“Your Grace, please move yourself to the chair by the window. And if you cannot keep your emotions to yourself, I shall have a footman remove you.”
The older woman looked up at her with tears in her eyes. “This is my daughter. Who are you to tell me where I can or cannot sit?”
“I am the woman sent here to help your daughter. Now please move, Your Grace.”
“Humph,” she said and then moved away from the bed.
“Kate, look at me,” Selina said softly.
“That’s Lady Katherine to you,” the duchess retorted.
“Do be quiet, Mother,” Kate moaned. “Oh, Selina, it hurts so much. I’m losing the baby, aren’t I?”
“What baby?” her mother exclaimed.
Selina cast Kate’s mother a glare. “Shh.” She then sat on the bed and felt Kate’s forehead. “How many of your monthlies have you missed?”
“I just missed my second month.”
“Were you bleeding before today?”
Kate nodded and wiped away a tear. “I’ve been spotting for three days.”
She examined her new friend and tried her best not to let her tears fall. Seeing the amount of blood loss, she whispered, “I’m so sorry, Kate. I believe you may have lost the baby.”
Kate held her hand against her mouth as her tears flowed down her cheeks. “Only John knew. That’s why we pushed up the wedding, so I wouldn’t be showing. We figured we could just say the baby was born early.”
“I’m so sorry,” Selina mumbled again as she prepared some herbs to ease Kate’s pain.
“Don’t tell Colin.”
Selina turned back to Kate. Her friend’s face was pallid and sweaty but it was the look of anguish that made her agree. “I suppose that news is up to you to tell him.”
“He must never know. After what happened to Mary, he cannot handle another loss of this kind. Please, promise me you won’t tell him.”
“You are my patient and moreover my friend. If you insist that I don’t tell him then I shall honor your request.” She had no idea how she would do such a thing. He would demand to know what was wrong with Kate. “I will tell him it’s just a feminine issue. Men never know what to say to that.”
“Thank you, Selina.” Kate’s cold hand clasped Selina’s.
Selina spent the next few hours helping Kate. Other than giving her some herbs for the cramping, there wasn’t much she could do for her. But as midnight neared, she knew she had to tell Colin something.
“I will check on you tomorrow, Kate.” Selina covered her friend with a light blanket. “Try to sleep.” Thankfully, the herbs would help with that too.
“Thank you, Selina.” Kate’s eyelids dropped shut.
“I will stay with her tonight,” her mother whispered. “Thank you, Selina. I must apologize for how I acted when you came in the room. It was just the shock of it all.” She paused and tilted her head slightly. “You’re just like your mother, a loving wise woman.”
Selina nodded and headed for the door. With a deep breath for support, she walked down the black-and-white marble-tiled floor to the study. Before she reached the room, she could hear muttering from inside. Her heart went out to him. Slowly, she opened the door.
“Well?” he demanded.
“Well, indeed.” She ignored his question and then strolled to the brandy decanter on the table in the corner. Seeing the half glass in his hands, she poured only one snifter.
“Selina, what is wrong with my sister?” His tone had softened slightly, as if he understood her strained emotions.
“She’s having some feminine issues,” she lied, staring at the amber liquid in her glass.
He paced the room, raking his hand through his black hair until it all but stood on end. “She’s miscarrying, isn’t she?”