Chapter 24

Chapter Twenty-Four

A nne giggled as Dash brought her the ball she had thrown, rewarding him with a fond pat before she tossed it again.

"Go on, Dash! Bring me the ball!" she urged excitedly, somehow still as amazed as she had been half an hour ago when they began this game when Dash darted in the direction the ball had flown, already in search of it.

Moments later, he returned with it in his mouth, set it down in front of her, and sat back, wagging his tail happily. Anne let out a squeal and stuck her hand into her pocket to retrieve some treats for him.

"He is so impressive! How on earth did he learn how to do such marvelous tricks?" she asked as she fed him a handful of treats.

Nancy smiled down at her sister, stroking Dash's fur when he moved closer to her for pats, and explained, "He had a good trainer. Mr. Aldridge was patient with him and always made sure Dash knew he was doing well whenever he performed a trick properly."

"Oh. He sounds nice." Anne beamed down at Dash.

Nancy's smile had dimmed slightly, and she forced out a response, "He is."

It felt a little selfish, realizing that since she had left Wexford Castle over a week ago, she had barely spared Martin any thought, too busy wallowing in her heartbreak. She could only imagine how horrible he felt to be perceived as the reason she and her husband were not close.

It will undoubtedly affect his work.

She immediately felt worse. Martin had told her how his craft was his life, and he could not imagine living at any point when he would not be able to bring dogs and their owners closer.

"Perhaps I can meet him one day. I think I shall like to be a dog trainer when I'm older," Anne said in her gentle, child-like manner, and it eased some of the ache Nancy had been carrying in her chest all morning.

"That sounds lovely. Perhaps I will be able to arrange a meeting for you both."

It was a farfetched comment to make, but the smile on her younger sister's face was worth it.

Nancy had tried to keep her spirits up somehow, but it had been quite difficult to do so with everything that had transpired the day she had arrived at Bluebird Hall looming over her.

Anne had asked if Nancy would play with them, and her expression had been too earnest and hopeful for the Duchess to turn her down.

"Come along, Dash! Race you to that tree!" Anne called and ran ahead, closely followed by Dash.

Nancy watched them from the comfort of the shade provided by the tree she had found solace beneath, trying to remember a time when she had been as carefree as her youngest sister.

The weather looked pleasant, with the bright sun and gentle breeze, but the Duchess could barely enjoy any of that due to the uncertain future that lay ahead of her.

What was she to do now? How would she live, moving forward, when her husband doubted her loyalty and her mother believed she had ruined her marriage on purpose?

With a shaky inhale, she attempted to rid herself of sad thoughts that would only further drag her spirits down, trying to focus her attention on her sister as the girl played with Dash. As her gaze settled on them, Nancy noticed her maid walking in her direction with an odd expression on her face.

"Your Grace," Paula started when she stopped before Nancy, "His Grace is here. And he wishes to speak with you."

Richard? Richard is here? But… why?

Nancy's heart remained shrouded in the doubt and hurt that she had been put through, and a voice in the back of her head pointed out that he could likely have come in an effort to make up with her for the sake of his dukedom and to sway public opinion.

Whatever his reasons, she did not feel as though she could face him at that moment.

"I… I do not wish to speak with him. Tell him to leave me be."

Paula looked as though Nancy's words saddened her, but still, she nodded obediently. "Yes, Your Grace," she replied then turned around, heading back into the house.

Anne watched her leave then ran back to Nancy, asking in a concerned tone, "Is something wrong?"

Nancy quickly shook her head. "It is nothing you need to worry yourself about, petal. Do not?—"

"Your Grace."

She looked up, surprised to see that Paula had returned.

"He isn't keen on being turned away."

Nancy frowned. "I do not care. I don't wish to see him?—"

"Nancy!"

The Duchess jumped, startled by the sound of her name cutting through the quiet and peaceful air that surrounded the property. She had thought that she had misheard it, and she opened her mouth to speak, only to be cut off by the sound of someone screaming her name once more.

"Nancy! Where are you? I need to speak with you!"

That… that was definitely Richard's voice. He was really screaming her name.

Her heart twisted uncomfortably in her chest as she recalled the way he had snapped at her, how easily he had believed a scandal sheet over her, even after everything they had shared. He had quickly come up with the conclusion that painted her in the worst light, and he hadn't come for her the moment he had realized she was gone.

Whatever it was he wanted to say now, she was not interested in hearing it.

Dash, however, had other ideas. He lifted his head hopefully at the sound of Richard's voice and began to whine. Then seconds later, he ran off in the direction of the house.

"Dash! Wait!" Anne cried, running after him.

Nancy sighed tiredly, wrapping her arms around her middle as she fixed a nonchalant expression on her face while she spoke to Paula.

