“Yes, I know. It was a foolish thing to do. Please forgive me.”
“So, Andrew knows about the baby now?”
Ellen nodded. “He does.”
Marjorie chuckled. “I know your mother must have had such a dreadful shock when she heard the news.”
But Ellen did not say a word, and when Marjorie noticed that she was the only one who found humor in the thought of Lady Grant being shocked to death, she stopped laughing and frowned. “Is everything all right?”
Ellen threw her arms around Marjorie. “Oh, Marjorie! She fainted, and we discovered that she does not have many days left to live.”
“Ellen! I did not mean to…I am sorry, but explain, what do you mean by that?”
“Doctor Philips informed Andrew and me that she has a rare heart disease that cannot be cured. He says it is only a matter of months. Oh, Marjorie! What if I was the one who worsened Mama’s condition?”
“Hush, Ellen. There was no way you would have known. Besides, you were only doing what is best for you, and that is never a wrong thing.”
But Ellen kept crying harder as Marjorie rubbed her back. “Look on the bright side, you are finally engaged. At least that ought to make her happy and keep her around for a bit longer.”
Ellen nodded and then she looked at Marjorie. “I am sorry about everything. She wants Andrew to deny the child.”
Marjorie took a sharp breath. “Well, I would be a fool if I did not see that coming. I will be all right, Ellen. I am only happy for you.”
Ellen nodded and they sat there for a while, content with simply being as they started making plans for the wedding.
Andrew had just come out of his mother’s chamber after seeing to it that her medicine was taken when he saw Marjorie going down the stairs. Without thinking, he hurried down after her and grabbed her hand. She shrieked and flayed her hands, and he ducked too late as a hand landed on his cheeks.
“Well, I see that you are still feisty!” Andrew huffed, holding the side of his face in pain.
“Andrew? You should never scare me like that.”
“I did not mean to. I saw that you were in a hurry, and I had to do something.” Marjorie nodded and looked down.
“You were going to leave without seeing me?” Andrew asked.
“I knew that you were busy with the Dowager, and after everything that happened, I did not want to cause a stir.”
Andrew nodded thoughtfully. “I had been calling on you, and every time, I was duly informed by your butler that you were indisposed.”
“That is correct, Your Grace.”
“And how do you feel now? Much better?”
“I find that the weather in the countryside would do better to improve my health.”
“You are leaving?”
Marjorie nodded, still avoiding his gaze.
“For the countryside?”
“Yes, Your Grace. My aunt Olivia has sent for me. It will be good to see the country again.”
“You would be leaving everything.”
Marjorie laughed. “Not everything, Your Grace.”
“The book club?”
