Page 50 of The Scottish Duke
“It would be a beautiful book,” the duchess said. “Not to mention an important one.”
The duchess continued to look through the book while Lorna sat silent.
“I don’t know quite how to ask this question,” Lorna finally said. “But I’ve discovered that if I don’t give voice to my curiosity, it doesn’t go away.”
“Ask me anything you like, my dear. I will try to do my best to answer you.”
“Why don’t you hate me?”
The duchess reared back and stared at her, surprise widening her blue eyes.
“I beg your pardon?”
“I’m a source of scandal, Your Grace. One that involves your son. I’ve been shamed out of Wittan Village. If people aren’t gossiping about him now, they certainly will be.”
“Oh, good heavens, we’ve always been a source of scandal. We’re the Russells of Blackhall Castle. Any titled family in Scotland is the source of talk, my dear. Any family with wealth or power or prestige is. It’s the price you pay. Besides, this scandal will just take the place of the previous one. These things go in cycles.”
Lorna couldn’t bite back her curiosity.
“What previous scandal?” she asked.
“You haven’t heard about Ruth?”
“She died.”
“She did.”
The duchess had the same direct look as her son. Or maybe he’d inherited the ability to pin someone with his gaze from her.
“She died in childbirth, my dear, but I will not have you worried or afraid for your health. Alex has hired a renowned doctor and a skilled midwife is already in attendance.”
“He has? She is?” It would have been nice if the duke had informed her of those arrangements.
The duchess nodded.
“Ruth was, shall we say, bored with being with only one man. She had numerous lovers, a fact evidently well known in Edinburgh.”
“His wife was unfaithful?”
The duchess sighed again. “Ruth acquired lovers like you might collect herbs. She wasn’t the least discreet about the practice.”
“Was the woman insane?”
The duchess stopped talking and stared at her.
“How could any woman choose another man over the duke?” Lorna asked. “I can’t imagine such a thing.”
“Oh, I do like you, my dear,” the duchess said, reaching over and patting her hand. “If the poor thing hadn’t died in childbirth, I’m very much afraid Alex would’ve caused even a greater scandal and divorced her. That is, if she continued to behave as she had. But he was willing to give it a go and was prepared to be a good husband and father. Unfortunately, Fate stepped in and he didn’t get a chance.”
They sat silent, the moment spent in contemplation of the tragedy that had befallen the Duke of Kinross.
“I’m so glad you agreed to come and live here,” the duchess went on. “We’ll have many more talks. Right now, however, I shall not tire you out. You should take another nap.” She stood and pulled on her gloves, all the while smiling down at Lorna. “Is there anything I can bring you?”
Lorna hesitated long enough that the duchess tilted her head, studying her.
“What is it, my dear?”
“An imposition,” she said.
