Page 81 of A Duchess to Unravel
Seraphina had not been able to make the trip to the country, too wrapped up in her life with Hugo and their twins. Amelia had also been unable to come, instead writing with the joyous news that she was now with child and experiencing heavy nausea. Theo knew she should have been happy for her friend. It was a blessing Amelia and Dominic had hoped for for several months, but the news had only worsened her mood instead.
This left only Ophelia and Rose available to come visit her at Alistair’s country home, and although she was grateful for their company nothing they partook in seemed to help Theo out of her foul mood.
“Ophelia, darling,” Rose spoke up, joining her to stand by Theo’s side, “While I am sure webothappreciate your willingness to teach us how to paint, I believe we should find something else to do.”
Theo did not miss this subtle hint in Rose’s voice, and she worked to soften her tone. She looked to Ophelia, her eyes begging for forgiveness.
“We do,” she agreed, taking Ophelia’s hand. “appreciate your teachings. I am sorry for my outburst.”
Ophelia looked at her with kind eyes as she patted Theo’s hand and nodded.
“I know you do. You have no need to apologize. But ...” she paused, sparing a glance toward Rose, “perhaps we should turn our focus to talking. I believe it is time you finally tell us why you called us here.”
“Yes,” Rose agreed, her tone insistent. “We have spent the last two days painting, playing lawn games, cards, and parlor games. And in that time you have broken your mallet, torn up several cards, flung marbles, and now splattered yourself red. It is time to address the issue at hand: what is wrong?”
Theo drew in a deep breath through her nostrils, feeling her heartbeat start to race as her friends oh-so-gently urged her to finally come clean. Her shoulders sagged as she hung her head, and in her moment of resignation, her friends led her to the nearby table. Norma then quietly approached with a wet cloth so she could wipe her face, but Theo waved it off.
“Come on, darling,” Rose gently urged. “What has happened? You are so very different since we last saw you in London just a week or so ago.”
Knowing it was time to share her troubles, Theo took a deep breath and told them everything, starting from when she first met Alistair at the Devil’s Masquerade. Rose’s eyes went wide with alarm at her confession, but Ophelia, having already known that she’d been back at least once, only nodded as Theo told her tale. She shared everything, including the lessons of pleasureAlistair had given her, to the last moment that had her deciding to leave.
When she finished, a still silence settled over the table. Theo slumped back in her chair, feeling exhausted by her confession, and covered her face with her hands.
“Well, darling. I believe it is obvious what the issue is,” Rose said, breaking the silence.
Theo peeked through her fingers, her brows furrowed.
“It is?”
Rose glanced at Ophelia, who nodded, as if silently urging her to continue.
“You are in love with him.”
Theo’s hands dropped to her lap and she sat up straight.
“That is preposterous!” she insisted, frowning.
“I am not in love with him!”
“We are not judging or attacking you,” Ophelia countered.
“Well of course you are not, because it is not true! I amnotin love with Alistair,” Theo vehemently replied.
Rose delicately folded her hands together atop the table and raised a brow.
“You know how I felt about you marrying this man,” she began. “I was not in support of it at all. I thought he was a brute and would not be good for you. However, I am willing to admit that I was wrong. Theo, ever since you met this man you started coming back to us. And last week in London, especially at Everett’s ball and then after, you were positively glowing with happiness. Why do you think that is?”
Theo floundered for an answer.
“I finally got what I wanted,” she answered, “I became free.”
“But you were not,” Ophelia cut in. “You became a wife. You still had responsibilities at the castle. You still had to put on airs for Alistair’s guests, you still had to be a lady. Yet you found happiness despite that. Because ofhim.”
Theo opened her mouth, ready to argue the point, but no words came out. It was true. She might have been free from London, but she hadn’t been free of her duties as a duchess. Yet she’d still felt more alive and happier than she had ever been. Because she’d had Alistair.
Alistair. Who had taken his lessons on pleasure seriously. Who had not taken what he wanted for his own manly urges but chose to educate her on whatherbody wanted, whatherbody could feel and enjoy. He had held her. Talked to her. Had never beenafraid to push past her obstinance and find the root of whatever issue she was having.
“I do not wish to speak of this anymore. I am quite tired,” she said meekly, pushing such realizations away.
