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Ruth shook her head gently. “I …” Closing her eyes for a moment, she conjured up the memory of her fall, but it was incomplete. “I was going downstairs to meet you. But on the way, I met your mother and we quarreled. She was angry about something. What was it?”

She quite despised her mind being so addled. Despite having lost her beauty to the fire all these years ago, she’d always prided herself on her sharp mind, her almost photographic memory. To not have access to her mind at full capacity was vexing.

Kenneth smiled down at her. “I spoke to my father, telling him I wished to court you with hopes of making an offer soon. He agreed, as did your father. My mother did not take the news very well and departed. You must have had the misfortune of crossing her path as she went to her room.”

Ruth nodded, vaguely recalling this now.

“You must have fallen on your way down the stairs.” He shook his head. “I am only grateful you are with me once more. I was so worried. I thought you might die.” He cupped her face with his hand, leaving it there for a while as they looked each other in the eyes.

Suddenly, a cough overtook her, and she realized how dry her throat was.

“Would you be able to fetch me a glass of tea?” she asked. He nodded, rising to walk to the armoire upon which a carafe with tea was standing.

She laid back, briefly closing her eyes when suddenly she sat upright. The stairs. The fall. No. She had not slipped.

The distinct feeling of hands on her back returned to her mind. She’d been pushed. But by whom? And why?

Her head spun and she watched Kenneth pour her cup, dropping a lump of sugar in her tea. Her eyes wandered to the door between her chamber and her sister’s.

Sophia would never wish to harm her in so dangerous a manner as to kill her. But then, the Duchess had departed for her chamber by the time Ruth made her way to the stairs. So, if neither of them…She narrowed her eyes, remembering something else.

She turned to Kenneth who stopped in his tracks when he saw her sitting up.

“I was pushed down the stairs.” She declared. “And I believe I know just who did it.”

Chapter 27

The sun was barely up in the sky when Kenneth climbed down the grand staircase on his way into the breakfast parlor. He knew his father would be there already, taking in his early cup of morning tea and reading the paper.

His father’s dedication to always remaining calm and composed was one of the things he always admired about him. It seemed as long as his father could stick to his habits, nothing shook him. Not even if the entire world around him was falling to pieces. It was this dedication to his habits that had allowed him to withstand any storm so far, and Kenneth knew he was about to bring another storm down upon his father.

When he stepped into the breakfast parlor, Kenneth found himself surprised to see not only his father seated at the table, but his mother as well. He frowned, taken aback. The Duchess never took breakfast with his father. Most days, when she rose early, she would remain in her chamber, indulging in a cup of drinking chocolate before venturing downstairs.

This was of course a deliberate move on her part, wishing to avoid her husband just as much as he wished to avoid her. Thus, seeing them together was unsettling to say the least.

They both looked up when he entered, although with entirely different expressions. His mother pouted at him and blinked, her disapproval of his declaration the previous day still vexing her, no doubt. Prior to Ruth’s fall, his mother had vowed to never speak to her son again, should he indeed court the lady she so despised. A posture, he knew, and one she would drop oncehe told her what he had discovered.

His father, on the other hand, looked at him with a smile, already having reconciled himself to his son’s choice of bride.

“Kenneth. I trust Lady Ruth continues to improve? I spoke to her father an hour or so ago and he assured me that she was awake all throughout the night, talking and even taking some food. What a relief.”

The genuine tone is his voice soothed Kenneth.

I knew he would approve of my choice once he understood I was quite serious in my convictions, but to see it happen so soon is truly wonderful indeed.

The Duchess, meanwhile, sighed. “So, the clumsy girl will recover after all. You had best get used to this sort of event taking place with some regularity, Kenneth - if you intend to remain steadfast in your decision to court her.”

Kenneth’s eyebrow shot up at this. “What are you talking about, Mother?” He slid into the chair across from his parents, he crossed his legs and rested his elbows on the table, earning a glare from his mother.

“My dear, I know you are blinded by an inexplicable fondness of her, but it must have occurred to you that she is rather clumsy a creature. She broke her mother’s patch box, spilled wine at dinner, and now this? Well, if you think this is what is suitable of a future Duchess, then who am I to argue.”

“Judith, I will have you hold your tongue. This lady of whom you speak is to be our daughter-in-law. I will not have you ridicule her.”

Before his mother could say anything else, Kenneth spoke up.

“This, Mother, was by no means the result of an accident. Someone made an attempt on her life.”

“An attempt on her life? But how do you know this?” his father asked, his eyes wide.