“Thank you,” his mother murmured. “I am sorry that my emotions are getting the best of me.”
“You have no reason to apologize,” Colin rushed to assure her. “The wounds are still raw for all of us.”
His mother abruptly rose. “I’m afraid I will need a moment to collect myself.”
Colin rose and watched as his mother swiftly walked out of the room.
John spoke up. “At times, I hear her crying in her bedchamber.”
“I wish there was a way to help her.”
“She lost both her husband and her son in a short period of time,” John said. “She just needs time to grieve properly.”
Colin stared at the empty doorway, knowing there were some things he couldn’t fix. And that greatly bothered him.
* * *
Arabella pulledthe thread through the needle’s eye as she sat across from her grandmother. They had been working on needlework for the past hour, and she was growing dreadfully bored. Perhaps it was time to adjourn to the library and select a book to read.
Her grandmother must have noticed her restlessness. “Whatever is the matter?” she asked.
“I’m bored.”
Her grandmother chuckled. “I’m afraid I can’t help you with that, dear.”
Arabella glanced over at the window. “Would you care to go on a walk through the gardens?”
“It is entirely too cold for me.”
“We could go shopping.”
Her grandmother lowered her needlework to her lap. “We visited the shops yesterday.”
“I could read to you,” Arabella suggested.
“If you did, I’m afraid I would just fall asleep.”
“There is no shame in that.”
Moore stepped into the room with a tray in his hand. “A letter has been delivered for Lady Arabella.”
She perked up. “Is that so?”
Moore approached her and extended the tray. “It is from a Lord Eastwood.”
Arabella’s heart dropped as she reached for the letter. “Did you say Lord Eastwood?” she asked.
“I did,” Moore replied, looking unsure.
She glanced down at the letter in her hand and considered tossing it into the hearth. He had no business writing to her, not since he had broken their engagement.
Her grandmother spoke up. “Are you going to read it?”
“I’m not sure.”
“Would you care for me to read it?”
Arabella shook her head. “That won’t be necessary,” she said as she unfolded the paper. “I will read it, but only because I find myself most curious.”
