“I did not sleep well.”
“Hm.” He reached for his tea. “Where is your mother?”
Theodora’s throat tightened. “I… I am not sure.”
Her father frowned. “She is never late for breakfast.”
Theodora pressed her knees together beneath the table, trying to keep her body still. “Perhaps she is unwell.”
“Unwell?” he repeated, as though the word offended him. “She was perfectly fine last night.”
Theodora swallowed nervously and reached for a piece of bread. “People can become unwell overnight.”
Lord Dowell set his cup down heavily and made Theodora jump in her seat.
“Do not get smart with me, girl.”
“I was not?—”
“Is there something you wish to tell me?” he cut her off.
Theodora’s breath caught. “No, Father.”
“Look at me when I am talking to you!”
She tore her eyes away from her plate and looked at him. He leaned back in his chair, eyes narrowing at her.
“You are behaving strangely.”
Theodora felt her pulse quicken. “I am simply tired.”
He didn’t believe her. She could see it in the way his jaw tightened, and his fingers tapped restlessly. An awkward silencestretched between them. Theodora’s stomach churned and a wave of nausea washed over her.
Surely, Mother would not leave me with him.
But she imagined that her mother was just as upset with her as she was with her father. Afterall, Theodora kept his secret for so long; anyone would feel betrayed. Her heart shattered. Theodora accepted her fate and allowed the guilt to eat away at her.
“Are you just going to sit there?” Her father’s annoyed voice brought her back to reality.
“Get up and go find your mother!” he spat.
“Y…yes, Father.” Theodora pushed away from the breakfast table and got up on unsteady legs.
“That will not be necessary.”
Her mother’s voice stilled her. Theodora closed her eyes and thanked the heavens that she was not abandoned but her hope was dashed when she opened her eyes and Lady Dowell appeared in the doorway.
Her mother had her travel cloak on and a small suitcase in her hand. It was the usual attire she wore before escaping to Bath, but Theodora knew that this time she was not going on a short journey or to dip her toes in the healing waters. A tear escaped her eye, and she wiped it away before anyone noticed.
“My dear, are you?—”
Theodora’s head whipped around to her father.
“I am not your dear.” Lady Dowell cut him off coldly.
Lord Dowell froze halfway from his chair.
“What is the matter, Diana?”
