He sat up, looked over the pillow wall at her, and she saw him shake his head in the dark as if she was hopeless. “Do you remember everything?”
She admitted, “I’m trying to let go of grudges.”
He laughed. She felt him lean against the pillow wall as if reaching for her, but he did not touch her. Instead, he said, “I’m starting to think your name is lyrical. Lovely actually.”
She fell asleep with a smile on her face.
Chapter Thirteen
The Goat Inn, St. Albans. On road to London—watching Clarissa sleep: I envy her peace. I’m as hard as an iron pike.
—Book of Mars
The next day, Sunday, promised to be a good one for travel. They planned to leave for London after Sunday services since Clarissa insisted she must attend and wished to take Dora with her. She secretly had hoped Mars would accompany them.
He didn’t. Instead, he said he had to see to some paperwork.
His decision was unfortunate because the matrons and everyone else in Maidenshop were in attendance and they fussed over Dora, who behaved like an angel. No mother could have been prouder.
After the service, Clarissa took a moment to search out the marker of her mother’s grave.Dandelions and grass were encroaching on it. She bent down, setting Dora on the grass before pulling the weeds away.
A moment later, a footstep came up behind her and then a woman cleared her voice, asking for Clarissa’s attention. Clarissa looked up to see the Dowager Duchess of Winderton, holding her reticule in front of her with two hands as if she felt awkward.
Clarissa picked up Dora and rose to give a curtsey to the older woman. The dowager was truly the unofficial leader of the Matrons of Maidenshop. She and Clarissa had greeted each other in church but the dowager was now searching her out privately.
Dora immediately reached for the gold chain around Clarissa’s neck. She seemed fascinated by the medallion and had teethed on it through the services.
“She likes it,” the dowager said, nodding to busy Dora.
“As do I. Thank you, Your Grace.” Clarissa had thanked her at the wedding breakfast but knew her manners and did so again.
The dowager waved her words away before saying, “I wanted a moment alone.”
It wasn’t a question. Clarissa answered as if it was. “Yes, Your Grace.”
“I’ve taken great pleasure at seeing how well you turned out. In many ways, we’ve all felt like your mothers.”
“I’ve appreciated your wisdom and support, Your Grace.”
“I sought you out to tell you how pleased I am with this marriage. You and Marsden have much in common, you know.”
That comment caught Clarissa off guard. “That we are both headstrong?”
The duchess laughed. “You are both resilient souls, and speaking of souls, I saw you couldn’t encourage him to come to services.”
“He is resistant.”
“Marsden hasn’t entered the church doors since the duel. His father died in his arms. Very sad. He was at that age where young men take everything hard. I know. My son lost his father at about the same age and he has been a challenge since.” She spoke the last more to herself. Clarissa thought it wise not to comment.
The dowager drew a deep breath and released it. “You are going to be good for Marsden. You have both been adrift in the world. It is hard to be alone. My widowhood has taught me that. Take care of him, my lady. Men can be somewhat fragile creatures. They don’t always understand what is important in life. We women have to gently lead them to it.”
“I believe it would be hard to lead Marsden anywhere he doesn’t want to go.”
“Oh, you will manage. You are a handsome couple. It was almost as if you were meant to be. And, if you will take advice from an older woman who also had her marriage arranged for her, then let me urge you to let down your guard. He’s a good man. Even when he chargesoff in the wrong direction. We all do from time to time.”
On that note, she walked away at a stately pace, moving toward the headstone marking her husband’s grave.
He’s a good man.“She might be right,” Clarissa whispered to Dora. The baby was too occupied with the chain to answer.