"I have not changed my mind. I have no desire to see him. He would do well to stop making a fuss and go back to his home."

Paula did not look happy to be the bearer of bad news, but once again, she left without a fuss, and Nancy found herself all alone, staring up at the clouds floating across the sky.

She expected that with the relentless nature that her husband had chosen to display, it would not be too long before she was approached again.

And she was right—except it wasn't Paula or another servant who had come to speak to her.

It was her mother.

"Nancy," Georgiana sighed softly when she was standing in front of her daughter.

Nancy dropped her gaze from the sky for a moment and said, "Mama," before adjusting herself on the bench she was seated on to make room for her mother.

The Dowager Marchioness sat down next to her, and at first, neither of them said anything, both seemingly gathering their thoughts under the guise of admiring the wonderful landscape beyond the lawn.

"I spoke with the Duke, just now," Lady Suttington said gently.

"Is that so?" Nancy muttered, not feeling particularly pressed to know what the topic of discussion had been between them.

Georgiana nodded then said something Nancy had not expected to hear, "He reminds me of your father."

At that statement, Nancy sat up, her eyes wide at that admission.

Ever since her father's passing, her mother had hardly brought him up—save for when she needed to emphasize their dire predicament, stating that he would never have wanted them to live a life marked with uncertainty and instability.

To hear her refer to him, in relation to none other than Richard, was shocking to say the least.

"Your father… he was always so passionate about everything he did. He loved us immensely. And I saw a bit of that vibrant reverence in your husband, earlier. It—it made me realize how disappointed your father would be if he were to see us now."

Her voice cracked slightly at the end of that sentence. Still, she pressed on after clearing her throat once.

"He would have never saddled you with such responsibilities or forced you to live a life you had not wished for on our behalf. Yet, that is what I did, barely sparing your feelings and aspirations a second thought all because I believed it was for the greater good. That was wrong of me, especially as your mother, and I am sorry, Nancy."

Nancy's heart softened at her words, the tension within her easing bit by bit.

"I am sorry for all the burdens I placed on you, for being unreasonable with my demands and expectations," her mother added, "I am sorry that I did not care for you when you needed it. I lost my husband, and you and your sisters lost your father. It was unfair to let one person bear the sole responsibility of finding us a means of surviving without him. I am truly sorry, my dear."

Nancy swallowed past the lump in her throat, blinking back tears as she faced her mother. "I am sorry too, Mama. I should not have spoken so harshly, no matter how frustrated I was. I know you only intended to do what was best for Anne and Beatrice, as well as yourself, and I wish I could have done more to contribute to that."

"Oh, sweetheart." Her mother moved closer and wrapped her arms around her. "You did more than enough, my love. And I am so very proud of you and thankful to you for enduring as much as you did."

Nancy nodded with a sniff, feeling a part of her heart heal as she pulled back, comforted by the way her mother was gently stroking her hair.

"I think you should listen to what the Duke has to say, sweetheart. I understand that he was unkind to you when the scandal broke out—he admitted as much himself—but he is here now. I was never able to give you any useful marriage advice after your wedding, so let me tell you this now. Do not leave matters unresolved if it is likely that they would stir up any feelings of regret. Just face him. Even if it is for the last time, hear what he intends to tell you and then search your heart for what it longs to say as well. Ultimately, what will become of you both is up to him."

"All right. I will speak with him," Nancy finally agreed, smiling at her mother as the Dowager Marchioness took her hand and led her into the house.

Nancy could hear voices as they approached the foyer and was surprised to see Richard playing with Anne and Dash.

It seemed as though they had not let him in after she had expressed her unwillingness to converse with him, but he had not moved. Instead, her husband seems to have found a way to entertain himself for the time being.

Anne saw her sister and mother, and her face lit up even more somehow.

"Nancy! Your husband is so enchanting! He knows a lot of dog tricks, and Dash listened to him quite well! And he promised to show me some of his tricks!" she babbled excitedly, clinging to the sleeves of Richard's coat.

"My brother was good at card tricks, and he never hesitated to show me how he did them whenever I asked. He was quite important to me, so I have held the values of sharing with family close to my heart," the Duke said gently.

"Come along, Anne. You should find Beatrice and tell her tales of the marvelous tricks His Grace performed for you," Georgiana prompted, beckoning Anne over.

"Oh, yes! Come, Dash!" Anne called, and Dash followed her as she walked down a hallway, undoubtedly on her way to find her sister.

The Dowager Marchioness gave her eldest daughter's hand one final squeeze before she walked away as well.

Nancy inhaled deeply as she fixed her gaze and attention completely on her husband, pretending her heart was not thundering in her chest at the sight of him.

"Good afternoon, Richard."