Chapter 12

CHAPTER 12

H arriet had woken up early this morning, as she had done for most mornings since Catherine had arrived at the estate.

Now with Catherine finally asleep, Harriet finally had a quiet moment to herself in her room. Perhaps the duke was right that she had been neglecting care of herself these last few days.

Perhaps, now was a moment that she should finally relax.

That was until, of course, a commotion erupted in the entrance hall. Harriet frowned, getting up from her settee as she rose to investigate.

What in heavens was going on outside?

Her maid, Eliza, appeared at the doorway, her expression flustered.

“Your Grace, I apologize for the intrusion, but you have a visitor,” she frowned.

“A visitor?” Harriet inquired, racking her brain. She did not recall having any social engagements planned — in fact, all of her social engagements had been put on pause as she spent most of her time looking after Catherine.

“Yes, Your Grace. It is the Countess of Ramsbury,” Eliza explained.

Immediately, a deep frown formed on Harriet’s face.

“My mother?” she repeated, her expression hardening. “Well, then you must tell her that I am busy and cannot see her.”

“Your Grace, sheis quite insistent on seeing you immediately,” Eliza replied, looking apologetic.

Harriet sighed, annoyance flaring within her. Her relationship with her mother had been strained ever since the scandal that led to her marriage to Simon. She had made it clear that she needed space, but it seemed Albina had other ideas.

“Very well,” Harriet said, steeling herself for the confrontation. “Show her in.”

She knew that her mother was not one to back away without a fight. It would cause more commotion if Harriet was not to see her, even though it was the last thing she wished to do.

Eliza nodded and hurried back to the entrance hall, and Harriet followed her shortly afterwards. Moments later, Lady Albina swept into the drawing room, her presence commanding and her expression a picture of confusion.

“Harriet, my dear,” Albina exclaimed, her eyes scanning the room as if expecting to find something she was not supposed to. “Why on earth haven’t you written to me?”

“Mother,” Harriet replied tersely, “I wasn’t aware I was obliged to report every detail of my life to you.”

What she really wanted to say was that she should not expect her daughter to write, given her actions. But she did not want to fight — or at least, avoid it to the best of her ability.

Albina pressed her lips together in a tight line.

“I’ve heard from my maid that you’ve been inquiring about a nursemaid. Naturally, I assumed the most wonderful news — that you were expecting!”

“Expecting?” Harriet replied, baffled.

Of course. Of course her mother would assume that. She made no secret of her desires for all her daughters to bear children — as many as they could and as soon as they were able.

“Yes, what other reason would you have to hire a nursemaid?” Albina asked.

Frankly, she had a point. But Harriet was not going to concede to that. Her situation was… unique, after all.

As it was, Harriet’s patience was already thin, and the implication behind her mother’s words set her on edge. “I am not pregnant, Mother,” she replied curtly.

Albina’s eyes widened in surprise, quickly turning to concern. “Then you’ve already given birth? Without telling your own mother? Harriet , how could you?”

Albina began pacing around the room in distress. “Oh — did you not for a moment consider how this would impact your parents? What am I meant to tell everyone? Do your sisters know at least?”

Harriet’s temper flared, her voice rising. “I have not given birth either, Mother. You’ve leapt to entirely the wrong conclusion.”

As usual.

Albina looked around the room, as if expecting a child to appear from thin air. “Then why all this talk of a nursemaid?”

Harriet drew a breath, trying to maintain her composure. “The inquiries were made on behalf of a friend.”

That was a believable excuse. She crossed her fingers, hoping that her mother would not drill her with more questions.

But Albina’s skepticism was palpable. “A friend? Really, Harriet, I know when you’re hiding something. I gave birth to you, so no need to be sly with me.”

Harriet bit back her frustration, her tone icy. “Regardless of what you believe, it is none of your concern. Now — I believe that I have some prior commitments for the day and it would be best if?—”

Before Harriet could complete her sentence, a wail pierced the air, unmistakable and impossible to ignore. Catherine had awoken, her cries echoing through the estate.

