“It does not matter what they believe,” Catherine said with more confidence than she felt. “I am a duchess now, and I have access to a rather significant amount of funds.”
“So long as your husband permits it,” Louisa pointed out, her lips pursed.
‘If your activities require more of me than supplying funding, I will consider them a nuisance.’
The Duke’s green eyes flashed in Catherine’s mind as his words echoed in her head. She absentmindedly touched her chest, still unsettled by the memory of how close they had been.
“As far as the Duke is concerned, money is no object. He raised no objection to any of my expenses so far. Not with the renovations, nor the purchasing of any equipment for hobbies, nor dresses. Nothing.” Catherine gestured around them, highlighting the new comfortable furniture, the Wedgwood tea set, and the fresh paint. “And given that it is his absence causing the damage to my reputation, I should think that he will not begrudge my trying to remedy it.”
“Exactly! He should be here fixing the mess he has made,” Fiona growled, her eyes flashing with anger. “It is all well and good for a bachelor to disappear mysteriously, but he is a duke and a married man. It just adds to the scandal already surrounding you.”
“You really should write to him, Kitty, I am sure he—” Harriet began, but Catherine cut her off.
“No, Hettie. I do not need his help.”
I do not want his help.Who knew what the Duke’s aid would cost her? Catherine shook her head emphatically.
“Kitty, some of these rumors are rather serious.” Fiona leaned in toward her and took Catherine’s hand in her own. “I am worried about you.”
Catherine squeezed Fiona’s hand. “I know, but I will be all right. No one has any proof of anything; their rumors cannot hurt me.”
“I still do not understand why you will not just write to the man and ask him to make an appearance. That is all it would take to put this to bed.” Louisa gave her a frank look. “He is your husband.”
Catherine sighed. “He made it perfectly clear that I was not to bother him except in a matter of life and death. I hardly think this gossip qualifies.”
“Kitty, I really– ” Louisa began, but her sentence was interrupted by a knock at the drawing room door.
“Enter,” Catherine called.
A maid appeared in the doorway, dropping into a low curtsy. Her hair was in disarray, and her cheeks were flushed as though she had come running toward them.
“Are you all right?” Catherine stood and moved toward the maid.
The girl nodded and gestured back in the direction she had come. “Forgive my appearance, Your Grace, and the interruption, but there is a woman from the orphanage who is here to see you. She has a… a child with her.”
Catherine frowned. “Surely if she is here for a donation, Mrs. Danvers can take the details, and I will arrange the funds.”
The maid’s face paled, and she shook her head. “She is insisting that she must speak to you. Well, actually, she is asking for His Grace, but as he is not here…”
She heard a commotion at the front door, and Catherine felt every hair on her body stand on end. “What is going on?”
She took off toward the front door. As she approached, she saw Mrs. Danvers looking paler than a ghost as she gaped at a tall woman with a pinched face and wisps of gray hair. At the sound of their approaching footsteps, Mrs. Danvers curtsied, and the footman bowed.
The stranger from the orphanage followed suit. “I take it you are the Duchess of Coldmere?”
“I am.” Catherine inclined her head toward the woman. “And you are?”
“I am Mrs. Caversham from St. Margaret’s Home.” The woman’s voice creaked with each word.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance. And what exactly is it that brings you to my door?” Catherine asked.
The woman’s eyes widened. “You are not aware?”
“Clearly not.” Catherine gave the woman a tight smile.
“That… Well, that is rather unexpected.” Mrs. Caversham swallowed. “I received word from the Coldmere estate that I was to bring Oliver to this house to live under the care of his family. I assumed that as mistress of the house, you would have been aware of His Grace’s orders.”
“His... family?” Catherine canted her head toward Mrs. Caversham.
