Page 83 of The Duchess He Couldn’t Resist

She opened it in front of Marigold, but there was no focus to be found. The numbers were swimming before her eyes, and she could not even make the simplest of calculations.

“Remind me again what that sum is,” she asked her housekeeper.

“It is the new price for the curtains we have agreed on, Your Grace.”

Marigold could not remember a single thing. She looked at the ledger as if confused.

“Your Grace,” Mrs. Hodgins said gently, “are you quite all right?”

“I am fine,” Marigold tried to force herself to focus on the ledger. “Let us continue.”

She worked like that for another hour, but when she started to make a few mistakes, she decided to give up. And right on time.

Beth appeared at the study door.

“Your Grace, there is a visitor for you. Lady Reeds is here.”

Marigold’s heart was lifted and dropped at the same time. She was happy that her friend was there, but she was also aware of how sharp Lily was and how easily she would see the situation. Marigold freshened up as best as she could and entered the drawing room to find Lily with a cup of tea.

“Marigold! I am sorry I didn’t write ahead, but I found myself wanting to see you today.”

Marigold wondered if Lily knew of the situation. Perhaps even Brandon had asked her to keep an eye on her, smooth over any reaction she might have. And yet somehow, she was happy to see Lily there.

“You never have to worry about coming in unannounced,” Marigold said and sat down next to Lily.

“You seem quite distracted.” Lily was always observant. “Is something the matter?”

Marigold was not ready to talk about what ailed her with her friend, not just yet.

“I think perhaps I underestimated what is required of a duchess,” Marigold mustered a weak lie. “The renovation of the ballroom alone⁠—”

“I get enough half-lies from my brother to not suffer the same with my friend.”

Marigold really enjoyed Lily’s astuteness, but in this particular moment, it was a trait that made her life a little bit more difficult.

“Judging the way you are avoiding answering my question, and by this little pause,” Lily said with a smile, not the least offended, “I can safely come to the conclusion that this regards Brandon.”

“And the half-lie would be that I underestimated what was expected of a duchess.”

Lily nodded with sympathy.

“I am not going to sit here and pretend that Brandon is the easiest of the menfolk. I have known this man even before he was a duke. And I must say I have rarely come across anyone so cold and so closed off.”

Lily was confirming what Marigold already knew. And yet memories of him holding her and telling her how proud he was for standing up to her mother, the freedom he gave her, the agency in her actions and decisions.

Then again, being a decent human being had nothing to do with the fact that he does not let people in. And she had just become another person he decided to keep at arm’s length.

“Don’t get me wrong,” Lily’s chuckle brought her back to the present, “I love Brandon like a brother. But like Owen, my sibling love extends to the fact that I want to smack them both in the head. For completely different reasons, but the result is the same.”

Marigold chuckled, grateful for Lily’s carefree stance that helped her ease the pain inside her. And for the next hour that Lily stayed chatting and talking and gossiping, Marigold managed to nod and smile and momentarily forget.

After Lily left, Marigold stood by the window, staring out at the garden. From where she was standing, she couldn’t see the vegetable patch growing and thriving, but she knew it was there. He had given that to her along with her freedom. He gave her status, money, and comfort. By all means, Marigold should have been satisfied.

Marigold straightened her spine. She decided that she would not spiral into despair or assume the worst. Being satisfied and comfortable might have been enough, but Marigold strived for more. And if he was not willing to give her more, he would have to say so in her face.

“I’m sorry, Your Grace,” she said to herself. “I will not go quietly. And I will not allow this to slip through my fingers without a fight.”

CHAPTER 25