Page 61 of Sincerely, the Duke
“That is not what I study, Your Grace,” Eileen offered politely.
His mother looked confused for a moment. “Oh, but I thought you said you studied the stars.”
“And planets, but for scientific reasons,” she answered.
“We are still quite busy getting settled in London,” Edwina added, stepping gently into the conversation.
“When your sisters are more settled, Edwina, perhaps I can be of help,” Fredericka offered. “I’ll be happy to ask among my friends if they know of a group that might be suitable for your sister.”
“That would be wonderful,” Edwina answered.
Rick was about to tell Edwina it was time for their dance when the Countess of Middleton walked up beside his mother.
“Your Graces, please excuse me for interrupting.”
As the lady curtsied and exchanged greetings witheveryone, Rick took the opportunity to speak in a low voice to Edwina. “I’ve decided you are quite stunning when you are upset with me.”
She stared at him with a softness that made his whole body respond with desire. “Only when I’m perturbed by your unreasonableness?”
He chuckled softly. “I stand corrected. I should have said you are always the most beautiful lady I have ever seen.”
A wispy laugh passed Edwina’s beautiful lips. “You are handsome all the time too, Your Grace—angry, impatient, or sweet.”
He gave her a wry expression. “Sweet? I don’t think so. I’ve never been called sweet and it’s not in my nature.”
She smiled at him and Rick felt as if his heart had turned over in his chest as she said, “You have been sweet to me several times.”
It pleased Rick that she easily forgave him for being unpleasant earlier.
“I think you owe me a dance,” she said softly.
Before he could respond, Lady Middleton looked specifically at Edwina and said, “Please excuse me, Duchess, but I’m hoping I might have a word with you.”
Edwina gave Rick a tentative grin before giving the woman her attention. “Yes, of course.”
“Something has been puzzling me since we were introduced at the wedding. When I saw the three of you together again tonight, I figured out what it was and thought this is the perfect time to ask.”
Rick felt Edwina stiffen beside him. She remained still and quiet, waiting for the countess to proceed. That gave him pause. Something was wrong. For some reason, Edwina was instantly wary of this lady, and he didn’tknow why. Whatever it was didn’t matter; his primal urge to protect his wife rose in him. He instinctively moved closer to her.
“The way you and your sisters favor and appear the same age brought to my mind a rumor I heard about twenty years ago of a lady who gave birth to three babes and then fled London. Of course, it was so fantastical none of us believed it and I haven’t even thought about it in years. Looking at the three of you with your distinctive coloring and eyes—” she paused and gave a faltered laugh. “I felt I must ask if the rumor might indeed have been true and you three could possibly be the triplets I heard about so long ago?”
Rick heard his mother gasp softly, but he didn’t take his eyes off Edwina’s tight expression of friendliness. He felt a shiver of apprehension wash over her as what the countess said sunk in.
Triplets?
It couldn’t be. No. It wasn’t possible. Was it? But it would explain why they looked so much alike. And the same age too. Rick’s throat tightened and his mind clogged with questions he had no answers to. He felt as if an iron weight had fallen on his chest and he couldn’t lift it off. She turned and met his gaze.
It was true. He saw it in her eyes. And she had kept it from him. Deception hit him like a sucker punch to the nose.
Edwina kept her composure though her eyes were deeply troubled. She swallowed hard, and he knew she was struggling over what her answer to the countess and to him would be. She had the same fragile vulnerability he’d seen when she waited to hear if his proposal was genuine or a fraud. That was when he realized she wasn’tas brave as she’d pretended to be. Something in her past had affected her deeply. Now he believed he knew what it was.
His gut tightened as he tried to sort out exactly what he was feeling for her.
One thing he knew for sure, it was fine if Edwina felt defenseless with him, but hell no, he wasn’t going to allow this meddler or anyone else to make her feel that way. Edwina had kept this a secret from him for a reason, and he wanted to know why. But his priority was to protect her. He couldn’t let her admit anything to this lady.
“I can answer that for you, Countess,” Rick said calmly, leaning his shoulder closer to Edwina’s so she could feel him. “They are sisters. Miss Eileen Fine is the oldest. Next is Miss Eleonora, and the duchess is the youngest. They do favor. I can see where you might have hoped for a different outcome toyourgossip.”
The lady’s brows rose as she made a coughing sound. “Oh, well, yes, of course,” she sputtered as she smiled at him. “I didn’t mean to imply the rumor was true. No, no. I only mentioned it in humor.”
