Page 52 of A Necessary Wife

The duchess waved to them but then saw Amelia’s confusion.

“Oh, twins are confusing creatures, are they not? This pair of Samuels make a game out of our confusion,” the duchess complained. “Come and say good morning, children,” she called out.

They both appeared on the path, waved at the duchess, then sprinted up the trail ahead of them.

“The boys have too much energy to remain confined indoors for long, I’m afraid, so I leave them be. My husband wishes them tamed, but I think it is an unachievable aim, at least for now. It only causes them unhappiness, and quarrels between their father and the duke. They’ve not had the easiest of lives, being dragged from pillar to post. It’s a miracle Samuel has stayed as long as he has this time. I was so happy to see him join us last night. I dare not interfere, you see, but our husbands feel differently. Besides, having them stay at the ruins gives Samuel something to do with his days other than think of his loss. He is unhappy making polite conversation when everyone tells him he must marry again.”

She nodded. “I find it difficult to be idle, as well.”

“Milo had an easier time than Samuel did. More to distract him, ground him. He is my husband’s heir, and Nicolas once confided in him about everything. But he became closed off when the duke pressed him to marry again too soon after her death. Retreating to his own estate to grieve, or drinking to excess somewhere else with friends. But all this is his future, too, and yours now, as well.”

Amelia winced. “I think he grieves her still. My husband.”

The duchess sighed. “Does that bother you?”

She shook her head and changed the subject. “What is it like? Being a duchess? Traveling in distinguished circles?” she asked.

“It can be restrictive. There are rules, unspoken ones, which must be followed. Disapproving glares if one shows too much levity—except amongst family.”

“Did His Grace’s children object to you?”

“One of them helped arrange our first kiss,” the duchess whispered and then laughed. “I was quite surprised when I realized the conspiracy underway.”

“Conspiracy?”

“Mistletoe.”

Amelia nodded. “Ah, a source of many a good or disastrous flirtation leading to marriage.”

“It could have been disastrous for me. We were duke and governess at the time.”

“Oh.” Amelia had heard little about the duchess before coming here. “But he married you.”

“Once we realized how strongly we felt about each other, it did not take long at all for him to propose.”

“A true love match,” Amelia said, then glanced away.

“Yes, I never thought to be so happy in a second marriage. My first was…unsatisfying.”

“Were you a widow for long?”

“Not really. Oh, you’ve not heard my story. Well, my first husband died and left me with but one choice—to seek paid employment. It was a difficult time, and I was fortunate that Fanny saw and rescued me from a bad position, and I met the duke by chance. Then he offered the position as governess to Jessica. He and I became friends in the course of my employment, and then…well, the mistletoe deepened our friendship into something wonderful.”

Amelia was happy for anyone who found love, but hearing of it sometimes saddened her.

She pushed the feeling away and searched her mind for a suitable change of subject.

The duchess sighed. “Ah. There is my husband, come back to us.”

Two encounters with the duke in one day? The first one had been fairly cordial, but Amelia would rather not risk a second. “I will leave you, if you don’t mind.”

“He swore he would behave today. Give him a chance to know you.”

Amelia sighed and turned to face the duke—whose hands were fisted at his sides.

“Damn it all,” he growled.

Amelia flinched. “I’m sorry.”