Page 86 of Her Bear of a Duke

"Your Grace," Mrs. Herrington said brightly. "Thank goodness you have returned!"

"There is nowhere that I would rather be."

"I am so pleased to hear that. I must warn you, though, that I have found something very troubling in your guest's room."

They went to Lady Annabelle's room, and Dorothy at last looked around it. Gowns were strewn throughout, and letters were scattered on her desk. They were all addressed to her father, scribblings about how she was doing all that she could.

"These are… very odd."

"It is worse than that," Mrs. Herrington sighed, opening a drawer. "I found these. I am unsure of what they might be, but I know you love botany in the same way the Duke does. Might you recognize them?"

Dorothy looked and saw a pile of nightshade berries. They were highly poisonous, and she could only imagine what Lady Annabelle had planned, but she did not want to concern her housekeeper any more than she already appeared to be.

"It is nothing," she assured her. "Perhaps she simply thought they looked delicious and wished to hide them away for later?"

Her housekeeper seemed satisfied with that, but Dorothy was shaken by it. One thing was for certain, however; she would have her answers, and Lady Annabelle would be dealt with.

She found Lady Annabelle in the drawing room, admiring some flowers that Dorothy had never placed there. When she saw Dorothy, she looked startled for a moment, and then she grinned at her.

"I do not suppose that you expected to see me here," Dorothy said coldly.

"No, no I certainly did not. Have you come to collect your things?"

"No, I have told you to collect yours, lest you want them thrown into the fireplace."

"Oh, Dear, you are very troubled indeed. I must say, I never thought that my plan would work so beautifully, but I am very pleased with it indeed."

"So you admit that it was all your doing?"

"Of course. It is no secret that my family has been struggling for a long time, since the death of my beloved sister, and it is only fair that I received some good from the family that caused it."

"We did not cause anything. The two people that had any real blame in this have both passed away, and though unfortunate, it is not as though anything can be done about that. We simply have to move forward, and that includes you."

"Which is precisely why I plan to be Duchess in your place. It is my way of moving forward."

"You shall have to find another plan, as the title is mine. This life is mine, and you will not take it from me."

"I believe that your husband shall have the last say in that."

"Indeed. Do you not know where he has been this past while?"

"Arranging the annulment. He told me himself that he would be doing so. It is a shame that the two of you never consummated the marriage, for you at least."

It would have been a powerful accusation, had Dorothy not known the truth. She had never once believed Lady Annabelle's lies, and that was not going to change simply because what she said was hurtful.

"I think it might be best for you to refrain from speaking about my marriage, given that it is none of your business. If I were you, I would return to your family and try to mend what is broken."

"My family is wonderful. I was one of the most well-liked debutantes."

"You were, but that is no longer the case. That is why you are here. You planned all of this, so that you could take my life from me, but I will not be giving it to you. You shall have to find another gentleman that is willing to take you as his wife, because my husband will not."

"I believe the Duke should have the last word about that."

"Very well," she nodded, "let us go to him."

She left to find them, and they were in the glasshouse. Her breath caught in her throat at the sight of the three flowers that had been planted together. Hers and Morgan's, and then just in front was a bright yellow tulip.

"Look at it, Aunt Dorothy!" Catherine smiled brightly. "I have one too now, just like you and my uncle."

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