Page 82 of Everything But the Earl
“I’m sure you also spent some time with that adorable baby.”
“Yes, that as well.”
“I was about to stop for luncheon. Would you care to eat with me?”
“I’d love to.”
When she worked on the castle, Morfudd often stayed in rooms in a squat, three-story building across the street from the castle that had been owned by her late husband. The first floor was taken up by a shop from which Morfudd sold trinkets to castle visitors. She led Owen to her flat above the shop and then went about putting some water on to boil. “I’ll make tea,” she announced.
“All right.”
“Are you hungry?”
“I suppose a little. You promised luncheon.” Although, truth be told, Owen hadn’t eaten much lately. He’d felt sick to his stomach since he and Grace had talked a few nights before, since he realized he didn’t trust her anymore. That was the crux of their current woes.
Morfudd produced a loaf of bread and some salty butter, and she also offered a bit of ham and some pickled vegetables. “I’ve got some tea cakes I stole from your kitchen when I came by to check on your wife yesterday. Shame you were not there.”
“I was meeting with the Williams men to discuss some mundane matters related to shearing. I enjoy Arthur’s company, but I enjoy yours more.” He smiled.
Morfudd grinned. But then she seemed to take in his overall countenance. “I take it you and your wife are at odds about something.”
Owen sighed. He wouldn’t disclose Grace’s secret identity, but he did say, “Did you know she did not tell me about the baby? I found out when I arrived in Wales.”
“And this bothers you.”
“Grace and I exchanged letters weekly. I read every one at least twice. Could she not have at least mentioned her condition?”
“What brought you back to Wales? Grace and I have been handling most of the estate business, so it wasn’t that.”
“The Parliament session was nearing its end, but honestly, the haste was because she stopped writing.”
“The birth was very hard on her. Did you know that?”
He nodded. “Yes, I was told.”
Morfudd reached across the table and put her hand on Owen’s. “Truly, it was more than just hard on her. I arrived at the house shortly after the baby was born. She was in a bad way. We thought we’d lost her. I’ve never seen so much blood.”
“Oh, God.” Owen hadn’t known it had been that bad. He’d gathered she’d bled a lot if she’d had to replace the mattress and bedding, but he hadn’t known she’d nearly died.
“Thankfully, she survived. And she dotes on that boy. I know your mother had all the maternal instincts of a stone, but Grace took to motherhood quickly, and she loves that little baby deeply. I don’t know why she didn’t tell you he was on the way, but I think she’s beenpunished enough.”
“That’s not how this works. She wasn’t meant to do penance. She lied by omission, and her not trusting me with that information is deeply hurtful. So how can I trust her back?”
“What are you really upset about?”
“Is that she lied not enough? It wasn’t just the baby. There were other things she didn’t tell me about. They aren’t my secrets to share, but they were things I found out about on my own and not because Grace told me.”
“Look, my marriage was short, sadly. And George and I had time to court and get to know each other before we married, so we weren’t strangers. Obviously I never had children. And I’ve had no notion to remarry. I enjoy my friends and my castle and I’m perfectly content in my life. So I don’t know what it is like to be in a marriage like yours. But I’m guessing that you are upset because you care about her, and thus you view her sins of omission as a betrayal.”
“Yes,” said Owen.
“And thus your relationship is not what you expected.”
“That is exactly it.”
“But, and I know you know this, but let me remind you: you have not been here. You drove your wife out here, deposited her in your great house, and then went back to London.”
“It’s what she wanted.”