Both women looked at each other, Harriet’s expression panicked while Albina’s eyes lit up with understanding, her expression turning triumphant.

“I knew it! There is a baby.”

Harriet clenched her fists, her patience finally snapping. “Mother, this is not what you think. Please, you must not interfere like this…”

Albina ignored her protests, moving toward the sound of the cries. “I’m staying here, Harriet. I must see my grandchild.”

Harriet followed her, desperation lacing her words. “Mother, you need to leave. Now.”

Her heart felt like it was going to leap out of her throat any second. If her mother made her way to the nursery, she would have to explain something that she did not fully understand yet.

Harriet ran in front of her, and blocked her path to the nursery.

“You cannot go in there, Mother. You simply cannot interfere like this.”

Albina’s expression betrayed a mixture of hurt and determination. “Why are you being so difficult? I’m only trying to help.”

Catherine’s cries had grown louder, and Harriet could not help herself anymore. She moved inside to the crib, gently lifting the baby into her arms.

“It is alright,” she cooed softly to the baby, who calmed down instantly as Harriet rocked her back and forth.

In the meanwhile, Albina stood in the doorway, her eyes locked on Catherine.

“Harriet, when did this happen? Why didn’t you tell me?”

Harriet met her mother’s gaze, her own eyes blazing with anger and frustration. She had reached her limit with her mother.

“There is nothing to tell. She is not my child. She was left on our doorstep, and I’ve been caring for her.”

Albina’s expression shifted from surprise to disbelief. “Left on your doorstep?”

“Mother, this is precisely why I did not want to get you involved. You are demanding answers for things even I do not know.”

“Harriet,” Albina’s tone calmed significantly, her eyes fixed on her daughter who was now putting Catherine back inside her crib.

“I do not want to argue in front of her,” Harriet exited the room, hoping that Catherine would not start crying again. “And I do not wish to have this conversation with you either.”

“Does the duke know about this?”

Harriet resisted the urge to roll her eyes. “It would be better if you do not ask about him, given what sort of an impression you have left on him.”

She led her mother down the stairs, and towards the door. Hoping that she would take the cue, and finally leave.

But like always, Albina did what she wanted.

“Harriet, you’ve no reason to be so difficult,” Albina insisted, her tone dripping with self-righteousness. “I’ve done everything for you, all to secure your future. And now, everything is falling into place. Why do you remain so ungrateful?”

The words stung, and Harriet felt a swell of anger rising within her. Her mother’s constant meddling and lack of respect for her boundaries were intolerable.

“Ungrateful?” Harriet snapped, her voice rising in frustration. “You think trapping me into a marriage and turning my life upside down is something I should be grateful for?”

Albina recoiled slightly at Harriet’s sharp tone, her eyes widening in shock. “I was only trying to do what’s best for you. I thought you would see that by now.”

Harriet shook her head. “No, Mother. You did what you thought was best for you, without any consideration for my feelings or desires. And now, you’ve overstepped once again.”

Albina’s expression hardened, her voice tinged with hurt. “I am your mother, Harriet. I have every right to be here, to help you.”

Harriet’s patience snapped. “I don’t need your help, Mother. I’ve told you before, you are not welcome here.”

“I thought that marriage would be the thing finally gets you to mature into an adult,” Albina shook her head, disapprovingly. “But now, I see that you are the same ungrateful little girl that you always were.”

“Mother, none of this is helping me.” Harriet felt her resolve weaken, her mother’s harsh words finally getting to her.

She just wanted it all to stop — for her to leave, and to stop making her life more complicated than it already was.

“What do you know about what helps you and what does not?” Albina challenged. “Now you are undertaking the care of a baby that you do not even know. Do you understand how much of a scandal this could be? What if people raise their fingers at you?”

“Then I should expect you to defend me,” Harriet said, on the verge of tears. “Would you ever do that? Can I expect you to? All my life, it seems that you have been eager to warn me of the dangers of scandal but you have never protected me from it.”

As Harriet’s words hung in the air, the sound of footsteps approached from the hallway.

Both ladies turned to look at who it was.

“What is going on here?”

The duke had finally come home.