“You want me to...” He clenched his jaw, pushing down the anger he felt whenever his stepmother’s name was mentioned. “The woman does not deserve forgiveness, and I assure you she does not want it—she does not think there is anything to be forgiven for. I have told you why.”
She smiled. “You misunderstand here.”
“I do not.”
“You do,” she said firmly. “I know the two of you have a history. What you have failed to consider is that perhaps there are two sides to it.”
“Two sides? What are you—where is this coming from?”
“She cares for you, Hudson. She always has.” She coughed and then grimaced from the pain. “I know the two of you have never really seen eye to eye, but she has had a hard life. A misunderstood one. I really think if you sat down and spoke to her, you might come to see that you are both not so different.”
“I doubt that.”
She laughed, which had her coughing harder. “Please, Hudson...for me.” She fixed him in a pleading look, which broke Hudson’s heart because he knew that he could never say no to it.
“How about this,” he started carefully, not wanting to sound as if he was being dismissive. “Once you are feeling better, we will go and see her together. And then, if I like what she has to say, I will consider it.”
“You are so stubborn.”
“It is one of my best qualities.”
“She would say the same about herself.” She was drifting now, only half awake. He hated when she slept because he never knew when she would wake, but he also knew that at least in sleep she didn’t feel as much pain. “She is a little odd...” Florentia continued. “But there is another side to her.”
“Are you sure about that.”
“I know it...” Her eyes closed, a smile on her face. “When I saw her last week, I was surprised by how honest she was. Like you, she just needs someone to speak with. Someone who she thinks will listen.”
“Last week...” Hudson frowned. “What do you mean last week—when did you see Florentia?”
“Hmm...”
“Florentia...” Hudson touched her on the cheek; it was cold and wet. “When did you see my stepmother?”
“I had completely forgotten until earlier today,” she said with a yawn. “My memory…” Another yawn. “But she was here on the day you left me. She paid me a visit…”
The room spun about Hudson and his stomach dropped with a sudden realization. It swept through him, striking at him like a bolt of lightning that had him rocking where he sat. “She was here?”
“We shared tea and spoke of...of...” Another yawn. “Of you.” And then, as was so common, Florentia faded into a sleep from which it would be impossible to wake her.
Hudson sat staring at his wife, his body shaking as he felt it lit with a broiling heat that burned so intense he might very well have caught fire. He put the pieces together quickly, so obvious now that he could not believe he hadn’t thought of it!
My stepmother came to see Florentia on the same day she felt sick. My stepmother who had always loathed me. My stepmother who has only ever acted in her own self-interests. My stepmother...
It was not a question, but a fact. Shaking, jaw clenched, fists curled, Hudson rose from his chair. He took a moment to look upon his wife once more as she slept, and then turned and left the room for the first time in nearly a week.
He did not know what his stepmother had done. He did not know why. All he knew was that she was responsible for thesickness that had taken his wife and before this evening was through, she would pay for it.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
“Hudson, this is an unexpected surprise.” Caroline was in the library of her home, seated in a comfortable chair, using the light of a single lantern to read. Upon entering the room, she looked up and smiled to see him. “To what do I owe the pleasure?”
“Your Grace,” Hudson said with as much calm as he could muster.
“Excuse me?”
“Your Grace,” he repeated. “Only my wife and brother may call me Hudson, and seeing as you are neither, I would appreciate the courtesy.”
She sighed and folded the book she was reading. “I always forget how formal you are...” She smirked. “Your Grace. It is the surprise that did it, which surely you cannot blame me for. Why, the last time you visited me here in my humble home...” Shetilted her head as if to think. “No, that cannot be right. Surely, this is not the first time?”
