Fretting over her. The focused attention was uncomfortable and she shifted beneath it.
“Are you well?” Amelia asked at last and with great care to her voice, as if she thought just the question would shatter Lizzie.
Lizzie fought the urge to sigh. She wasn’t glass, no matter what her family thought. “Of course,” she said, and broadened her false smile a fraction.
Amelia’s brow wrinkled. “It is just that you have been so quiet since our arrival in Brighthollow.”
“I’m always quiet,” Lizzie said, clenching a fist at her side gently and trying to maintain eye contact when what she wanted to do was run away.
“So you aren’t…troubled?” Amelia pressed.
“No!” Lizzie burst out, a little too loudly, a little too quickly. She ducked her head and repeated it, this time with more control. “No. Not at all. There has been so much excitement with all the newcomers, I’m sure it’s just that.”
Amelia nodded slowly, but from her expression, Lizzie wasn’t certain her sister-in-law believed her explanation. But she didn’t pursue it and instead smiled brightly. “Speaking of newcomers, I’m sure you heard that Robert and Katherine and Ewan and Charlotte have arrived.”
“Yes,” Lizzie said, and now she could breathe again, for this topic was far less fraught. “I saw from my window a short while ago.”
“Well, we were about to have tea once the ladies settled in. Won’t you come join us?”
Lizzie nodded and linked her arm through Amelia’s without hesitation. “Of course.”
Amelia led her out of her study and down the hall toward the parlor. As they entered, Lizzie smiled. It was all laid out perfectly, but of course it would be. Amelia had taken to her duties as duchess with enthusiasm in the three years she and Hugh had been married. It was as if she were born for the role…and for the man. Despite a difficult beginning, now it felt like everything was in place for the pair.
“Later I want to talk to you about something,” Amelia said. “Hugh and I wish to discuss it with you together.”
Lizzie’s goodwill fled as she pivoted to face her friend. “What is it about?”
Before Amelia could answer, the door to the parlor opened and Katherine, the Duchess of Roseford, and Charlotte, the Duchess of Donburrow, entered together, laughing at once. Whatever Amelia was going to say was lost as the two women rushed forward, greeting Lizzie and talking about what they wanted in their tea.
Although Lizzie felt anxious as she glanced at Amelia and wondered what in the world she could want to discuss with her, it was impossible not to feel comfortable in the room with the three women. All of Hugh’s friends had married exceedingly well, to women who were perfectly matched to them. Katherine and Charlotte were no exceptions. Katherine kept the once-wild Duke of Roseford in line, and the man seemed to adore her for it. And Charlotte had developed an intricate hand language with the Duke of Donburrow, who had been unable to speak since birth.
Both women were kind and welcoming, funny and sharp. And though their friendship was more firmly with Amelia, Lizzie never felt anything but welcomed by any of the duchesses in their friend circle.
Welcomed, yes. Though not exactly comfortable. After all, the common factor for them all wasn’t their position, but the fact that they were all in love. Every duchess was head over heels for her duke. They all had faith that the future was a beautiful thing where that love would not,could notdie.
And that was what kept Lizzie on the fringes of their circle more than anything. She wasn’t like them. She never would be.
“And how is Morgan settling in?” Katherine asked as she took her cup from Amelia with a smile. Lizzie stiffened at the mention of their unwanted new addition. “Robert has worried about him greatly, though he likes to pretend he isn’t fully invested in his half-brother’s success.”
“He has settled in well enough,” Amelia said. “He’s only been here a few days, but has been studying Hugh’s books.”
“Tell me more about him,” Charlotte said. “I’m endlessly fascinated by Robert’s pursuit of his half-siblings.”
Katherine nodded. “Well, Robert’s father is where they all got their wild streak. He was an unkind man, but he must have had charm like his sons and daughters, for he never had a deficit of lovers at his door.” She glanced at Lizzie. “I’m sorry, my dear.”
Lizzie shrugged one shoulder even though her throat felt like it would close at the uncouth subject. “I’m fine.”
