The housekeeper released a pent-up sigh as she twisted her apron in her fingers. “Lady Kenbridge—the duke’s deceased wife—had been carrying on with another man before and especially after she married Lord Kenbridge.”
Louisa gasped and slapped her hand over her mouth.Thisshe had not expected at all.
“Nobody knew for the longest time,” Mrs. Smythe continued, “until the nursemaid caught them. She was let go the next day, but not without saying something to his lordship first.” She shook her head. “I don’t know what exactly happened, but later that day is when Lady Kenbridge was trampled by a horse and died. Something snapped inside the duke, and he was never the same after that. Before this, he had been the most attentive father any child would want to have, but after the death of his wife, he grew distant. Rarely did he visit the nursery to spend time with those children.”
Louisa couldn’t believe any of this, not that she thought the housekeeper had made up the story, but because Louisa couldn’t understand why any woman would not stay faithful to a man like Trevor. “Oh, this is such a dreadful, heart-wrenching story, Mrs. Smythe. Do you think he suspected the children were not his?”
“Indeed I do,” the housekeeper whispered.
“That would explain why he acted so surprised at what I said earlier.”
“Yes, that does make sense.” Mrs. Smythe smiled. “But you are correct, you know. Those adorable children look a lot like the duke. He has just not been able to see it due to the circumstances surrounding his wife’s infidelity.”
“I certainly understand that.” Louisa rubbed her forehead. “That poor man, indeed. My heart just breaks for what he had to endure.”
“As does mine.” Mrs. Smythe touched Louisa’s forearm. “Now please do not tell anyone of this. That is spreading gossip, which the master abhors.”
“I shall not say a word. I thank you for confiding in me.” Louisa smiled.
She sneaked back into the nursery and to the rocking chair without disturbing the children. Closing her eyes, she sighed heavily. Poor Trevor. How could any man be expected to tolerate such treatment from his wife? He must have been so confused. So heartbroken. So untrusting. She didn’t blame him if he never trusted another woman again.
A pain pierced her chest, and she gasped. Head throbbing with uncertainty, she sat up and looked toward the door. What if… Oh, dear heavens, what if he didn’t trust her? What if there was something in her past that could destroy her position here at the estate? Macgregor was certainly someone to be feared, but would he ever harm her now?
Taking deep breaths, she massaged her head, hoping to alleviate the pressure. No matter what happened after she regained her memory, shemustbe honest with Trevor. That was the only way she could keep him and the twins in her life.
But thinking it and doing it sounded impossible. What if she had not been an honest person in her past? Trevor would never forgive her.
Chapter Twenty
Trevor now walkedwith a bounce in his step. Happiness flourished in his chest as he headed for the nursery the next day. Spending time with the children was foremost on his mind. Seeing Louisa came in at a close second.
He didn’t know at what point he’d begun to have tender feelings for her, but each day, these feelings expanded, and although he still hesitated to think of theLword, he did care for her and couldn’t imagine what his life would be like without seeing her on a daily basis. She had opened his eyes to many things since that first day, and it surprised him even now as to how blind he’d been. How foolish. But no more. He now had the courage to become the man he’d always wanted to be.
Trusting.
Loving.
And understanding.
Reaching the nursery, he stopped and smoothed his palms down his waistcoat and adjusted his cravat before softly opening the door. Thankfully, the twins were awake. Louisa sat on the floor in back of Amanda as she brushedhis daughter’s—how he loved thinking this now—hair. All three of them looked up at him, and all three smiled.
“Am I interrupting something?” he asked.
“Of course not, Your Grace. Do not be silly.” Louisa tied the ribbon in Amanda’s hair and stood. “You are very welcome to come in the nursery any time you please.”
“What I would like to do right now,” he said, bending and scooping up his children, “is to take my favorite people on a drive with me.”
At first, the expressions on Adam and Amanda’s face were of fright, but as soon as he settled them in each arm, they grinned and hugged him tight. Tears stung his eyes, but he blinked to keep them away. Now was not the time to become so emotional. In private was when he’d do this, but definitely not in front of Louisa or his children.
He looked at her and winked. “Does that sound pleasing to you?”
“You… you wish me to go riding with you?”
“Of course. You are the children’s nursemaid, are you not?”
She chuckled. “Yes, I am.”
“Then collect the wraps and I shall summon the carriage.”
