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‘A visitor for you.’ Her sister spoke from the hall.
Bellona’s heart pounded. Rhys. She thrust her sewing to the side.
The quick sideways shudder of her sister’s head paused Bellona’s movements.
‘The duchess.’ Melina frowned. ‘She’s...’
‘She’s in quite high dudgeon,’ the duchess said, walking in behind Melina. Melina rolled her eyes and left.
The older woman’s skin hardly covered the bones of her face.
‘Embroidery again?’ She walked closer, the black crepe of her skirt reminding Bellona of a raven’s wings fluttering about. Her reticule matched the clothing and her bonnet completed the effect.
She peered at the sewing while opening her reticule. ‘You should conquer reading first. Then dancing. Perhaps leave the sewing to someone else.’
She held up the folded paper and tossed it on to Bellona’s sewing. ‘I received this unsigned note, but I believe it is from Rhys’s man of affairs.’ She knotted the ties of her reticule. ‘I believe the words are simple enough for you to make out. I brought it for your own good.’
‘Your kali thelisi, good will to me, is kind.’ Bellona forced her lips into a smile and refused to touch the paper, uncertain if she could read it. Refusing to let the duchess see her stumble. ‘But I was going to send my sister to tell you I am not at home.’
‘Oh, my,’ the woman said. ‘Neither am I. The stairs weakened my knees. I’ll be in bed the rest of the week.’
‘You shouldn’t overtire yourself.’
‘You’d like that, wouldn’t you—if I left?’
‘Yes. I don’t wish to be near you.’
‘The house is quiet without you. The servants seem to miss having you about. One of their own has left them.’
‘Your maid was very kind to me.’ Bellona glanced at the messy fabric beside her. If she’d known what was to happen, she would have stolen a piece of Melina’s perfect embroidery and worked on it, pretending to complete it.
‘I’m sure the staff here is also kind to you.’ The duchess looked around the room. ‘The maid does know where her loyalty lies, though.’
‘As you know yours.’
‘True. I do.’ She held her head up, again reminding Bellona of a bird. ‘I’m a duchess. I’m well suited to it. But I am a mother first and I only have one offspring left.’ She sighed. ‘Are you with child?’
‘It is a little soon to know.’ She shrugged. ‘And when I do know, I will not inform you.’
‘I will raise the child for you.’ The duchess picked a bit of fluff from her gown.
‘I will bear that in mind.’
‘I’m excellent at selecting nursemaids. I have a gift for it.’ She lowered her lids. ‘I made sure my children had the best of governesses. Ones that suited them.’
‘Perhaps you should have cared for the babies.’
The duchess frowned. ‘Child. Think about it. If you were a babe, would you want me or a governess comforting your tears? I am not suited for that duty.’ She raised a brow.
Definitely, Bellona would have chosen a servant. ‘I see.’
‘Even now, I know to put the needs of my son first and let someone else handle the task of giving him direction.’ The duchess’s chin bobbed. The lines at her eyes deepened. ‘You must go to London and speak with Rhys. He’s causing a disgrace to our name by lowering himself to squabble in public. He is not maintaining his dignity at all. You caused this by your presence and you can correct it.’
‘But it would not be—’
‘Proper?’ the duchess inserted. ‘Child. You two lost that chance already. I would hope that you could be a bit discreet. Perhaps leave your bow and arrows behind and travel in darkness.’ She examined Bellona. ‘I’ll send a quiet servant with you and you can wear my veil and dark clothing. If anyone sees you, they’ll assume I’m visiting him.’
Bellona didn’t speak. She shook her head.
‘It’s not that I particularly like you,’ the duchess continued. ‘But I think I could—even though I cannot imagine you would ever be a true duchess. But I must have grandchildren and I want them now. There is only one way I know to get them and I will have to accept someone, so it may as well be you.’ She shrugged. ‘No one’s good enough for him, but then no one was good enough for my daughter or Geoff either. You see where that has left me.’
She shook her head. ‘I could accept someone as unschooled as you because of the grandchildren.’ She leaned towards Bellona. ‘I have decided I want the babies strong most of all. I want them to survive. You would have a spirited child.’ She sniffed. ‘You’re tolerable for short lengths of time. And you sing well.’
