Page 72 of A Mother for the Blind Duke’s Orphans

“And you shall call me Hector,” he continued sternly, not leaving room for any questions or doubt.

“Are you certain?”

“You are my wife… I am most certain.”

Poppy’s breath hitched when he claimed her as his wife. She believed him, and a comfortable silence followed. The servants moved discreetly around them; plates were set down, and more tea was poured. Poppy watched Hector’s hand as he ate, and she blushed, remembering how his strong fingers felt wrapped around her wrist.

“How are the girls?” he asked casually.

“They are much better.” She shook her head, and her train of thought scattered away. “Princess remains determined to rule the nursery by insistent crying, but she is eating more regularly. And Aurora has had two nights without waking in tears.”

Hector’s fingers stilled around his fork. “What do you mean?”

Poppy looked down at her plate to spare him the burden of being observed too closely. “She still wakes sometimes, but not as she did. She asks for Princess first, of course. Then she settles.”

“That is good.” He murmured. “And how are you?”

Poppy’s fingers froze mid-bite. “I am well, thank you.”

He placed his utensils down and seemed to be studying her. “I do not know much about you, or your true parents.”

Poppy felt her skin prickle under his gaze; her throat tightened as she remembered her parents and the torture she and her sister had been through. It was no secret for a while; the entire ton spoke about them, but she did not expect a duke to entertain gossip anyhow. Poppy looked at Hector then; her thoughts fought with each other until finally she decided that perhaps her husband should know the truth.

“My mother died during childbirth,” her voice cracked. She inhaled deeply, then continued, “and my father did not take her death well. He blamed me and… he began gambling. He conned a lot of people, got himself into a lot of trouble, and then he ran away. Abandoning my sister and me.”

“The Duchess of Pridewell,” he muttered more to himself.

Poppy shook her head. “Yes, Julia, Aunt Violet and Lady Georgia are all the family I have left. If it were not for them, I do not know what would have happened to me…” Poppy drifted into her thoughts, remembering a time that took her years to forget.

“I did not mean to upset you,” Hector said softly, and his kind tone almost undid her.

“I am not upset, truly. I just would never want someone to endure the life I had endured.” She offered him a smile, although it took all her strength.

Hector smiled back, but concern was etched into his features. “Is that why you have taken a liking to my nieces and the orphanage?”

“Yes,” Poppy admitted. “The orphanage, the children, and your nieces gave me a sense of purpose when I felt like I had none. It makes me happy when I help a child feel less alone.”

Thinking about the orphanage made her miss it even more. She looked at Hector, hoping that he would continue speaking, but he seemed to be deep in thought too. Poppy felt her eyes tear up and quickly decided to change the topic.

“Aurora asked for you,” she said softly.

Hector looked into her eyes then, and she held her breath. “She has? Even after I frightened her?”

Poppy felt her heart reach for him.

He truly cares.

“Yes, she did not see you in the study when she went to her closet this week, so she asked about you.” Poppy smiled at him then, and she noticed the corner of his mouth lift as his expression softened.

She could get used to this side of him. Although he struggled to suppress it.

“She should not have to think in such terms about me…of all people.” He grunted, and all the softness dispersed.

“No,” Poppy said softly. “She should not, but she did.”

He said nothing, and the quiet settled between them again.

After a moment, Poppy glanced toward him. “May I ask you something?”