Page 16 of A Mother for the Blind Duke’s Orphans

Her words came out in a breath. Annabelle stared at her, wide-eyed.

“Well… That is wonderful news, is it not?”

Poppy realized that she might not have used the right tone.

She sighed. “It is good news, but there is more…”

The nurse’s eyes widened more. “Well, do not leave me in suspense!”

“I am to marry the man.” Poppy’s shoulders sagged until she heard a delightful squeal from her friend.

“You are marrying a duke?” Annabelle was grinning too widely, and Poppy laughed at her friend’s reaction. “And the girls will be with you?”

“Yes, that is all true.” She felt her face heat up and she dropped her gaze.

Annabelle immediately stopped moving.

“Oh no, is the Duke of Sterling a cruel man?” she whispered.

Poppy’s head snapped up. “I… I am not certain. But it seems as though he cares deeply for his nieces, and that is all that matters.”

Is it truly all that mattered?

Although Poppy always dreamed of a tender and romantic love, she could barely imagine that with the icy Duke of Sterling, who seemed to only care about duty and nothing more.

“You seem troubled, Miss Norish?” Annabelle grabbed Poppy’s hand and squeezed.

Poppy felt relieved to share this news with someone; she had no one to truly talk to about it.

“I am just afraid that I will mess this up, Annie.”

Annabelle shook her head fiercely. “If anyone is deserving of a title and deserving to be the mother of those angels, it is you.”

Her words wrapped around Poppy’s heart.

“Thank you, my friend.” They embraced each other, and Poppy closed her eyes and imagined a life with Aurora, Princess, and the icy gaze of the duke.

They gently let go of each other and continued walking and talking.

“When is the ceremony?” Annabelle asked.

“The wedding ceremony will be held next week, and thereafter I am to stay at the Dukedom of Sterling.”

A week. Poppy could barely believe how little time she had to prepare.

“That is soon,” Annabelle whispered sadly.

They turned a corner, and Poppy could see the girls’ room from the end of the corridor.

“I will miss them terribly,” Annabelle’s voice quivered, and this time she squeezed her hand.

“You are welcome to visit them anytime.”

They stopped outside the door and smiled at each other.

“Poppy, you will be a great mother, a great wife, and a great duchess. I am just one of the people who believe in you.” Annabelle reached and pulled her into another, shorter embrace before letting go and leaving her to spend time with Aurora and Princess.

Poppy smiled as she watched her friend disappear down the corridor. She pushed away all thoughts about her approaching wedding and pulled open the door to the room. Poppy had only just crossed the threshold when she heard Aurora.