Page 66 of Beyond Scandal and Desire
“And I’m quite busy these days handling a goodly number of the affairs of our estates. I don’t have time to take off during the day for play.”
But he had time to lie about being sick from too much drink.
“Aslyn,” the duchess said tentatively, “you don’t want to visit an orphanage, dear.”
“I do actually. I thought to take them some toys—tops, dolls and tin soldiers.”
The duchess stared at Aslyn as though she’d admitted to wanting to dash down the street without a stitch of clothing. “No,” she finally said. “We don’t involve ourselves in the dregs of society.”
“Dregs? They’re children. With no parents, no advantages. I want to do what I can to help.”
“You have a wedding to plan and then a household to oversee. You’ll not have time for such nonsense.”
“I don’t see that helping the unfortunate is nonsense.”
“They will not appreciate your efforts. They will not be glad of your presence. They will resent anything you do for them. They are the dregs of society for a reason, my dear. You cannot lift them up. You must not even try. You will gain naught but heartache. You have been bred, trained, educated in your role as a future duchess. You must not abandon your charge for those who couldn’t care less about you.”
“I want to be useful.”
“You are useful by seeing to your duty.” With near desperation, she leaned toward Aslyn and placed her frail hand over hers. “Promise me you will not do this, that you will not go out among the poor, the disadvantaged. That you will not place yourself in harm’s way.”
“I will take servants with me.”
The duchess looked to her husband. “Hedley, forbid her to go.”
Aslyn wasn’t certain she’d ever seen the duke look so sad. “She’s no longer a child, Bella. We can’t clip her wings if she’s ready to fly.”
“She doesn’t understand the dangers.”
“I’ll send extra footmen. They’ll stay close. She’ll travel in the coach. All will be well.”
“It’s not as though she’s headed into the rookeries, Mother.”
The duchess gave her attention back to Aslyn. “Simply send them the toys. You don’t have to take them yourself.”
“I will be perfectly safe. No harm will come to me. I know it.”
“That is when you are at your most vulnerable, when you believe no one would wish you ill. You cannot see the dangers.”
“They are children in need of love. They will not hurt me.”
“But others would.”
“Bella, my love, I promise to see that she is protected.”
“Do not give me a promise you cannot keep.”
The duke appeared devastated by the words, leaving Aslyn to wonder what promise he may not have honored.
The duchess set her napkin beside her plate. “I am done here. I must abed.”
She scooted back her chair. The duke shot to his feet and helped his wife rise. “Carry on without us,” he ordered before escorting the duchess from the room.
Kip settled back in his chair, called for more wine. “That was rather odd.”
She hadn’t wanted to upset the duchess, but she was also weary of feeling like a canary trapped in a cage, with freedom always in view, but never obtainable. “Sometimes I feel as though I’m suffocating here.”
“Let’s go for a turn about the gardens, then, shall we? I think we could both use some fresh air.”
