“All right. I’ll see you all later.”
She followed Crawford into the house. He led her up the double staircase to the third floor, to the duchess’s suite of rooms in the west wing.
“My dear Lily, do come in,” the duchess said.
Lily curtsied politely. “I do hope you’re feeling better, Your Grace.”
“Quite a bit, thank you, dear.” The duchess motioned for Lily to be seated. “What do you take in your tea?”
“Nothing, thank you.”
“Like my Daniel.” She smiled. “Here you are.”
“Thank you.”
“I’d like you to accept my gratitude for accompanying Lucy on our errands yesterday. It was a great help to me.”
“It was my pleasure. I enjoyed it.”
“I’m very glad.” The duchess set her teacup down on the tray, a serious expression on her graceful face. “Now, tell me, why don’t you want to marry my Daniel?”
“Pardon?”
“My dear, I know a girl who’s being forced into marriage when I see one. I was that girl myself once. Don’t you care for Daniel?’
“Yes, I care for him, but… Well, he didn’t ask me what I wanted. He arranged everything with my father.”
“Yes, I’m aware of that. I thought he would know better than to mimic his own father in that regard.” She sighed. “But you should know, Lily, that the duke and I had a happy and successful marriage. We grew to love each other very much. I can’t imagine having married any other.”
“But it doesn’t always work out that way.”
“No, it doesn’t. But Daniel cares for you, and you care for him. I can tell by the way you interact with each other. Lucy and I both agree we’ve never seen Daniel happier. You have that advantage over my marriage.”
“Your Grace, if you don’t mind my asking, how long did it take you to grow to love the duke?” Perhaps it wouldn’t take Daniel long to grow to love her.
“Not long. He was kind to me, and he was interested in my opinions. I became pregnant soon after we married, and he insisted on naming our first son after me. He was named after both of us, Morgan Charles. Lord, how I miss them.”
“I’m so very sorry for your loss.”
“Thank you, dear. I appreciate that. It’s been harder on Daniel than on me, I’m afraid.”
Lily nodded. “He told me he wasn’t close to either of them.” Then, “Your Grace, may I speak frankly?”
“Of course.”
“I don’t believe that Daniel has ever allowed himself to grieve for his father and brother. I believe he keeps his emotions locked inside himself. I…worry about him.”
“You are very perceptive, Lily. And you are correct. I don’t believe he has grieved. And it isn’t true that he wasn’t close to them. He no doubt told you that to convince himself, so he could hide his hurt at their passing. But it isn’t easy to be a second son.”
“How so?”
“Morgan and Daniel were not quite a whole year apart. They were the very best of friends. I think they knew each other better than they knew themselves.”
Lily nodded. “I understand what you mean. Rose and I are less than a year apart also. We are close in that same way.”
“Then imagine, dear, if Rose had been snatched away from you when you were not but seven years old. That is what happened to Daniel.”
Lily raised her eyebrows. “What?”