Page 95 of The Duke's Unclaimed Bride
She hadn’t felt so low since her parents died. Back then, she had at least had a reason to warrant sympathy. It wasn’t as if she and Laurence were divorced and she would never see him again. It wasn’t as if he had died.
He had just gone back to their original arrangement.
She felt foolish for believing she could ever mean anything more to him. He had made it clear that he only needed her and Tilly to access his father’s fortune.
She hated that Tilly had also been hurt by Laurence’s rapid change of mind. She had noticed that Tilly had begun to consider Laurence her father and had heard her refer to him as ‘Papa’ while talking to a maid.
She dropped her head in her hands and let out a soft sob.
“Your Grace?” Tilly called from the doorway, interrupting her thoughts.
Edith immediately wiped her eyes and cleared her throat. She looked up.
Tilly looked smaller now. The little girl hadn’t smiled for several days.
“Abigail has gone to pack my belongings,” she mumbled.
“Yes,” Edith said. “I’ve decided we should visit the Duke and Duchess of Richmond.”
Tilly nodded, then pursed her lips. “Is… Is it because of something I did?”
Edith’s eyes widened, and she walked over to Tilly. “No, no,” she assured.
“Is it because His Grace hates me now?” Tilly asked, her voice cracking.
“His Grace does not hate you,” Edith said, pulling Tilly into her arms so the little girl couldn’t see her face.
She picked Tilly up and sat with her in the chair facing the window.
“He just needs some time,” she added, holding Tilly a little tighter.
Tilly nodded, burying her face in Edith’s shoulder and crying quietly.
Even to Edith, her words sounded hollow.
The carriage ride to Richmond Estate was quiet. Tilly sniffled on occasion, looking out the window or at the floor.
Edith hadn’t been able to bring herself to look out the window. She didn’t want to see the townhouse disappear or their street become smaller. So she had pulled out her embroidery, which sat in her lap for several miles before she gave up and put it away.
“Will we be staying long with the Duke and Duchess of Richmond?” Tilly whispered.
Edith looked at her and then looked down. “We will stay for as long as we need to,” she replied.
Tilly nodded.
Silence stretched between them until Tilly’s shoulders started to shake. Edith couldn’t take it anymore. She pulled Tilly into her lap and held her tightly, gently kissed the top of her head, and let her cry.
Eventually, the carriage pulled to a stop before Richmond Estate. Edith caught a glimpse of Anthony in one of the windows before he quickly disappeared. Moments later, Ava and Christian opened the door.
“Edith, it’s wonderful!” Ava started, until she took notice of the expression on Edith’s face.
Tilly was still in Edith’s arms, clinging to her.
“Edith?” Christian asked as he took in their state. “Miss Tilly? Is everything quite all right?”
Edith hesitated, opening and closing her mouth. Eventually, she gave up trying to explain.
“Could we stay… for a little while?” she asked, her voice shaking.
