Page 35 of A Mother for the Blind Duke’s Orphans

A small, wounded, and angry sound left her.

“My condition cannot be changed,” he said roughly. “But Aurora’s can, and I refuse to let this affect her future.”

He could have pressed harder. He could have reminded her of what she had agreed to when she became his wife. But he found that the argument had moved somewhere he did not wish to follow. The fingertip on his brow still seemed to burn, though it was gone, and so was her accusation.

“It is late,” he finally said.

The duchess did not answer.

“The girls are already asleep. I suggest you see them tomorrow.” He turned to leave.

“Hector—”

“Tomorrow,” he repeated.

He heard her swallow the rest. If she continued, he might answer as a duke and not a husband, and he did not yet know what that meant.

“Dinner will be sent to your room,” he said without looking in her direction. “Mrs. Patterson will show you to your chamber, and you may begin your duties in the morning.”

The words were deliberately formal as he walked away from his duchess, leaving her alone at the entrance of her new home.

Chapter Nine

Poppy woke up with the sour taste of duty still lingering in her mouth and the memories of the duke’s warm skin under her fingertips. Her mind was scattered, but it all did not matter because she had waited patiently for six days to see Aurora and Princess.

Today is the day.

She hopped out of bed and immediately heard a knock at her door.

“Enter,” she called out, and Annabelle entered and curtsied. “Good morning, Your Grace. May I prepare a bath and dress for you?”

“Annabelle!” she squealed and ran toward her friend.

The two embraced as Annabelle laughed.

Poppy pulled away first and smiled at her. “I am so glad that you chose to work here. What duties has the duke given to you?”

“I believe that I am a nanny or a nursemaid. It is uncertain. All I was told was to help you help the girls.” Annabelle shrugged, and Poppy believed that His Grace would say something as confusing as that.

“Do you know where Aurora and Princess’s chambers are?”

The lady’s maid behind Annabelle stopped suddenly when Princess’s name was uttered. Poppy completely forgot that no one knew the baby’s pet name.

“They are not far from your chamber. I can show you on your way to breakfast.” Annabelle spoke as the lady’s maid behind her took out a pale-yellow dress and hung it before she disappeared into the adjoining room to prepare the bath.

“That would be great, thank you, Annabelle.” They beamed at each other. “When did you arrive here?”

“The day after the duke adopted the girls.” Annabelle began to shift around the room; she was at ease in the house already, and Poppy was grateful that she had a friend nearby to help her.

“That is great, Annie. I am so glad you are.” Poppy sat heavily on her bed and pressed her palms to her eyes.

“Are you all right, Poppy?” her friend dropped beside her and caressed her hair.

Poppy sighed.

“I will be all right; I am just taking it all in.” She motioned around the chamber with a flick of her hand.

She was not sure that she could speak about how much she disliked how His Grace spoke about Aurora’s defect and how little patience he seemed to have for raising children. But most especially she disliked the way she had been feeling around him.