Page 36 of Trapped with her Cruel Duke

He seemed so hurt.

She called for the carriage while trying to shake off the feeling. As she approached the entryway, she found Lady Northbridge already waiting for her.

“Is the Duke quite well?” her mother asked. “He seemed furious when he left.”

Louise waved a hand dismissively. “He has gone to his club to attend to some business.”

The two women embraced, and Louise plastered on a brave smile. “You will come to visit again?” she asked.

“Of course, I will,” her mother assured her. “Perhaps I will be able to come without your father. I do not believe he lightens the atmosphere.”

“You may be right.”

“Good luck with your encyclopedia,” her mother said fondly. “Be sure to send me any drawings you cannot use. I save them all.”

As her mother departed, Louise was reminded again of all the species she had yet to catalog and all the work she would need to do to finish the book within the year.

Resolved to return to the gardens and start at once, she turned to head out, only to find the Dowager Duchess standing in her path, watching her carefully.

She curtsied. “Good day,” she greeted, a little taken aback. “My apologies, I did not see you.”

The Dowager Duchess said nothing, but then she raised her hand, indicating a small parlor behind her, the door to which had been left ajar.

“Would you come and sit with me for a moment? There are some things I want to discuss with you.”

Louise respectfully followed her into the parlor. It was a beautiful space with pale green walls and gold etchings on the wallpaper. The furniture was a dark red, contrasting with thepale carpet, and a merry fire heated the room to just the right temperature.

The Dowager Duchess took a seat on the small settee on the side, and Louise lowered herself onto the chaise longue opposite. It was an extremely uncomfortable thing that needed reupholstering and fresh springs. She shifted in her seat, wondering whether the Dowager Duchess had led her there deliberately.

“My son has left again, I see,” the Dowager Duchess muttered, glancing at the door as though Christian might be eavesdropping.

“He has. I know his club is important to him.”

“Indeed, but he must be reminded of what else is important too. You are his wife. You should take precedence over his business.”

Is this a test?

Louise shrugged a shoulder, saying nothing and waiting for the other woman to continue.

“How much do you know about our family history, Duchess?”

“Please call me Louise,” Louise insisted, hating the title when her mother-in-law said it almost as much as when Christian did.

“You must call me Sabine, then,” the Dowager Duchess said, giving her a long look that was not quite a smile.

“To answer your question, Sabine, I know very little about your family history. Only what Marcus told me. He spoke a little about his struggles to be recognized in the ton and the prejudices you have faced.”

Sabine nodded her head. “You should know then that Christian and Marcus were both born out of wedlock. I was a maid in the late Duke’s household. His first wife was unable to bear him children. Something blossomed between us that we couldn’t ignore. Whatever Christian believes, we loved each other dearly.”

“I can believe it, I assure you.”

Sabine sighed. “Christian never forgave his father for what he considered an insult to all of us. He has never forgivenmefor the ‘struggles,’ as you put it, that he and Marcus have faced. The ton does not take kindly to bastards, Louise, no matter how quickly my late husband claimed them.”

And Christian would have always been seen as a maid’s son, not truly worthy of the title of Duke at all.

“I do not regret it,” the Dowager Duchess continued, her defiance strong in her voice. “I would do it again if I was given the choice, no matter the stain it would cast on my marriage. My only regret is that Christian seems to despise love. To him, loveripped his family apart and will always be something violent that taints the world around him.”

Louise shifted her weight on the chaise, eager to stand up and walk about the room. She had not expected Sabine to be so open with her. Christian had alluded to his past, as had Marcus, but both men had avoided elaborating on it, and she could understand why.

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