Page 69 of A Duchess Bound
“Very well,” Elias said. “We shall leave at once.”
“Wonderful. I will wait for the carriage,” Bridget said, storming away.
Elias leaned close to Dorothy. “Have the two of you quarreled?”
“No. I shall go after her. Perhaps, she will tell me what is amiss.”
“I will say farewell to our hosts,” Elias said.
Dorothy nodded and hurried after Bridget, who had nearly reached the ballroom’s entrance. By the time she reached her, Bridget already stood outside, awaiting the carriage. Dorothy gasped for air, her face hot with exertion.
“You left so quickly!” Dorothy exclaimed.
“And yet you found me,” Bridget said tightly. “Of course.”
Dorothy pursed her lips, eyeing her sister carefully. “Have I upset you?”
Bridget laughed. “Have you upset me? How can you ask that? Ofcourse, you have!”
Dorothy started, putting a hand to her chest in surprise. “Oh.”
“Oh?” Bridget asked, her voice hitching loudly. “Oh? I may need a chaperone, Dorothy, but I do not need a governess! I can barely breathe with you hovering over me every minute of every day!”
Dorothy reeled. “Bridget, I?—”
“Enough!” Bridget exclaimed. “You are not my mother! It is not my fault if you do not have a life to see to. I will not let you live through me!”
Dorothy’s eyes burned with barely contained tears. She opened her mouth to speak, to offer some defense of herself, but words refused to come. Dorothy choked on her own throat.
Before she could regain her composure, Bridget sighed and shook her head. “I will find my own way home. The last thing I want is to be trapped in a carriage with you and Elias, so both of you can try to justify dictating my entire life!”
She stormed away. Dorothy did not pursue her. Instead, she stood in place, feeling fragile and torn. It was as though she were a flower, treated too cruelly by the winter frost.
Bridget had never raised her voice to anyone before. Dorothy’s blood turned to ice.
You are not my mother.
Dorothy had known that, of course, but she had devoted her entire life to looking after her siblings and ensuring that they were happy. She had cast aside her own chance for a happy, fruitful life as a married woman!
Bridget was young and romantic, often ruled by her passions. Dorothy would be foolish to take her words to heart.
But she did.
CHAPTER 24
“Is everything all right?” Gerard asked, walking alongside Leedway, as he searched for their host.
They had been speaking about the lady’s seminary together. The conversation had been going well. Leedway had been eager to have another wealthy duke involved in the project, and Gerard had felt as though he was doing something meaningful. It was rare that he experienced such a feeling, but he had liked it.
Then, Lady Bridget and Dorothy arrived. Leedway had abandoned Gerard and a few other gentlemen without warning or excuse. He had exchanged a few words with his sisters before hurrying away. Gerard had caught only a small piece of an explanation; Leedway was seeking their host.
“Bridget has a headache,” Leedway said, “so we are leaving.”
“Ah.”
That explained why Leedway wanted to speak with their host. “Shall I speak to Holloway on your behalf?” Gerard asked.
Leedway halted abruptly, looking a little startled. If Gerard had not sensed that something was amiss, he might have found Leedway’s expression comical. He looked almost as if he had forgotten that Gerard was even there.
