A knock on the door interrupted her mother’s frantic plea, only for her to sigh and turn to the door, “Enter.”
A young woman in a maid’s clothes came in to curtsey. “I apologize for any interruption, but His Grace is about to call the breakfast function to order.”
“Thank you,” Ophelia said, standing, her dark green velvet dress matched with her turban. “We’ll be there soon.”
The maid curtsied again and then headed out of the room. As Ophelia turned to Ariadne, she turned away, unable to look her mother straight in the eyes.
“We do not want to be late,” Ophelia said while looking straight ahead.
“Go ahead of me,” she said.
“Ariadne,” her mother said, then paused, “When you have your own children, you’ll understand what I did.”
Ariadne shook her head slowly, “No, mother, I do not think I ever will, and if I do, it will take me some time. Please, give me a moment.”
Pausing at the door, Ophelia’s face fell as she said, “Please forgive me, Ariadne. If there had been any other choice, I would have chosen it.”
Chapter Five
Before heading down, Cedric went to Emily’s schoolroom to make sure her governess would keep his daughter occupied for the day.
The schoolroom was a long room looking out over the grounds, filled with bookcases and cupboards of writing materials, detailed maps of England and Europe, and a globe that stood on a brass stand.
Mrs. Grimes, an older woman in her fifties, nodded agreeably. “I will make sure of it, Your Grace.”
Emily looked immediately curious, which made Cedric make a mental note to explain things to her later that day when all the smoke had cleared from his implosion.
“Emily,” he gave his child thelook. “Do not try any of your usual shenanigans to weasel out of your studies.”
She gave him the picture of innocence. “I never do such things, Father.”
“You have,” he said. “And the staff is aware of your antics. Do not pull any of them today. Be a good girl, and I will buy twice the books you want this weekend at Hatchards. If you do not, you will be rereading those books to the end of the year. Understood?”
As unethical as it was to bribe her, Cedric knew Emily would be daydreaming about those books for hours.
Her shoulders slumped. “Yes, Father.”
Nodding, he headed down the corridor, heading down to the dining room. He rounded a corner and came across Lady Ariadne staring out one of the big bay windows. The girl looked utterly defeated.
For the first time, Cedric considered her clearly.
She still was not that ravishing beauty in the arresting, demanding sense. The first word that came to his mind was quiet.
She was quiet.
Her dark brown hair was simply arranged in a chignon, no jewelry beyond a pair of modest earrings, her blue eyes were delicate, her face was oval, and her mouth looked soft. Therewere faint shadows under her eyes, the kind that came from too little sleep, and her skin had a slight pallor.
There was a small line between her brows, as if she frowned or concentrated often.
“Considering running away, Lady Ariadne?” he asked.
She turned and curtsied. “No, Your Grace. I am not one whose life has drastic turns, so you must understand how shocked I am with this sudden twist in my life.”
If twists of life were paid in coin, I won the windfall.
His snort was utterly derisive, “Is marrying my brother that much of a hardship?”
Her lips thinned. “I mean no offense, Your Grace, but your brother is a rake. It is no stretch of the imagination to think I would not be delighted to marry one who will have a horde of mistresses in his bed every night.”
