Chapter 34

"Remember our conversation from our walk the other day?" Lady Barrack asked, patting Theresia's arm as they descended the stairs for dinner.

It was hard not to be caught up in the kindness this woman gave her. It was more maternal attention than Theresia had received from anyone but Mrs. Bedrich in many, many years. "I remember." How could she have forgotten the way Lady Barrack had implicated her and Rolland as a potential couple?

Lady Barrack stole a glance behind them to her husband and then leaned closer, her voice taking on a conspiratorial note. "Well, I am more certain of it now than ever."

Theresia couldn't restrain her smile. She never thought to dream of such a man as Rolland caring for her. He had made certain she was never alone through the entire day, even sending his mother to bring her down to dinner. "I—" Her words caught in her throat when she realized the people gathered at the bottom of the stairs were not members of their house party.

"But who is this?" Lady Barrack pulled her more quickly to the base of the stairs.

"Lord Caspar," Lord Barrack said, reaching the landing just after them. "By George, you came after all."

Lord Caspar? Theresia's eyes skirted past the short man to her stepmother and stepsister, Helena. The blood seeped from her face and upper body in a rush. Lord Barrack stepped in front of her, hiding her momentarily from view. She clung to Lady Barrack's arm to keep her legs solid beneath her. This couldn't be happening. This wasn't real.

"It turns out that none of us wanted to miss this house party," Lord Caspar said. "We did everything we could to cut our last trip short."

"Splendid. And I see you've met my son already."

"Yes, and he's met our daughter. I can already see what you have. They will make a fine couple."

"I couldn't agree more," Lord Barrack said. Their words made Theresia's world sway. Lord Barrack wanted Helena for Rolland? This was too much.

Lady Barrack's hand flew to her heart. "What a thing to say! They don't even know each other." She swatted her husband's shoulder. "And in front of Lady Glass."

"Lady Glass?" The question fell from her stepmother's lips; hers was a voice Theresia would recognize from her nightmares.

Before she could gather her strength to run, Lady Barrack pulled her from behind her husband. The rest all happened so fast.

Theresia met Rolland's gaze from across the room, her eyes beseeching him as Lady Caspar gasped. Her gut feeling from that morning had been right. It was the beginning of the end for Lady Glass.

"Theresia?" Her stepmother's shock nearly mirrored her own.

"Theresia?" Helena gave an airy laugh. "I did not recognize you."

Lord Caspar frowned. "You know her?"

Her stepmother's eyes hardened. "Intimately."

That lie was almost equal to her own. Lady Caspar knew of her existence and nothing more.

"Really?" Lady Barrack grinned. "Then, you know how delightful she is. She's a close friend to the duke and my son."

"I find that fascinating," Lady Caspar said. "And did one of them lend her such an outlandish title?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Lady Barrack sounded offended on Theresia's behalf. That she would take her side over her stepmother's was the greatest kindness of all. If only Theresia deserved it.

Theresia slid her hand free from Lady Barrack's. "I can explain."

"I certainly hope so." Lady Caspar folded her arms and speared Theresia with a thunderous look. "I've never seen a woman as lowly as a servant passed off for an aristocrat."

Servant? The word made Theresia's head spin. Had her stepmother not only neglected her but been behind her treatment at the seminary?

"I beg your pardon." Rolland navigated around Lord and Lady Caspar. Theresia cringed, hating how humiliating this was and that he had to witness it. "Lady Glass is a guest here, and I will not have her disparaged. There is a simple explanation, and we shall give it in the library, if His Grace is willing to lend us the room."

Was he really not going to abandon her? The part of her that had never left the memory of the seminary behind couldn't fathom his steadfastness to her in front of such important people.

"Of course," the duke said. He must've been caught off guard too, but he took it all in stride. "The library is this room, just here. We have much to catch you all up on anyway."

The others moved toward the library, her stepmother muttering about how outlandish the situation was. Rolland held out his arm to her, his gaze holding far more sympathy for her than she deserved.

"Take it," he whispered, reading her hesitation as easily as he did everything else about her. Her shaking fingers found their way to his arm, which he quickly covered with his own. "Remember my advice about fear? This would be a good time to practice it."

"Rolland, I cannot go in there." For so many years, she'd wanted to show her stepmother that she was worth something. This would only prove how useless she truly was.

"I won't leave your side."

"You'll never know how grateful I am for your words." But Rolland couldn't stay by her anymore. He was to be with Helena now. For his family. For England. "But it's futile. No explanation you give will convince Lady Caspar to go along with our scheme. I was always too beneath her... too undeserving in her mind. I know better than anyone what she is capable of."

If she couldn't take a victory, wasn't it better to run while she still could? She knew now that no matter where she went, her past would follow her. Fate had cruelly tied her to her stepmother, and she would always be the one being pulled by the lead rope while her stepmother controlled it it. If she went into the library, she was certain it would choke her completely. "I will return your things and leave."

Rolland bent low so that he was her height. "They are your things. What would I do with dresses tailored for you? And you mustn't leave yet. Let me speak with them, if you cannot bring yourself to do so." He set his hand over hers. "Remember, you promised not to go anywhere alone."

She had promised, hadn't she? "I'll wait in my room, then."

"Thank you." He bent over and placed a kiss on her forehead, filling her for, the briefest moment, with delicious comfort.

"Rolland!" Lord Barrack called from the library door. "We're waiting."

Theresia jerked away from him, squeezing her eyes shut. His father never should have seen that, and Rolland never should have kissed her! What had he been thinking?

"Coming." Unruffled, Rolland sent her one last look. He did not have to say anything to remind her of her promise. He should have at least shown some contrition for his behavior. He was foolish and wonderful, and she loved him for it. But it only made the prospect of leaving him harder.

Her vision blurred, but she managed to tread up the stairs.

Andalin met her at the top. "Theresia, is something wrong? You look pale."

"I am well." Her voice wavered, and a tear eked out. "Actually... I could use a friend."

"Of course." Andalin wrapped her in an embrace, and Theresia let out a sob. Andalin smoothed her hair and whispered promises of beating whoever had upset her.

Theresia laughed through a hiccup.

As Lady Glass, she'd had far more than she'd appreciated.

Now she didn't even exist.