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“Have you nothing to say?”
Ellie struggled against the sorrow weighing down her thoughts.
“I’m happy you’re feeling better.”
“Do you not care to ask what troubled me? Or with what I wish your assistance?”
The words to do so wouldn’t fit together in her head, so Ellie simply stared at her sister.
“Oh, for goodness sake,” Lizzy May muttered. “I’m trying to tell you some happy news, Ellie.”
Hope surged in Ellie, painful enough to make her clutch an arm about her waist.
“Happy news?”
Was it all a lie? Samuel wasn’t a traitor with a French mistress on trial for betraying King and Country?
“Yes, happy news. The reason I’ve been ill. I truly would have told you before, but I felt Matthew must be the first to know.” Lizzy May’s forced cheer dropped for a moment, as if she regretted that reminder that she loved her husband more than she loved her twin, but she brought her smile back. “I’m going to have a baby.”
Ellie blinked rapidly. That was happy news.
“A baby.” She forced a smile, the motion awkward to her lips. “That is wonderful news. Congratulations.”
Lizzy May’s expression suffused with joy.
“Thank you. We’re very excited. We’ll return to the country to ready the nursery, and we’ve selected an accoucheur and a monthly nurse. We must make ready for them, as well, for they will come to stay with us once I’m further along and, well, I thought maybe you could help me see everything done? And be with me, when the baby comes?”
Her smile ached, but Ellie said, “Yes. I should like that.”
Lizzy May’s happy expression remained for a moment, before she looked down. She toyed with the lace trim on one of the blankets piled about her.
“You should know that Mr. Carmichael called earlier, asking for you.”
“Samuel? He came to explain?”
Ellie looked about, as if his handsome, bespectacled face might appear. But how could he explain? She’d read the papers. She knew about the bank account, and the mistress.
She recalled his disquiet when he discovered she wasn’t a Duchess. He’d been very quick with his plan to depart London. Had he intended to kidnap Lizzy May? Ellie swallowed. She’d nearly run off to Scotland with him. Would he even have wed her there, or simply held her and her reputation hostage to get the Duke to help him avoid the noose that surely awaited him?
A sob escaped her at the possibility that Samuel might hang.
“Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Matthew sent him away.”
“He’d no right.”
“He has every right.” Lizzy May sighed. “Normally, he’s a reasonable man, but he’s rather put out over everyone believing I was being seduced by Mr. Carmichael. It’s going to take ages to put the notion to rest.”
Ellie curled forward, resting her elbows on her knees and dropping her face into her hands.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry I pretended to be you.”
“I did give you permission,” Lizzy May said dryly.
“For one day.”
“At least it was the Dowager’s idea, so Matthew isn’t quite so angry with you.”
