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“Well, maybe. But they might also be born out of fear or anxiety. If they are only able to keep their fear aside for a moment, they would be able to see just how great of an idea it really is.”

“Hmm…” Augusta thought for a moment. “I can see that the suggestion might be well meaning, but you answered it yourself in the beginning. We cannot get anyone to do something they do not want, and doing so would be controlling.”

“I am not controlling!” Phillipa said, defensively.

“Oh, were we talking about you?” Augusta smiled. “I think you can only argue as to why you think it is a good idea, but ultimately, the decision to go forward with it might not be yours to make, as frustrating as it might be.”

“But they… why do they need to do everything on their own?” she said, frustrated. “I only want to help.”

“You know, if you’re speaking about the duke, then you can stop referring to him as they…”

Phillipa ignored her remark. “I just wish to help. That is all I want to do, but I’m being made to feel so useless in this entire thing.”

“Maybe your support can come in the form of being agreeable?” Augusta said. “I’m sure the duke has his own reasons.”

“Yes, but I don’t agree with those reasons…”

“Do you think you might be acting a little difficult?”

Phillipa shook her head, and stood up. This wasn’t what she had wanted to hear.

“I have the perfect plan, you know and he refuses to see it,” she sighed. “I just want him to see it.”

Augusta only smiled. “I think you need to be patient.”

“I’ve run out of it,” she sighed. “It’s hard being patient when my way is quicker, and better.”

Thankfully, Augusta stayed true to her initial promise and didn’t request for details on what it was exactly.

“Maybe I can get your mind off of things, in the meanwhile,” Augusta said. “We can go out to the shops, if you like and do some browsing for dresses. You are to host a lot balls in the future, and would be nice to look at some gowns.”

Phillipa nearly rolled her eyes.

“I am not interested in that.”

“Then what else?” she asked. “I can invite to over to our estate, and we can go on a long walk. There is a lovely lake behind our estate.”

“I am not interested in lakes either.”

“Are you interested in anything that isn’t your husband?” Augusta had said it teasingly, but it felt sobering for Phillipa to hear it.

When had she turned into this person? Whose entire world only just revolved around one person?

“You are right,” she said. “You know, in a way, this might be the best advice you have given me all evening. I need to… keep myself occupied with the things that are important to me.”

Outside of her husband, the most important thing to her was the orphanages.

“The orphanages,” Augusta said.

Phillipa looked out the window. It seemed like that life was going on outside, even though she felt so stuck in her own. She drew in a deep breath.

“It would be a good idea for me to make a visit to the orphanages tomorrow. By any chance, would you be free? I think you could come with me. I can introduce you to some of the children. I think you will love it.”

Augusta considered it for a moment.

“Would it help you get your mind off things?” she said.

“I think so,” Phillipa nodded. “It would help me a great deal.”